VR To Promote Equity In The Workplace

Headset Sales To Rise, Steam VR 2.0 Beta, Assassin's Creed and more news...

September 26, 2023

Good morning folks!

Tomorrow is the day that VR enthusiasts have been waiting for a long time. The Meta Connect event is all set to go LIVE and it will give us more details about the Quest 3, Meta’s most promising headset yet. Here are more details on where to watch it and what to expect.

Headlines for people in a hurry:

  • ❤️ VR Will Be Used To Foster Equality & Inclusion In The Workplace

  • 🏹 Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR Release On November 16

  • 🥽 SteamVR 2.0 Is Now Available In Beta

  • 📈 VR Headset Sales About To Go Boom

Read time: 3 minutes

TOP STORIES

VALVE

SteamVR 2.0 Ready To Ship. Now Available In Beta

Valve has announced the beta release of SteamVR 2.0, marking a significant step towards integrating all new Steam features into VR.

The new UI is packed with features from Steam and Steam Deck, including updated keyboard support, Steam Chat and Voice Chat integration, and an enhanced store display.

Valve is also hinting at a new headset powered by a consolized PC. This release is just the beginning, with more updates expected in the coming weeks and months.

Valve has been working on SteamVR 2.0 for several years, and users can expect to see more advancements and bug fixes as the platform continues to evolve. The company will use the beta to iron out the kinks in preparation for a full launch.

MARKET TRENDS

HODL Your VR Stocks: Headset Sales About To Explode

Despite a 44.6% drop in VR headset sales in Q2 2023, IDC predicts a robust recovery, driven by the launch of Meta Quest 3 and other new hardware.

The research firm anticipates a 46.8% increase in sales next year, with global sales potentially reaching 30.3 million units by 2027.

The upcoming Meta Quest 3 is at the forefront of this positive shift, expected to significantly boost the VR market. The Apple Vision Pro and new hardware from ByteDance are also expected to launch soon, contributing to the market upswing.

The Meta Quest 3, launching in a few weeks, is anticipated to be a major player in this revival, bringing innovative features and enhanced performance to users.

GAMING

Quest’s Assassins Are Here: Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR Coming On Nov 16

Ubisoft's Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR is set to launch on Quest on November 16th. The game, featuring protagonists Ezio, Connor, and Kassandra, promises a mix of parkour, melee, and ranged combat in locations like Venice, Athens, and Colonial Boston.

Players can expect to engage in espionage, intrigue, and betrayal, interacting with civilians and historical figures in open map environments. The game includes blocking, parrying, and counterattacks, with weapons including bows and arrows, the Hidden Blade, swords, tomahawks, throwing knives, crossbows, and smoke bombs.

The game is also presumably coming to Quest 3 whenever the headset launches, although Meta hasn’t mentioned yet when Quest 3 is due to release.

NEWS FLASH

MIXED REALITY

Your Living Room Will Now Be A Race Track

  • 🚗 Track Craft: Track Craft is turning your home into a racing circuit through mixed reality, launching on Quest next month. Developed by Brainz Gamify, it offers various track design elements and a real-time multiplayer update in the coming months. Two curated Track Packs, 'Razzle Dazzle' and 'Surfer Rock,' will be available at launch.

  • 🎧 Spatial AirPods Pro: Apple is gearing up for the Vision Pro release in early 2024, with the latest AirPods Pro supporting a groundbreaking ultra-low latency audio protocol. This ensures synchronized and immersive audio and visual experiences, powered by the H2 chip in both devices. The specifics remain under wraps, but expect 20-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio with a massive reduction in audio latency.

  • 🐉 Dungeon Full Dive Release: Dungeon Full Dive is bringing D&D 5e to PC VR this October. The game allows you to build original maps, create heroes, and play with up to eight players per campaign, offering a unique tabletop adventure experience in VR. A Next Fest demo is dropping on October 9, with the full game arriving on October 23 on SteamVR.

  • 🙌 Your Next Move: Next Move, releasing on November 30, offers joystick-free VR platforming based on your physical movements. Traverse dreamlike worlds filled with fantasy architecture and challenges. Run, jump, and climb by actually moving your hands, offering a more immersive platforming experience. A demo with three levels is currently available on Steam, App Lab, and SideQuest.

BOOKMARKS

Immersive Articles From The Web

  • Don’t Pay For VR Apps? Try The Top 25 FREE Quest Apps & Games

  • The Story Behind The Creation Of Half-Life 2 VR

  • How Apple Inspired Creators To Take A Big Risk On Its $3500 Device

  • Innovative Vision Pro Accessory Turns Surfaces Into Trackpads.

UNREAL MONEY

FUNDING REPORT

VR To Aid In Equality & Inclusion In The Workplace

Accenture has made a strategic investment in Praxis Labs, a New York-based SaaS VR company. Praxis Labs, dedicated to fostering equity and inclusion in the workplace, offers an immersive learning platform that enhances soft skills.

The investment, part of Accenture’s Black Founders Development Program, underscores Accenture’s commitment to empowering black entrepreneurs by providing funding, networking opportunities, and community engagement.

Praxis Labs’ platform, combining evidence-based curriculum with immersive VR/MR workplace scenarios, aims to drive individual and organizational change, promoting equity and inclusion. The investment will bolster Praxis Labs’ mission of delivering impactful change, furthering the creation of equitable workplaces and society.

WRAP UP

MEME OF THE DAY

VR Threadbois be like:

Have a great week folks.

To be honest, I’m a bit worried about what Zuck’s going to say tomorrow at the Meta Connect event. Initial leaks about the presentation videos look so bad. I hope he doesn’t turn into a meme like last time. Which meme was that you ask? Google “Zuck Eiffel tower.”

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