The XR Weekly Update (January 29, 2025): Google Acquires HTC’s Engineering Team, Meta Prepares to Launch Oakley Smartglasses, and More News!

Happy Lunar New Year, everyone! As we usher in the Year of the Snake, I hope it brings you joy, prosperity, and exciting XR advancements. For those celebrating, may you relish every moment with loved ones and enjoy some delicious food. 😊 Admittedly, I’m swamped with work, which means this newsletter is a tad late and a bit shorter than usual, but rest assured, it still covers all the XR essentials!

Top News of the Week

Google Acquires HTC Vive Engineers for $250 Million

In a surprising move, Google has snapped up a team of XR engineers from HTC Vive for a staggering $250 million. This acquisition also includes a non-exclusive license to some of HTC’s intellectual property. Though they’ve kept details scarce, Google plans to harness this expertise to advance the Android XR platform across various headsets and glasses. While it’s unclear whether these engineers will focus on Android XR or a potential Google headset, the odds seem better for the former. This isn’t Google’s first venture with HTC’s talent; back in 2017, they acquired HTC’s design team for around $1.1 million. This latest move underscores Google’s commitment to the XR landscape, though only time will tell if these projects withstand the shifting tides of corporate priorities. Meanwhile, it raises questions about HTC’s future direction. Are they pivoting to building headsets for others, or scaling back their own releases? Only time will reveal their strategy.

Other Relevant News

Meta Works on New Smartglasses

Following the success of Ray-Ban Meta glasses, Meta is diving deeper into this arena. According to a report by Mark Gurman, Meta is collaborating with EssilorLuxottica to launch new Oakley-branded smartglasses, targeted at athletes. Although these won’t have a display, they’ll include a camera and speakers. A more advanced model, featuring a display for notifications, is also in development, expected to cost about $1000. While Meta is exploring different segments, they haven’t forgotten about the original Ray-Ban Meta, planning high-profile Superbowl ads featuring Hollywood stars. Looking ahead, Meta’s high-tech Orion glasses will reach developers in 2026, with a cheaper model, Artemis, slated for 2027.

Continued Development on Quest Pro’s Successor

Meta remains dedicated to advancing VR with the forthcoming Quest 4 and a potential Quest Pro successor. This premium model, possibly codenamed "Puffin," is rumored to feature lightweight MR glasses connected to an external battery. Considering the Quest Pro’s miss, a refined version could carve out a niche in the enterprise market, especially as competitors unveil costly devices.

More Insights into Samsung and Google’s Project Moohan

Expectations were high for Samsung Unpacked’s XR announcements, but major reveals were scarce. However, Google and Samsung did display enhanced integration of Gemini AI on Samsung devices, hinting at broader future applications. The Moohan headset was also previewed, with famed YouTuber Marques Brownlee providing a close look, revealing its Vision Pro-inspired design and interface.

News Worth Mentioning

• Meta Explains Quest Headset Bugs: Mark Rabkin clarified that a glitch in the Android Open Source Project caused holiday season issues, not Meta. Fortunately, Meta has resolved and notified Google.

• CM Games Hits $3M with Into The Radius 2: Despite only being in early access on Steam, Into The Radius 2 has already grossed $3M, attributed to collaborative development with the Steam community.

• CREAL’s Lightfield Advances: CREAL is closing in on integrating their miniaturized lightfield engine into standard glasses, making AR objects more lifelike.

• Quest 3’s Automated Room Scanning: Rumors suggest that Meta is tackling one of MR’s biggest friction points: making room scanning automatic and adaptable to real-time layout changes.

• Inspirational AI Future Video: Keiichi Matsuda, in collaboration with Niantic, released an inspiring video on a future filled with AI and augmented reality—worth a watch!

Content Updates and Launches

• Fitness Fables: Blending fantasy action with VR fitness, launching January 30 for $12.
• FlatOut VR: Promising elements from various FlatOut games.
• Path of Fury – Episode I: Tetsuo’s Tower: Kung-Fu VR game arriving on Quest March 12.
• Elsewhere Electric: Co-op puzzle game for Quest and PC VR announced for Spring/Summer.
• The Smurfs – Flower Defense: Taking mixed-reality tower defense to Quest 3 this May.
• Crysis Now in VR: Due to a mod, gamers can finally say, "Yes, it runs Crysis in VR!"

Other News

• XR in Game Development: A GDC survey reports 35% of developers are engaging with XR.
• Half-Price Snap Spectacles: A new offer that benefits students and teachers.

In the spirit of giving, instead of asking for donations to support my blog, I encourage you to consider donating to the Red Cross to assist those affected by the conflict in Ukraine. Below is the link to contribute:

Support The Red Cross in Ukraine

Thank you to all my Patreon supporters for backing my work. Your support is invaluable.