Spooktacular Halloween games, exciting Pentagon MR updates, and strong sales data for the Quest 3S!

?? Spooktacular VR Experiences: Top scary games to play this Halloween

• Several new and updated VR games have been released in 2024 for the spooky season, including Another Door: Escape Room, a co-op escape room game filled with horror-themed challenges, and Arizona Sunshine Remake, a revitalized zombie survival experience set in a post-apocalyptic world.
• Seasonal Updates: Popular VR titles such as Death Game Hotel and Panic Room are introducing Halloween-themed updates, including new challenges and gameplay mechanics designed to enhance the spooky atmosphere.
• Ongoing Events: Established games like Phasmophobia are launching new Halloween events, offering players special experiences that coincide with the spooky season. The POPULATION: ONE battle royale is also celebrating with seasonal rewards and themed gameplay.
• Special Promotions: Many games are offering limited-time Halloween promotions, including discounts and themed cosmetics. Players can enjoy seasonal updates in games like Ragnarock, Richie's Plank Experience, and Synth Riders.

More on: https://www.uploadvr.com/vr-halloween-games-updates-2024/

?? Oculus Founder, Palmer Luckey, revamps Military AR vision Amid IVAS Struggles

• Palmer Luckey, founder of Oculus and CEO of Anduril, prioritizes advanced AR technology for the military, partnering with Microsoft on the Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS).
• IVAS has faced delays, high costs, and technical issues (like nausea and eye strain among soldiers), raising concerns in the Pentagon and leading to potential budget cuts.
• Anduril's Lattice system will support IVAS with real-time data from drones, radars, and other equipment, enhancing battlefield decision-making for soldiers.
• Luckey predicts that AR will see more rapid adoption in defense due to its life-saving potential, contrasting with the consumer market where practicality and style are key.
• The Pentagon, with Anduril’s technology, is preparing for potential conflicts, particularly in the Pacific region, aiming to deter threats from countries like China.

More on https://www.technologyreview.com/2024/10/28/1106265/palmer-luckey-on-the-pentagons-future-of-mixed-reality/

?? What does Meta’s XR strategy moves mean for the Industry

• Orion AR glasses prototype, with a 70-degree field of view and compact design, represents Meta’s ambitious AR vision. The glasses set a new benchmark in the field, showcasing Meta’s push towards practical, immersive AR.
• Quest 3S Speeds the Transition Away from Quest 2: Quest 3S headset is a cost-effective alternative to Quest 3, offering enhanced mixed reality (MR) features for casual users. It addresses the need for affordable, versatile MR technology, further encouraging Quest 2 users to upgrade.
• The company now grants developers camera access on the headsets, enabling more realistic MR experiences. This new developer feature aims to drive higher-quality, environment-interactive applications while carefully managing privacy risks.
• New Tools for Developers to Bring ‘Spatial Computing’ to Quest: these new tools aim to simplify porting flat-screen and spatial applications to this devices, which targets app developers and broadens potential Quest platform applications beyond gaming, from productivity tools to immersive XR content.
• Meta’s Horizon OS will now extend to third-party headsets from select partners like Asus and Lenovo, allowing them to run Meta’s OS on new devices. This strategy mimics Microsoft’s former VR approach, aiming to diversify available XR hardware with broader accessibility to Meta’s content ecosystem.

More on: https://www.roadtovr.com/meta-orion-quest-3s-new-era-2024/

?? Meta's Quest 3S Attracts New Users and Boosts Retention Rates

• Meta's VP of VR, Mark Rabkin, reported that the Quest 3S has attracted the highest proportion of new users since the launch of the Quest 2, indicating strong market interest in the budget-friendly headset.
• Unlike the more expensive Quest Pro and Quest 3, the Quest 3S serves as a direct replacement for the Quest 2, appealing to both first-time buyers and casual users considering an upgrade.
• Retaining users is a critical challenge in the VR industry, and Meta emphasizes the importance of keeping users engaged with the Quest ecosystem to ensure ongoing spending in the Quest Store.
• While specific numbers were not disclosed, the Quest 3 is noted for achieving the highest retention rates among all Meta headsets, reflecting its success in keeping users active and invested in the platform.

More on https://mixed-news.com/en/meta-quest-3s-new-quest-users-vs-upgraders/