VR Sales Surge To Record Heights

Vision Pro in January, First Successful AR Surgery, Squid Game's $4.5M and more

December 12, 2023

Good morning folks!

I spent my weekend showing the Quest 3 to some relatives who were visiting. I played some YouTube VR videos and the First Encounters mixed reality game. You know it’s truly funny seeing old uncles and aunts who say today’s generation is addicted to video games, shooting aliens, and laughing hysterically like morons. Ah! That’s what VR is made for.

Headlines for people in a hurry:

  • 📈 2023 Black Friday VR Sales Break Records In The UK

  • 📅 Apple Targets An Ambitious January Release For Vision Pro

  • ⚕️ World’s First AR Spine Surgery Completed Successfully

  • 💸 Squid Game VR Earns $4.56 Million In 2 Months

Read time: 3 minutes

TOP STORIES

ANALYTICS

The Biggest Ever Revenue Week For VR In The UK

The UK witnessed a remarkable surge in VR headset sales during Black Friday 2023, marking it as the "biggest ever revenue week for VR," as reported by GfK. The sales of VR headsets increased by 33% in units and 17% in revenue compared to the previous year's Black Friday.

The numbers are quite impressive because the Quest 3 and PSVR2, which are the hottest VR headsets on the market right now, did not go on sale. When asked by a reader on X whether this was mainly driven by Quest or by PlayStation VR2, the writer of the article responded, "Both."

It’s safe to assume that this surge was largely driven by the older Meta Quest 2, which offered significant discounts and a £50 credit promotion, making it an attractive purchase for consumers. Additionally, ByteDance's Pico 4 also contributed to the sales spike with its competitive pricing and deals, indicating a growing interest and adoption of VR technology in the UK market.

APPLE

Apple Wants To Release The Vision Pro By January.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is "aiming internally" to get Vision Pro "out the door" by the end of January. Apple hasn’t announced an official release date yet, except for “early 2024.” Analysts predicted that it could be by May 2024, owing to the complex manufacturing challenges of the device.

However, this new report suggests that January had been the earlier intended target by Apple. It’s safe to say that, based on the latest news from supply chain analysts, this deadline does not look achievable now. A release before March seems more plausible due to potential production and logistical challenges.

But what we can confirm is that employee training for the Vision Pro is set to begin in the middle of January. The idea is to fly in a few people from each store, teach them how to use and sell the device, and then have those folks go back home to train everyone else.

HEALTHCARE

The First AR Spinal Surgery Completed Successfully

Image Courtesy: Mixed News

Stanford Medicine has achieved a significant milestone in medical technology by successfully performing a spinal surgery using augmented reality (AR). This operation utilized the Microsoft Hololens 2 headset in conjunction with Surgical Theater's technology, marking a new era in surgical procedures.

The use of AR allowed surgeons to have an enhanced view of the patient's internal structures, including organs, arteries, veins, nerves, and tumors, by overlaying AR objects onto the patient's anatomy.

This innovative approach to surgery demonstrates the immense potential of XR technology in transforming medical procedures, offering precision and improved planning capabilities. The success of this surgery at Stanford Medicine is a testament to the future possibilities of AR in healthcare, paving the way for more advanced and safer surgical techniques.

NEWS FLASH

METAVERSE FASHION

Reebok Enters The Metaverse

BOOKMARKS

Immersive Articles From The Web

  • CNN: Tim Cook Is Risking His Legacy With An Unproven Market

  • There Has Never Been A Better Time To Be A VR Gamer

  • PSVR 2: The Most Downloaded Games In November 2023

  • Arizona Sunshine 2 Review

  • Top XR Retail & E-commerce Vendors for 2023

  • Racket Club VR Review

UNREAL MONEY

EARNINGS REPORT

Red Light, Green Money: Squid Game VR Crosses $4.56 Million In 2 Months

The Netflix reality show Squid Game: The Challenge, based on the hit TV series, has found a winner who took home $4.56 million in real-life money. Now the VR version has also generated the same amount. If you didn’t know, “456” is an important number for the franchise. The main character of the Korean TV drama received a prize of 45.6 billion South Korean Won.

Sandbox VR's "Squid Game Virtuals," the VR-based location-entertainment show, has now generated the remarkable figure of $4.56 million in just its first two months. This success makes it the biggest hit ever for the company. Launched on September 19, the virtual reality experience is based on the hit streaming video series "Squid Game" and is available at 46 Sandbox VR locations worldwide.

The experience, priced at $60 per person, has attracted about 75,000 participants, setting a new record for a game launch at Sandbox VR. The company's CEO, Steve Zhao, anticipates further growth during the holiday season. This achievement not only underscores the popularity of the "Squid Game" franchise but also highlights the potential of VR as a medium for immersive entertainment experiences.

COOL PROJECTS

INTERIOR DESIGN

Design Your Living Room In XR

WRAP UP

MEME OF THE DAY

“And it comes with free cereal.”

Have a great week folks.

Have a non-urgent surgery coming up? I’d say wait till all hospitals get Microsoft Hololens headsets. Wait, if VR can guide me with the procedure, can I become a surgeon too?

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