Quest 3 Archives

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 17, 2025

This vest transformed the way I experience games

The Woojer Haptic Vest 3 provides immersive gaming experiences by adding haptic feedback to the whole torso, allowing users to feel vibrations corresponding to in-game actions such as shooting a gun or getting shot. The vest operates on sound and connects to audio sources via Bluetooth or a 3.5mm cable. It features a battery pack that lasts approximately 8 hours and can be controlled through the Woojer app on a phone. The vest is comfortable to wear and best suited for games with specific tactile experiences, such as shooters and rhythm games. Despite being a costly investment, the Woojer Haptic Vest 3 enhances immersion and spatial awareness in gaming.

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

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.

AppWizard

February 11, 2025

Android XR Will Let Apps Access The Passthrough View, Google Confirms

Google has confirmed that Android XR will allow applications to access the passthrough camera view, enabling third-party developers to interact with camera systems of headsets like Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro. Currently, developers have been limited to higher-level data from these cameras, such as skeletal coordinates and basic object tracking. Apple has provided some access to enterprise companies for the Vision Pro's passthrough cameras under strict conditions. Meta plans to offer Quest developers access to passthrough cameras in early 2025. Developers will be able to request camera permissions similar to standard Android applications, with access to the world-facing camera stream (cameraid=0) and the selfie camera stream (cameraid=1). Apps must request camera permissions to access the world-facing camera feed, and accessing the selfie camera will provide a video stream of the user’s avatar based on tracking data from inward-facing cameras.

BetaBeacon

February 7, 2025

The Meta Quest saw Wii-like growth in 2024, but that spells trouble for some games

Nintendo's shift to a Blue Ocean strategy with the Wii led to higher sales than competitors, attracting new gamers. Meta's Meta Quest platform is seeing a demographic shift, with more young users and a decrease in interest in AAA games. The platform is focusing more on free-to-play titles and social apps, leading to challenges for developers of big-budget games. Indie games are becoming more prominent on the platform, signaling a shift away from big-name titles.

BetaBeacon

February 3, 2025

VR games surge on Android as Meta Quest 3 drives 60% growth

In 2024, virtual reality games on Android saw a significant increase in popularity, with 13 million new users joining the platform, marking a 60% increase from the previous year.

Winsage

December 26, 2024

How to Use Windows on Meta Quest 3 Headsets

At Ignite 2024, Microsoft announced enhanced support for Windows applications on Meta Quest 3 and Quest 3S devices, allowing users to access Microsoft’s suite of tools without additional software. Users can create multiple virtual windows for multitasking, such as switching between Microsoft Teams and spreadsheets. Previously, users accessed Windows apps via Air Link, Remote Desktop in Horizon Workrooms, or third-party software. The new integration allows streaming from a Windows 11 PC or virtual Windows Cloud PC, enabling quick access to Windows applications in an XR environment. This functionality includes creating multiple virtual monitors or a single large monitor while maintaining visibility of physical surroundings. The experience is supported by a program called “Volumetric Apps.” Microsoft has discontinued its “Windows Mixed Reality” platform but continues to support XR innovators. Microsoft also announced the end of software support for HoloLens 2 in 2027 and hinted at a new deal with Samsung for OLED displays for a future mixed-reality headset.

AppWizard

December 24, 2024

PC Gamer’s highest review scores of 2024

Concerns about "score inflation" in gaming reviews have been raised, with a score of 90% expected to represent an exceptional game. PC Gamer has not awarded a score higher than 98%, with Baldur's Gate 3 receiving the highest score of 97% in its UK edition. The 2024 Game of the Year Award winners are not included, but the year featured quality titles. Scores and their corresponding games include: - 89%: - Persona 3 Reload - Tekken 8 - Dragon's Dogma 2 - V Rising - Little Kitty, Big City - Lorelai and the Laser Eyes - 90%: - Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 - Shogun Showdown - Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred - Satisfactory - Riven - Animal Well - Granblue Fantasy: Relink - 91%: - Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake - Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance - Wild Bastards - Balatro - 92%: - Destiny 2: The Final Shape - Factorio: Space Age - 94%: - Caves of Qud - 95%: - Not specified in the provided text.

BetaBeacon

December 22, 2024

Android XR could be Google’s Daydream redemption, and VR games can help

Daydream had issues such as draining phone batteries and lack of smartphone support. Google abandoned Daydream just as Quest began to take off. Google could potentially regain ground in the XR market by focusing on gaming, offering a curated selection of apps, supporting hand-tracking and controllers, and utilizing powerful hardware like Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2. The success of Android XR will depend on how well Google can differentiate itself from competitors like Meta and Apple.