VR Archives

AppWizard

May 22, 2025

Meta beats Android XR to the punch by making Instagram scrolling spatial

Instagram is testing a new feature that introduces an immersive 3D experience for users interacting with photos on the platform, utilizing Meta's Reality Labs and the Meta Quest VR headset. A select group of testers will soon experience this functionality, which aims to enhance visual exploration and engagement with Instagram's content.

BetaBeacon

May 21, 2025

Google’s best-kept secret needs to be a standard Android 16 feature — and it could be game changing

The text discusses the potential for smart glasses to be used as a monitor for Android desktop mode, making a stronger case for their adoption.

AppWizard

May 10, 2025

Weekend PC Download Deals for May 9: Sus

Among Us 3D was launched this week on PC by Schell Games, offering a new perspective on the classic game, available at a discounted price for the weekend. Blizzard is providing various deals, while Epic Games Store features exclusive titles and offers. Fanatical allows users to build their own Bethesda Bundle with select titles for specific prices. Gamebillet, Gamersgate, GamesPlanet, GOG.com, and Green Man Gaming are all offering competitive deals and discounts. Humble Bundle has a subscription option for .99 per month with various game offerings and tiered bundles. Ubisoft is running a promotion with a coupon code for discounts. Steam continues to offer a vast library and frequent sales.

AppWizard

May 10, 2025

Celebrate Star Wars being good again with up to 85% off EA’s Jedi and Battlefront games until May 15

This year's Star Wars Day has generated excitement among fans and gamers, partly due to the success of the Andor TV series and the announcement of Star Wars Zero Company from Bit Reactor. EA is offering discounts of up to 85% on its Star Wars games on Steam, including Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order for .99 (£5.24) and Jedi Survivor for .99 (£11.99). The 2015 reboot of Star Wars: Battlefront is available for .99, while Battlefront 2 is priced at .99 (£6.99). Star Wars: Squadrons is also on sale for .99 (£5.24). These offers will be available until May 15. Future Star Wars gaming projects include Zero Company, a third Jedi game from Respawn, and ongoing developments for Star Wars Eclipse and the KOTOR Remake.

AppWizard

May 10, 2025

After a decade of development, Roboquest’s developer is calling time on its roguelite shooter: ‘There’s no way we can continue to provide content for players with over 1,000 hours of gameplay’

In the early days of gaming, post-launch support was minimal and primarily focused on bug fixes. Today, players expect ongoing support and new content for months or years after a game's release. RyseUp Studio, the developers of Roboquest, announced that after a decade of support, they will soon conclude updates for the game. The only remaining updates will be a PlayStation port and a standalone spinoff, Roboquest VR. Despite the game's positive reception on Steam with over 16,000 reviews, the studio is transitioning to a new project, aiming for a more efficient development plan. This situation highlights the evolving expectations in game development, particularly for smaller studios facing pressure to deliver extensive support.

AppWizard

May 10, 2025

The next ‘Minecraft’ could come from a Niagara College student

Conor MacNeill, a game development professor at Niagara College, highlights the excitement of students presenting their capstone projects at the Welland campus library. The game development program has grown from about a dozen graduates to a large community, now including collaborations with Brock University. Students are now creating VR games, a significant development compared to the program's early years. First-year student Mark Lampman and fourth-year student Dante Bell showcase their projects, with Bell's team, Slugworks, presenting a game called "Green Thing from the Planet Jupiter." This game features a competitive chase between a green alien and a cat, requiring significant time commitment from the team. The GDLaunch event has evolved, with students actively promoting their games through various marketing strategies. Approximately 25 alumni attended, many looking to hire graduates. The gaming industry is expected to grow through 2027, providing promising opportunities for students. After GDLaunch, 64 graduates attended the Level Up Showcase in Toronto, where their game won second place for Achievement in Audio. The event attracted around 5,000 attendees, showcasing the innovation and dedication of the students.

AppWizard

May 8, 2025

Mojang has just killed support for Minecraft VR, an underrated but very flawed VR experience

Mojang has announced the discontinuation of VR support for Minecraft, with plans to cease support by March 2025 and a suspension of VR functionality that occurred in May. The transition away from VR has received mixed reactions, as the experience was often described as temperamental and underwhelming. Alternatives like Vivecraft, a fan-supported mod, allow players to enjoy Minecraft in VR on PCs, but come with challenges such as requiring additional setup and coordination among friends. The decision to discontinue support likely stems from Minecraft's evolving nature, which complicates development and leads to the obsolescence of older versions.

AppWizard

May 8, 2025

Mojang’s big Minecraft VR mistake

Mojang has officially discontinued VR support for the Bedrock version of Minecraft on PCs, ending a VR initiative that began in April 2016. The Gear VR version was initially available on devices like the Oculus Go and original Oculus Quest, but support for older games on the Oculus Quest 2 rendered these experiences obsolete. Modders, particularly through the Vivecraft mod, have filled the gap left by Mojang, with QuestCraft being a notable port for Meta Quest headsets. Despite Mojang's claims of lacking resources for VR, the company has over 55 million daily active players and a workforce of more than 600 employees, indicating financial stability. The demographics of the Meta Quest user base suggest a strong potential interest in Minecraft if officially supported. Recent collaborations between Meta and Microsoft hint at potential opportunities for an official Minecraft VR port, yet progress remains stagnant. The QuestCraft Discord server has 80,000 members, indicating significant interest in a VR version of Minecraft, which could attract hundreds of thousands of active users.

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.