Samsung Has Entered The Chat

Good morning folks!

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I spent mine arguing with Ex-Oculus CTO and VR legend John Carmack on Twitter. He had earlier said that Mixed Reality won’t be helpful in increasing Quest sales.

The public mostly disagrees with him so I tweeted about it. John replied saying that he thinks “breaking walls” is a gimmick. But he’s a good chap who said he’s happy to be proven wrong. Read the full tweet here.

Headlines for people in a hurry:

• 💼 Samsung Files Patents In UK For AR/VR Glasses

• 💬 VRChat Introduces Subscription For Creators

• 😲 Black Friday Deal: Big Discounts For Pico 4

• 👾 Stranger Things VR Delayed Indefinitely

Read time: 3 minutes

TOP STORIES

SAMSUNG

Samsung Has Entered The XR Game: Files New Patents

Samsung has sparked intrigue in the VR/AR industry by filing a trademark for 'Samsung Glasses' in the UK. This move suggests a potential new direction for Samsung in immersive technology. The trademark encompasses a wide array of products, including VR and AR headsets, smart glasses, and related software.

Given Samsung's history and the current market trends, there are two primary speculations: a collaborative XR headset with Google and Qualcomm, expected to launch in late 2024, or an entry into the smart glasses market, similar to Meta's partnership with Ray-Ban.

While details are scarce, Samsung's venture into either of these domains could significantly impact the VR/AR landscape and could give stiff competition to Apple, as they do in the smartphone industry.

BLACK FRIDAY DEALS

Pico 4 Black Friday Deal: Just €330/£260 + 3 FREE Games

Pico 4, the mobile VR headset, is making waves this Black Friday with an irresistible offer. Customers purchasing the headset during the holiday season will receive a bundle of three VR games at no extra cost.

This bundle, available from November 24, includes the highly anticipated "Arizona Sunshine 2," along with "Green Hell VR" and "Warplanes: Battles over the Pacific."

The Pico 4 is priced at £259.99 (€329) for the 128 GB model and £349 (€399) for the 256 GB variant. This deal, valid from November 24, 2023, to January 14, 2024, represents a significant push to attract more users to the VR gaming world and positions Pico 4 as a competitive player in the market.

VRCHAT

VRChat Introduces Paid Subscriptions For Creators

VRChat is revolutionizing its platform by introducing paid subscriptions for creators, now live in open beta.

This feature enables creators to monetize their content by offering exclusive access to subscriber-only content, such as VIP rooms, special items, and priority access to events. These subscriptions can be purchased using VRChat Credits, available for one month, three months, or a year.

Initially, the ability to sell subscriptions is limited to approved creators, with plans to expand access gradually. The revenue split is approximately 50% for creators, 30% for platform fees, and 20% for VRChat and its partners. This initiative is part of VRChat's broader strategy to establish a thriving 'Creator Economy,' with more updates and developments expected in the coming months.

NEWS FLASH

PSVR

Vertigo Coming To PSVR2 In December

1. 🎮 Vertigo 2 for PSVR 2: Vertigo Games confirms the release of "Vertigo 2" for PSVR 2 on December 12, promising an enhanced and immersive VR gaming experience.

2. 🕹️ Stranger Things VR Delay: The release of the "Stranger Things VR" game has been delayed indefinitely. Fans eagerly awaiting this immersive VR experience will have to wait longer due to unforeseen development challenges.

3. 🔥 VR Firefighter Training: FLAIM Trainer T3, a VR-based training solution for firefighters, is launched. This innovative approach aims to enhance safety and effectiveness in real-life firefighting scenarios through immersive training.

4. 🌌 Arken: New VR Game: "Arken: Age of Ascent," a new VR game, is set to offer an engaging space combat experience. This game promises to captivate VR gaming enthusiasts with its immersive gameplay and detailed universe.

5. 🏥 XR Gastro Training: GIGXR partners with NUS Medicine to deliver XR-based gastroenterology training. This collaboration aims to revolutionize medical education by integrating immersive technology into training programs.

6. 🎉 Steam VR Sale: The Steam Autumn Sale 2023 features significant discounts on a variety of VR games. Major titles like "Star Wars: Squadrons" are available at steep discounts, making it an ideal time for VR enthusiasts to expand their game libraries.

7. 💆‍♂️ Haven's XR Mental Health: Haven announces a new VR wellness solution, focusing on scalable and immersive mental health experiences. This initiative aims to provide accessible and effective mental health support through VR technology.

BOOKMARKS

Immersive Articles From The Web

• 18 Anticipated Quest Games Coming At The End Of 2023

• Why Some Users Claim They Got 6 Months Of Meta Quest+ Subscription For FREE

• The Best VR Games To Share With Your Family This Thanksgiving

UNREAL MONEY

FUNDING REPORT

Rokid Gets $112M In Series C Funding

Rokid, an AR technology provider, has secured $112 million in Series C funding, led by NetDragon Websoft Holdings Limited. This investment boosts Rokid's efforts in scaling AR glasses for the metaverse, focusing on interactive user experiences.

The partnership with NetDragon aims to enhance Rokid's product development, particularly in AR hardware, software, and operating systems. This collaboration will leverage NetDragon's expertise in gaming and education, targeting innovative AR experiences for a broader audience.

Rokid's CEO, Misa Zhu, highlights the company's commitment to human-computer interaction technology, with successful applications in various sectors. The funding will support Rokid's ongoing product innovation, including their recent launch of 'Rokid Max' AR glasses, which offer a theatre-style viewing experience.

COOL PROJECTS

SPYING ON THE ISS

New AR App Allows You To Spot The International Space Station

Solwey Consulting, an Austin-based woman-owned small business specializing in data, design, and software solutions, has recently announced its involvement in the development of NASA’s custom ‘Spot the Station’ mobile app.

WRAP UP

MEME OF THE DAY

“Say What?”

Have a great weekend folks.

Is it just me or is everyone’s Quest 3 riddled with bugs? I’m facing a lot of issues with basic stuff. And by the way, why is the YouTube VR app on the Quest 3 capped at 1080p? To see if I’m being crazy, I checked the app on my old Quest 2 and 4k is working fine. No online forums have an answer to this conundrum. I’ve tweeted to Meta about this and most people in the comments say they only use YouTube in a browser. This is crazy!

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