Nick LeVack

Nick LeVack

@nicklevack.bsky.social

57 followers55 following44 posts

Nick LeVack
@nicklevack.bsky.social

Meta's messaging hasn't been ... terrible since the XR industry-shaking January layoffs. Director of Games Chris Pruett continues that trend with Meta's updated #VR vision at #GDC. But users and developers have been burned before. Can they trust Meta's latest vision of the future? shorturl.at/Wi0nF

shorturl.atMeta's GDC vision: Future of VR, or just polished PR?A cloud of doubt looms over Meta following their January layoffs and studio closures. Meta's Chris Pruett attempted to paint a sunnier picture at GDC.
Nick LeVack
@nicklevack.bsky.social

Writing on my (wife's) shiny new #MacBookNeo, this week I reflected on Apple's mythologized corporate ethos in an increasingly cynical tech space, and how its presence may benefit #XR. shorturl.at/oV7nr #Apple #Meta #VisionPro #AIGlasses #RayBanMeta #VisionOS #Google #Microsoft #HorizonOS #VR #MR

shorturl.atXR is better with Apple: battling Meta's dehumanizing ethosVision Pro may be in Apple's rearview with AI glasses on the horizon, but both products should only be the start of Apple's human-centric ethos translated into XR.
Nick LeVack
@nicklevack.bsky.social

#Pico unveiled #PicoOS6 and teased their next-gen MR headset, #ProjectSwan. Promising high-end optics and a dual-processor setup, including a new "flagship SOC" (presumably #XR2Gen3?), Project Swan is slated for a 2026 release. tinyurl.com/42u65kdp #PicoSpatialEngine #ProjectPhoenix #Quest4 #Meta

tinyurl.comPico unveils OS 6, teases next-gen mixed reality headset, Project SwanPico OS 6 and Project Swan represent Pico's take on the high-end mixed reality headset market.
Nick LeVack
@nicklevack.bsky.social

I've been spending more time in #BigscreenBeta lately and wanted to reflect on my experience, especially with its 10-year anniversary in April. It's still a great shared theater experience, with plenty of chat rooms to boot. shorturl.at/dr7Te #PCVR #SocialVR #VRChat #BigscreenBeyond #MetaQuest3

shorturl.atBigscreen Beta remains a low-key social VR alternative, but with an uncertain futureBigscreen has long been lauded for its shared virtual theater experience, engendering a small, but dedicated following.
Nick LeVack
@nicklevack.bsky.social

The AI glasses market is heating up with upcoming releases from Apple and Google. How will the category-leading #RayBanMeta glasses be affected with new competition from these Big Tech platform holders? tinyurl.com/y4tmn4hu #AIGlasses #SmartGlasses #Gemini #AppleIntelligence #DisplayGlasses #Meta

tinyurl.comApple and Google will soon make AI glasses a three-horse raceRay-Ban Meta glasses have been thriving with minimal competition. That will soon change thanks to upcoming smart glasses from Apple and Google.
Nick LeVack
@nicklevack.bsky.social

#RealityLabs VP of Content Samantha Ryan confirmed #HorizonWorlds and #QuestVR separation. Worlds is pivoting to mobile-first development, while Quest will better position third-party apps and games. tinyurl.com/3ueh4nc2 #Quest3 #VirtualReality #MixedReality #VRGaming #HorizonOS #Developers #Meta

tinyurl.comMeta announces separation between Quest VR and Horizon Worlds platformsWhat may come as welcome news to users and developers alike, Horizon Worlds is shfiting to mobile-first development while Quest VR will be tailored to apps and games.
Nick LeVack
@nicklevack.bsky.social

@vrchat.com yet again broke their all-time concurrent user count, thriving despite recent struggles/pivots of social VR competitors #RecRoom and #HorizonWorlds. Also, apparently I should watch #CosmicPrincessKaguya. tinyurl.com/44xyhddx #VirtualReality #VRChat #SanrioVirtualFestival #MetaQuest3

tinyurl.comVRChat bucks social VR trends, breaks user records twice in two monthsVR's leading social app continues setting new highs and enjoying steady growth, while the competition struggles and pivots.
Nick LeVack
@nicklevack.bsky.social

Is an MR version of 2048 the most exciting thing in the world? No. Did I dedicate an entire evening to blog about it? Maybe. Are microgestures nifty? Yes! open.substack.com/pub/viewport... #mixedreality #quest3 #virtualreality #horizonos #augmentedreality #metaraybandisplay #spatialcomputing #meta

open.substack.com2048 Puzzle is a reminder that spatial computing doesn't have to be complicatedA classic puzzle game, microgestures and YouTube combine to make a relaxing MR gaming experience.
Nick LeVack
@nicklevack.bsky.social

@valvesoftware.com confirms they've had to reevaluate the release timing/pricing for #SteamFrame, along with the #SteamMachine and #SteamController. As folks have speculated for weeks, component shortages and price increases seem to be the root causes. Read more: open.substack.com/pub/viewport...

open.substack.comValve confirms shortages have impacted Steam Frame releaseSteam Frame, along with Steam Machine and Steam Controller, seem to be effectively delayed, at least beyond Valve's prior internal roadmap.
Nick LeVack
@nicklevack.bsky.social

#Xreal1S has been a great addition to my lineup. Obviously as a #spatialcomputing experience, it's limited compared to a fully featured MR headset, but I've still enjoyed using it for #DeX productivity. #Real3D has also been a game changer for, well, gaming. open.substack.com/pub/viewport...

open.substack.comDaily driving Xreal 1S for spatial computing and 3D gamingXreal's latest 1S model delivers slightly enhanced optics over the 2025 model, but the true revelation is the new Real 3D feature.
Nick LeVack
@nicklevack.bsky.social

#HorizonOS v85 PTC on #Quest3 includes some of the QOL and general computing features I anticipate being a major focus in the leadup to #ProjectPhoenix. open.substack.com/pub/viewport... #spatialcomputing #virtualreality #mixedreality #metaquest3 #vrheadset #androidxr #visionos #surfacekeyboard

open.substack.comHorizon OS v85 PTC hints at Meta's Project Phoenix roadmapSpatial computing could be a greater focus for Horizon OS in the leadup to Project Phoenix's 2027 release. v85 looks like yet another step down that path.
Nick LeVack
@nicklevack.bsky.social

This was fun to write after dabbling in the AR display glasses category, such as the new #Xreal 1S, going on a few years now. I'm excited about the prospect of #ProjectAura, but could there be a simpler solution someday? viewport360.substack.com/p/maybe-the-... #spatialcomputing #androidxr #mobile

viewport360.substack.comThe best spatial computer could be the one in your pocketXR is seeing a shift toward offloading components to external devices. Someday, could we pair HMDs with smartphones for a fully featured spatial UX?
Nick LeVack
@nicklevack.bsky.social

Meta's finally doing away with the much derided Horizon Feed. Part of a larger transition to their new Navigator UI, starting with v85. Meta's on a trajectory to bring Horizon OS's design more in line with Vision OS and Android XR. viewport360.substack.com/p/navigator-...

viewport360.substack.comNavigator replacing Horizon Feed on Quest headsetsHorizon Feed currently greets Quest users upon boot-up, though most users probably rather it not. Soon users will be greeted with their app library via the new Navigator UI.
Nick LeVack
@nicklevack.bsky.social

Had to put down my thoughts about yesterday's Meta Reality Labs layoffs. I'm usually one to avoid pessimism, but we could be heading into leaner times for VR game funding and development. Support your favorite devs, folks. #virtualreality #meta #realitylabs open.substack.com/pub/viewport...

open.substack.comMeta Reality Labs layoffs signal lean times for VR gamingVR will never die, but it may ebb and flow. Has Meta set the stage for a multi-year contraction in VR game development?
Nick LeVack
@nicklevack.bsky.social

It's probably called Project Phoenix because Meta's building it out of the ashes of their VR gaming business, in pursuit of MR productivity, general media consumption and lifestyle applications (but not Supernatural, for some reason). #realitylabs

Nick LeVack
@nicklevack.bsky.social

Taking a crack at the Substack game with my new blog, Viewport 360. It'll primarily be XR focused, but this week, I'm taking a look at the MCON magnetic smartphone controller and discussing trends in the mobile gaming market. Hope you'll subscribe! open.substack.com/pub/viewport...

open.substack.comOhsnap's MCON looks to capitalize on a bygone era of pocket-sized handhelds, but is the juice worth the squeeze?Mobile controllers like the Razer Kishi and Backbone One have become known commodities. Could the MCON's more pocketable form factor be the next big thing for gaming on your smartphone?

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