mixed reality Archives

AppWizard

May 21, 2025

Doritos and Minecraft Movie Mixed Reality Campaign Ends with a Golden Chip

A mixed reality campaign called ‘The Nether Lands’ promoted ‘A Minecraft Movie’ and positioned Doritos as the ultimate movie snack. The campaign was initiated by United Playgrounds, with creative direction from Fitzroy and real-time activation by Livewall, while immersive tech was developed by Beyond. It launched on March 28 with a full-scale Minecraft portal in Amsterdam’s Museumplein, allowing players to collect resources and battle Piglins using their phones for a chance to win an 18-karat gold Dorito chip worth €1,000. The activation expanded to cinemas, train stations, and over 135 DOOH screens in the Netherlands and Belgium, enabling anyone with a bag of Doritos to access an AR-powered Minecraft adventure. The campaign gained global attention, particularly in Times Square and Piccadilly Circus, and was covered by international media. Key results included 400,000 unique interactions, 42.5 million impressions, a 185% lift in association with “movie nights,” and a 27% increase in brand preference.

AppWizard

May 7, 2025

Minecraft officially kills support for VR

Microsoft has discontinued support for virtual reality (VR) and Mixed Reality (MR) in Minecraft with the release of Bedrock Edition version 1.21.80. This decision is part of a broader strategy to phase out its MR technology. Players can still use the Vivecraft mod to play Minecraft on Oculus or Windows MR devices, but this requires the original PC Java version of the game. Microsoft announced that VR/MR support would end after March 2025 and assured players that updates for the non-VR version would continue, along with access to Marketplace purchases.

AppWizard

May 7, 2025

Minecraft’s VR support is now gone

Mojang has discontinued support for virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) devices in the Bedrock Edition 1.21.80 Update, following a previous announcement that support would cease after March 2025. The company cites limitations in maintaining support for these platforms. Players will continue to receive updates on PCs and retain access to previously purchased Marketplace content and world-building capabilities. Alternatives for VR experiences include mods like Vivecraft for the Java version on PC and QuestCraft for Meta Quest headsets.

Winsage

April 25, 2025

Windows 11 25H2 shows signs of life: what can we expect?

The upcoming Windows 11 25H2 update is expected to be a modest enhancement rather than a major overhaul, continuing to use the Germanium codebase established with 24H2. A preview build, specifically build 27842 from the Canary Channel, has been identified, and references to GE25H2 were found in the AppraiserRes.dll file, which assesses PC compatibility for the new version. The update is anticipated to arrive in the latter half of the year, similar to previous incremental updates. Concerns exist regarding the stability of 25H2 compared to 24H2, which faced installation issues and compatibility problems. Windows 10 will reach the end of regular support on October 14, 2025, prompting users to transition to Windows 11. Smaller updates like enablement packages tend to present fewer stability risks, and Microsoft has not officially confirmed any details about 25H2 or its update process for versions 23H2 and 24H2. Speculation about Windows 12 continues, but its timeline remains uncertain.

BetaBeacon

April 24, 2025

VR brought out the kid in me again

Plastic Battlegrounds is a sandbox toy-based battle simulator game that allows players to embody a plastic soldier and engage in battles and scenarios in different parts of a house. The game focuses on creativity and imagination rather than advanced AI or cutting-edge graphics.

BetaBeacon

April 7, 2025

My seven most anticipated Meta Quest games from the 2025 Ruff Talk VR showcase

- Vestiges: Fallen Tribes is a new interactive board game set in a unique sci-fi universe blending tribal desert style with card-battling minifigure concepts. - The game is playable in VR and on desktop PC via Steam, allowing for a wide range of players and styles. - It features several units controlled at a time with powers given by cards, supports PvP and PvE modes, and offers a solo campaign with diverse objectives and playable tribes. - The game is set to launch on April 24 on the Meta Quest platform.

AppWizard

March 1, 2025

Japanese boffins invent the ‘world’s smallest shooting game’ by using an electron beam to blast particles one billionth of a metre in size

A research team at Nagoya University in Japan has developed what they claim to be the "world's smallest shooting game," utilizing nanoparticles measuring 1 billionth of a meter. The game combines digital and physical elements, where players use a digital controller to interact with nanoscale polystyrene balls, which act as enemies. An electron beam projects a spaceship on a display and generates electric fields to influence the nanoparticles' movement. The technology showcases potential applications beyond gaming, including advancements in 3D printing and targeted medical interventions. A video demonstrates the technology, showing the beam directing focus toward the nanoparticles.

AppWizard

February 23, 2025

The Best VR Headsets for PC Gaming

In virtual reality, high-quality VR headsets paired with robust gaming PCs enhance the immersive experience, with most top-tier VR games benefiting from superior PC graphics and performance. The best VR headsets for PC include: 1. Valve Index: - Resolution: 1440x1600 per eye - Refresh Rate: 120Hz (144Hz experimental) - Field of View: 130° - Tracking: 6DoF - Weight: 1.79 lbs 2. Meta Quest 3S: - Resolution: 1832x1920 per eye - Refresh Rate: 120Hz - Field of View: 90° - Tracking: 6DoF - Weight: 1.13 lbs 3. HTC Vive Pro 2: - Resolution: 2448x2448 per eye - Refresh Rate: 120Hz - Field of View: 120° - Tracking: 6DoF - Weight: 1.9 lbs 4. HTC Vive XR Elite: - Resolution: 1920x1920 per eye - Refresh Rate: 90Hz - Field of View: 110° - Tracking: 6DoF - Weight: 1.38 lbs 5. PlayStation VR2: - Resolution: 2000x2040 per eye - Refresh Rate: 120Hz - Field of View: 110° - Tracking: 6DoF - Weight: 1.24 lbs Choosing the best VR headset involves evaluating technical specifications, comfort, and fit. A powerful PC is recommended for optimal VR performance, especially for demanding titles. Standalone headsets like the Meta Quest 3S and Pico 4 do not require a PC, while the PlayStation VR2 can connect to a PC with an adapter. VR headsets often go on sale during major shopping events like Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday/Cyber Monday.

Winsage

February 17, 2025

Bill Gates talks about trading for Windows 10 as Avowed wows reviewers and Microsoft kills HoloLens and lies about uninstalling Edge

Bill Gates humorously compared the transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11 to a significant NBA trade, noting that Windows 10 holds a 60.33% market share. He also predicted that artificial intelligence could replace humans in various tasks but suggested that audiences might not enjoy watching computers play baseball. Nintendo is preparing for a potential legal battle with Pocketpair, the creators of Palworld, despite the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office rejecting 22 out of 23 of Nintendo's patent claims. Nintendo has secured a patent related to creature capturing mechanics and is pursuing additional patents. Avowed, an upcoming title from Xbox Game Studios and Obsidian Entertainment, is set to launch on February 18 and currently holds a score of around 80 on Metacritic, with early reviews praising its RPG elements. Microsoft faced criticism over a misleading webpage about uninstalling its Edge browser, which was quickly removed. Although uninstalling Edge is possible, many users may prefer to keep it installed. Microsoft has shifted the development of the IVAS militarized augmented reality headset to Anduril Industries, marking a significant move away from its HoloLens initiative, which includes the cancellation of HoloLens 3. The ASUS Zenbook Duo and Turtle Beach VelocityOne Multi-Shift received commendable scores of 4.5 out of 5 stars in reviews, with the Zenbook Duo praised for its performance and battery life, and the VelocityOne Multi-Shift recognized for its versatility for gamers.

AppWizard

February 12, 2025

Android XR apps will have camera permissions similar to Android phones

In December of last year, Google introduced Android XR, an extended reality operating system for virtual and mixed reality headsets, with a commercial launch planned for 2025. Samsung is developing a headset for this platform, called Project Moohan, and Google’s DeepMind subsidiary is creating a pair of smart glasses. Android XR app developers can request camera permissions similar to those on Android smartphones, allowing access to both world-facing and selfie cameras. Unlike Meta’s Quest 3 and Apple’s Vision Pro, which do not allow third-party camera access, Android XR will enable developers to access the living room feed through the headset's cameras to enhance mixed-reality applications. Developers can also request access to "Scene Understanding" features, including light estimation and advanced tracking capabilities for hand movements. Basic hand tracking functionalities will be available by default, with further details expected from Google soon.