The XR Weekly Overview (January 15, 2025): XR Devices Shine at CES, Quest 3S Dominates 2024 Sales, and Other Highlights!

Back in Italy after an incredible stint at CES, I’m still buzzing from the whole experience. It’s hard to believe I actually made it to such a massive tech event, but every bone in my body can confirm it—each one seemed to ache after my return! Yet, the thrill of attending was worth every bit of soreness. Whether it was as a blogger, tech enthusiast, or entrepreneur, each facet of my career was enriched by being there. Naturally, CES dominates this week’s roundup, but there’s other exciting news to explore too. Let’s dive in and catch up on everything together! (And apologies for the delayed newsletter—I was swamped with tasks upon returning from Las Vegas.)

Top News of the Week

Many XR Products Showcased at CES

CES is arguably the most prominent tech event around, and it was a delight to find a dedicated section for XR companies. It was bustling with XR aficionados, which underscores how this niche, while still niche, continues to flourish. Smartglasses featured heavily, many integrating AI, like the Ray-Ban Meta pictured above, or the Halliday glasses with their tiny displays. Goertek showcased new designs for smart and AR glasses, likely inspiring more companies to jump into the fray. While nothing earth-shattering came from CES in the XR realm, keynotes from giants like NVIDIA and Sony were noteworthy. NVIDIA unveiled their RTX 50 graphics cards, promising a boost for PCVR. Their Geforce Now streaming service is now compatible with Quest, Pico, and Apple Vision Pro, allowing MR users to enjoy flatscreen games projected on simulated large screens.

Sony, on the other hand, presented XYN, a new lineup of XR hardware and software aimed at creatives. Details were scant, though they did mention revamping an enterprise headset—at over $4000, it’s inaccessible to most. They talked about Mocopi for precise body tracking and 3D object scanning, though how it all meshes isn’t entirely clear yet. Nonetheless, Sony’s dedication to XR is a positive sign. HDMI’s new 2.2 standard also boasts a staggering 96Gb/s bandwidth, which might tempt some headsets to revert to this port.

I’ve shared insights on the devices I managed to test, like the Shiftall MeganeX SuperLight 8K, Ray-Ban Meta, and Pimax Crystal Super, which you can read about below. My standout from CES was the Play For Dream headset—review coming soon. Amanda Watson, whom I met and greatly admire, also felt it was a highlight. If you missed CES, don’t worry—I recorded a video tour of the XR area for you to enjoy!

Meta Quest 3S Tops Amazon’s 2024 Sales

In delightful news, Meta Quest 3S has become Amazon US’s best-selling console for 2024. This isn’t just in VR; it outpaced all other gaming consoles across the board, ranking as the third most-sold item in the entire Video Games category despite its October launch. Impressive holiday sales may have driven it, and the popular Meta Horizon app topping the Apple App Store hints at the surge. Moreover, the number of players in Batman Arkham Shadow doubled over the festive season, evidencing a sales spike. Though VR hasn’t gone mainstream, it certainly gains traction, with new headsets making their way into homes.

Meta Discontinues the Quest Pro

Meta has pulled the plug on its Quest Pro, effectively wrapping up its run as their first prosumer headset. You’ll no longer find it on the Meta site, though the controllers, Touch Pro, are still available since they work with other Quest headsets. This move isn’t too surprising—Quest Pro felt rushed, initially priced at $1500 and failing to meet sales expectations, eventually dropping to $1000. Its discontinuation marks the end of an era, though it was Meta’s only headset with eye and face tracking—a feature now apparently carried forward by Asus, if recent leaks are to be believed.

News Worth a Mention

ASUS ROG VR Headset with Face Tracking

Noted leaker Luna has shared new insights into the ASUS ROG VR headset, codenamed Tarius. As one of the inaugural third-party headsets running HorizonOS, it promises features like eye and face tracking. Their screen options include QD-LCD with local dimming or micro OLED. While specifics are scarce, the leak suggests development of third-party Horizon headsets is progressing well.

Infinite Reality Raises $3B

Infinite Reality has announced a jaw-dropping $3 billion funding round to fuel its WebXR-supported immersive web content engine. This was unexpected within the XR community—such a massive sum coming from a sole private backer evokes curiosity. Comparing this to OpenAI’s eye-watering investments puts things in perspective; Infinite Reality still needs to prove its market value.

News From the World of XR

• Explore walking in VR while lying down—a unique method that takes effort but prompts a "why?" from many who’ve seen it.
• DotLumen’s innovative headset helps visually impaired individuals navigate their surroundings through obstacle-avoidance guidance, a true game changer.
• Meta is offering a $50 discount on the Quest 3S 256GB version, bundling it with Batman Arkham Shadow—a reflection of its struggle to match the more affordable variant’s sales.
• Sanzaru Games, creators of Asgard’s Wrath, are gearing up for their next big project after releasing Asgard’s Wrath 2 updates. I’m excited about what’s next, perhaps in mixed reality alongside Meta!
• Dive into the latest updates in new VR content, from fitness games to detective narratives, each offering something unique for virtual aficionados.

With VR continuously evolving, let’s stay updated and inspired by these developments. Don’t forget to catch fun content and engaging reviews on various platforms.

Support for Charity

In these wrap-ups, aside from covering the latest tech marvels, I’m committed to putting forward a cause worth our attention. This week, I urge everyone to support the Red Cross in Ukraine amid ongoing humanitarian challenges. To those who’ve helped my blog thrive through Patreon—thank you, your support means everything.

Lastly, I’ve had the pleasure of teaming up with Tyriel Wood at CES 2025, and until next week, I’ll be championing his amazing XR content over on YouTube. His insights are worth your time, so do check him out.

If you’re looking for a good laugh, explore some XR humor like mixed reality truck driving or even the quirks of the Steam Sales. Let’s remember the power of innovation lies not just in premium graphics or breakthrough hardware, but in community spirit and stories shared.