The XR Weekly Roundup (02/25/2025): Niantic Considers Selling Pokemon Go, Meta Launches $50M Creator Fund for Horizon Worlds, and More!

Ah, the dawn of another week invites us to dive into a fresh batch of XR happenings!

Top Stories of the Week

Niantic Considers Selling Its Gaming Arm

A surprising twist has emerged from a Bloomberg report that Niantic might be selling its gaming division to Saudi-owned Scopely for a hefty $3.5 billion. The notion that Niantic could part with Pokémon Go, its crown jewel, is mind-boggling. Despite its initial wave of popularity subsiding, the game continues to pull in substantial revenue thanks to its dedicated community. Historically, Niantic hasn’t managed to replicate Pokémon Go’s success, with other ventures like an AR Harry Potter game fizzling out post-launch. It’s perplexing to see a company potentially offload its primary revenue stream, especially one that’s not just financially vital but is also instrumental in training Niantic’s AR technologies. Analysts suggest this move aligns with Niantic’s ambition to craft an ‘outdoor metaverse.’ The sale might free up resources for focusing on geospatial tools and AR service expansion, which signifies a massive leap of faith. From an entrepreneurial viewpoint, it’s a high-stakes gamble that personally I might shy away from. Yet, as an XR aficionado, the boldness excites me. Niantic’s dedication hints that it believes in an imminent AR surge—perhaps within the next three years.

Learn More

Additional Highlights

Meta Launches a $50M Creator Fund for Horizon Worlds

Meta has rolled out a $50 million fund aimed at boosting creators within its Horizon Worlds platform. This fund functions as a reward system, providing bonuses to creators based on their ecosystem contributions. Through this, Meta hopes to foster engaging mobile and MR worlds and has also initiated a competition with prizes up to $100,000. Accompanying this initiative are better tools like a new desktop editor for world creation, which now utilizes Typescript, akin to simplified versions of Unity or Unreal.

While it’s exhilarating to see Meta incentivize creators, there are downsides. At a time when XR developers are struggling for visibility in the Horizon Store, Meta’s continual emphasis on Horizon Worlds seems to be stifling startup opportunities. Critics, including writers from Android Central, suggest that all this focus on Horizon Worlds could harm the broader Quest ecosystem. Interestingly, the method of fund allocation also raises eyebrows: rather than backing promising projects, Meta rewards post-success, risking startup participation but favoring those who can afford speculative efforts—a strategy reminiscent of Roblox.

Although I commend Meta for investing in its creator ecosystem, I believe a strategic refocus could yield better results.

Learn More

The Troubling Phase in XR Continues

The XR industry continues to face turbulence with ongoing layoffs. Developers lament their games being sidelined in the Meta Horizon Store, while users complain about the prevalence of low-quality offerings. Despite these hurdles, a few promising stories shine through.

• Embracer Group expressed that Metro Awakening fell short of their financial expectations, despite its success and positive reviews.
• Toast Interactive, behind notable VR titles like Richie’s Plank Experience, faced layoffs and store visibility issues, impacting game sales.
• Schell Games rebrands Among Us VR to Among Us 3D, expanding its reach across platforms, indicating the search for broader audiences beyond VR.
• 3R Games‘s success with Thief Simulator VR, boasting sales of over 310,000 units on Quest, provides a beacon of hope amidst the challenges.

Learn More (links for various related pieces above)

Meta’s Connect 2025 Dates Announced

Mark your calendars: Meta Connect 2025 is penciled in for September 17th and 18th. While a Quest 4 announcement is off the table, expect potential sneak peeks of new smart glasses and developments from their external headset partnerships with Lenovo and ASUS. Stay tuned for updates leading up to the event.

Learn More

Noteworthy Snapshots

Palmer Luckey’s Military Headset Developments Unveiled

In a candid conversation with former Navy SEAL Shawn Ryan, Palmer Luckey delved into the specifics of his military-focused headset, which he claims transcends the existing IVAS designs. Claiming it as the best AR/VR/MR system laid down yet, his bold remarks about the headset’s groundbreaking features stir anticipation for its eventual debut.

Learn More

Meta’s Use of “MR” Raises Eyebrows

Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth’s recent declaration rebranding MR as a catch-all term for both MR and VR surprised many. This strategic vocabulary shift by Meta seems to mirror Apple’s language approach, potentially unsettling VR developers concerned about their proportionate content focus.

Learn More

Meta Quest v74 Runtime Enhancements

The newest Quest runtime surprises with a "DisplayPort" output feature, enhancing external monitor connectivity, perfect for presentations. With improvements to the casting experience and 2D windows in VR, Meta aims to refine the overall user interaction in this update.

Learn More

Upcoming VR Games Showcase

Slated for March 11, the VR Games Showcase promises glimpses into titles like Hitman on PSVR 2 and new game revelations from Flat2VR Studios—an event VR enthusiasts won’t want to miss.

Learn More

Developer-Focused Humble Bundle

This time, it’s developers in the spotlight with Humble Bundle’s "The All-In-One VR Game Dev Bundle," featuring resources compatible with Unity, Unreal, and Godot—tools for building tomorrow’s VR experiences.

Learn More

Content Tidbits

• Detective VR, allowing time-bending investigations, arrives February 27.
• Silent North, a VR shooter, launches in March with pre-order discounts.
• Chronostrike brings co-op shooter thrills to Meta Quest.
• Monster Snap aims for a 2026 release, offering photographic adventures with mythical creatures.
• Orion Drift emerges from Gorilla Tag’s studio in Early Access.

Explore more engaging titles and keep abreast of the latest in XR content creations.

Learn More

Reviews of the Latest Content

• One True Path – Part 1 offers a captivating VR narrative from the team behind A Fisherman’s Tale.
• Realize Music: Sing, albeit buggy, provides an expansive karaoke song library.
• Ashen Arrow blends VR shooting with roguelite elements.
• Selina: Mind At Large immerses players into a character-driven narrative with some technical hiccups.

Learn More

Odds and Ends

• Discover how VR visuals shine with RTX 5090 horsepower.
• New VisionOS 2.4 features for Apple devices detailed.
• A comprehensive hand-tracking comparison on PSVR 2 vs. Quest.
• Microsoft’s quantum chip breakthrough potential.
• The historical journey of VR headsets unveiled in a compelling video.

Learn More

Let’s Not Forget: Helping Those in Need

This week, let’s set aside our tech talk and focus on helping those affected by conflict in Ukraine. Consider supporting the Red Cross in their humanitarian efforts. Below is your link for making a difference:

Support The Red Cross in Ukraine

Many thanks to my Patreon supporters for their continued backing. [List of donors omitted for brevity]

(Header image by Niantic)

Disclaimer: Some links in this blog are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you’re moved to purchase a product after clicking through. Full disclosure here.