The XR Weekly Update (February 10, 2025): Meta Quest Store Undergoing Changes, Apple Eyeing PSVR 2 Controller Integration, and More!

I’ve been feeling better lately, so this newsletter is back on track, right on time. It’s been a rewarding end to the week: professionally, I broke some exciting news about camera access coming to Android XR (more on that soon), and personally, I whipped up a delicious Italian pasta meal for some friends here in China, thanks to a few ingredients I brought from home. Here’s to hoping the coming week is wonderful for everyone, myself included!

Top News of the Week

The State of the Meta Quest Ecosystem

Henry Stockdale over at Upload VR penned a detailed piece about the current challenges facing the Horizon Store. With the integration of the main store with App Lab and updates to the Meta Horizon OS and mobile app, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for Quest developers to have their games discovered by users. This lack of visibility directly impacts revenue, with some studios reporting losses of 50-80% compared to their earnings in 2023. Developers have been vocal about these struggles for weeks. A couple of months back, I shared a similar take on my blog. The need of the hour is an update from Meta that improves the discoverability of quality games and shifts focus away from the repetitive Gorilla Tag clones and over-emphasized Horizon Worlds content. Unfortunately, Meta’s response was a blog post boasting about a successful year for Quest 3 and Quest 3S, supported by Steam data, while acknowledging a demographic shift in their user base. Two-thirds of the headset purchasers this year are new users, primarily younger ones with limited spending ability, drawn to free-to-play games. Essentially, Meta’s message is: the platform is attracting a younger crowd interested in free content, so that’s what we’re prioritizing. If your work involves premium content, you’re essentially on your own. I found Meta’s response shocking. It’s great to see young users engaged in XR, which bodes well for the future of the technology. However, different user groups can co-exist, and Meta, which takes a 30% cut from transactions, should cater to both, not just free-to-play developers. It’s not about the influx of younger users; the issue began around mid-2024 when Meta revamped its store, causing developers to see a sharp dip in revenue. If Meta continues its current path, developers may pivot to creating flatscreen content or move towards emerging competitors like Android XR, fueling a sense of betrayal. Meta risks alienating the vibrant ecosystem of Quest creators if it continues this focus on Horizon Worlds. Community sentiment largely supports developers, with Reddit users encouraging purchases of premium games and advocating the uninstallation of Horizon Worlds to reduce its prominence. Amidst this turmoil, Mark Rabkin, VP of XR at Meta, has departed for family reasons. The management shakeup isn’t helping this critical situation.

Other Relevant News

Andrew Bosworth on 2025: The Decisive Year for XR

A memo from Andrew Bosworth to Meta employees became a hot topic this week. The tone was motivational, urging Meta’s workforce to enhance their efforts in making XR mainstream. There are notable aspects to discuss. Bosworth describes 2025 as the pivotal year for XR at Meta. Personally, I find this a stretch. XR is still in its nascent stages, and this year isn’t expected to bring groundbreaking developments, aside from the introduction of Android XR headsets. Yet, the Samsung device is priced too steeply to pose a real threat to Meta. With Meta investing billions in XR and planning to do so into the 2030s, as Mark Zuckerberg indicated this week, there’s no reason why 2025 should be crucial. It seems more like a motivational tactic. Bosworth mentioned, “This year likely determines whether this entire XR effort will be seen as visionary or as a legendary misadventure,” sparking speculation that he’s preemptively bracing for failure, perhaps anticipating further VR budget cuts. Some believe Meta is shifting focus to smart glasses, abandoning VR. I disagree; no manager sets employees up for failure—doing so would prompt them to leave. Even though sales of Ray-Ban Meta glasses hit a million, it doesn’t signify mainstream uptake. Switching focus from VR to an unproven, albeit hyped, market would be unwise. Bosworth also mentioned launching “half a dozen wearables,” likely smart glasses, smart watches, and neural smart bands. John Carmack reviewed the memo, appreciating it but critiquing two points. He felt Bosworth should have emphasized both VR and MR, not just MR, and criticized the ongoing obsession with Horizon Worlds on mobile, which might be derailing Meta from broader priorities.

Apple Working on PSVR 2 Controller Integration

Reportedly, Apple is still integrating PSVR 2 controllers into the Apple Vision Pro, according to Marc Gurman. These controllers, sold separately, cater to those looking to play games requiring controllers on the Vision Pro. If the partnership with Sony solidifies, Sony would start selling controllers without the headset. The timeline for this update remains unclear, though VisionOS 3’s announcement during WWDC in June seems a likely occasion.

Android XR: Camera Access Confirmed

Google has confirmed that its upcoming Android XR operating system will feature camera access akin to that of smartphones. Developers will have access to the headset’s front and back cameras with the user’s consent, prompted via a popup. The headset’s front camera is treated as the phone’s back camera, while the selfie camera equivalent is a reconstructed avatar face, capturing real-world imagery and user likeness. This development is promising as true mixed reality experiences demand camera access, aligning with Google’s user-centric permission system found on its phones.

News Worth a Mention

Quest Game Optimizer Hits a Milestone

To balance some of the week’s negative XR news, here’s a positive update: Quest Game Optimizer, an app designed to maximize Quest performance settings, reached 100,000 users—even though it’s not on the app store and requires sideloading. Kudos to the creator for this achievement.

John Carmack Remarks on Beat Saber’s Impact on XR

John Carmack took to social media to state that “standalone VR was the biggest win that VR ever had,” asserting that Beat Saber had more impact than Half-Life Alyx. From an adoption standpoint, I agree. Both games hold significant importance—Alyx crucially attracted hardcore gamers and demonstrated VR’s potential for deep immersion.

Ray-Ban Meta’s Super Bowl Ads

Meta’s new ads for Ray-Ban Meta glasses are now available, featuring Hollywood stars for the SuperBowl. While I appreciated the Chris Hemsworth spot, the humor fell a bit flat for me. Still, any awareness for smart glasses is welcome.

Spatial.io Ventures into Gaming

After several shifts, Spatial.io seems to have found success with its latest endeavor into gaming. Their new release, Animal Company, draws heavy inspiration from Gorilla Tag, and it’s delightful to see their persistence pay off after several business pivots.

Civilization VII Goes VR

Sid Meier’s Civilization VII is set to debut on Meta Quest alongside traditional platforms. Available in both MR and VR, its arrival may not precisely align with current Quest market desires, but as someone who fondly remembers playing Civilization II, it certainly puts a smile on my face.

Additional Content Updates

• Synth Riders marks Super Bowl LIX with a Kendrick Lamar Experience on Apple Vision Pro.
• FRENZIES launches a Super Bowl-themed event on Quest.
• Gorilla Tag celebrates its fourth anniversary with a Birthday Bash event.
• Harpagun, a VR shoot-and-smash arcade game, enters early access on Quest February 13.
• Project Aeroes, a mixed reality game guiding spaceships, launched on Quest, available free until March 5.
• The color-matching VR puzzle game Boxed Out comes to Quest on March 24.
• DIVR Labs will release an Aim Assault VR rail shooter demo on February 13 for PC VR.
• A co-op game Duet, involving strangers building communication through cooperation, is in development.
• Upload VR shares its latest XR News Round-Up, featuring various minor news.

Reviews

• COLD VR, a unique twist on SUPERHOT, offers intriguing gameplay but some levels need further refinement.

Other News

• Steam notifies players about early access games that haven’t been updated in over a year.
• Stereopsia and AWE Europe will merge for an event in Brussels called UnitedXR.
• Meta is internally exploring a "Desk Mode" for Meta AI on Quest, permitting AI interaction in standby mode—a feature yet to be confirmed for release.

Support for XR Developers

As mentioned in this newsletter, it’s a challenging time for XR developers. Any support is deeply appreciated: purchase a game or app, leave a positive review, share games on social media, or spread the word—every little bit helps.

Donating for a Good Cause

As with previous weeks, I’d like to highlight an opportunity to assist war-afflicted communities. Consider donating to the Red Cross, which continues to address the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. You’ll find the link for donations below. Also, a heartfelt thank you to my Patreon supporters for their ongoing encouragement.

[Support The Red Cross in Ukraine]

(Header image by Meta)

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