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Sony agrees to transfer over 400 global VR patents to Meta following December 2025 agreement
Sony has agreed to transfer 419 global virtual reality patents to Meta, including 180 filed in the US, as part of an agreement signed in December 2025. This move follows Sony's sale of over 40 VR-related patents to Meta between June and September. The decision comes as Sony appears to be scaling back its VR efforts, while Meta continues to invest in VR technology despite significant financial losses in its Reality Labs division.
Evening Reading - October 8, 2026
This edition of Shacknews Evening Reading covers a variety of gaming news, including reviews for Order of the Sinking Star and Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, discussions on Phantom Blade Zero and Total War: Warhammer 3 DLC, and updates on Ultima IP rights. It also touches on Xbox's new film and TV division, Apple's upcoming event, a Cyberpunk 2077 movie in development, and Sony's AR/VR patent sales to Meta.
Xbox puts former Reddit and Facebook exec in charge of Minecraft studio Mojang
Xbox has appointed Maria Angelidou-Smith, formerly of Meta and Reddit, as the new CEO of Mojang Studios, the developer behind Minecraft. This change occurs amidst broader restructuring within Xbox and raises concerns about a potential shift towards user retention and monetization strategies over community focus.
After months of PSVR 2 stock shortages, PlayStation sells hundreds of VR patents to Meta, signaling the brand's…
Meta has acquired 43 US XR patents from Sony, previously used for PlayStation VR and PlayStation VR2. This follows months of PlayStation VR2 stock shortages and a lack of software support, suggesting a potential winding down of Sony's VR efforts. Meta's acquisition comes despite its own recent cutbacks in the VR market.
Xbox aim to wring more cash out of the games they've not cast into oblivion by launching new licensing arm and handing Minecraft to ex-Meta monetisation lead
Xbox is launching a new licensing division, Xbox Products (XP), to generate more revenue from its major game franchises through film, TV, merchandise, and events. This initiative comes as Xbox undergoes significant layoffs, with a total of 3200 employees being let go. Mojang, the developer of Minecraft, has appointed Maria Angelidou-Smith, formerly of Meta, as its new CEO, bringing extensive experience in product and monetization but no direct gaming industry background.
New Leadership Appointments and XBOX Division
Xbox has announced new leadership appointments within its division, including the creation of a new XP division focused on franchise experiences beyond gaming. Kayleen Walters will lead XP, while Maria Angelidou-Smith will become CEO of Mojang and Minecraft. Both appointments aim to strengthen community engagement and business development across Xbox's intellectual properties.
PlayStation VR is Probably Done, as Sony Transfers 43 VR Patents to Meta
Sony has transferred 43 virtual, augmented, and mixed reality patents to Meta, signaling a potential end to its PlayStation VR efforts. This move, coupled with a lack of first-party support for the PlayStation VR2, suggests Sony may not pursue a third-generation VR headset. Meanwhile, Meta is advancing its VR technology with new lightweight glasses set to launch in Spring 2027.
Sony has sold over 40 AR/VR hardware patents to Meta in 2026
Sony has reportedly sold approximately 40 AR/VR hardware patents to Meta in 2026, indicating a further withdrawal from the virtual reality market. The patents, which include hardware for VR, AR, and XR headsets, were transferred between June and September 2026, with a larger global transfer agreement in place. This move follows the underperformance of the PlayStation VR2, which launched in 2023 and experienced low sales, leading to a price cut.
Steam Frame Gets VR Right Where So Many Others Went Wrong
Kurt Indovina of GameSpot praises the SteamVR headset as the best VR device he has ever used, highlighting its performance in games like Half-Life: Alyx and Hot Dogs, Horseshoes, and Hand Grenades. Despite its high price point, the standalone wireless headset is considered a significant advancement over previous Valve hardware and a superior option to Meta's offerings, which are criticized for their metaverse focus.
Silent Hill-Like Uses Phones To Parry, Because Even Anime Girls Know Tech Is A Weapon
The upcoming survival horror game Signal Veil features a unique combat system where the protagonist uses a flip phone to attack and parry enemies, drawing inspiration from classic horror titles like Resident Evil and Silent Hill. Developer Time Hunters aims to lean into psychological horror, with the phone also acting as a monster detector and its camera flash used to stun opponents. The game is available to wishlist on Steam but does not yet have a release date.
I want to punt Meta's Muse AI mascot back into the cursed void from whence it came
The author expresses strong dislike for Meta's new AI mascot, 'Jolly,' for its Muse AI assistant, comparing it unfavorably to creatures from Doctor Who and finding its design overly cutesy and mass-market targeted. Despite the negative reaction, the mascot's design is seen as an intentional effort by Meta to make AI more accessible and humanized.
Jobs roundup: October | Playstack CEO Harvey Elliott voted chair of UKIE
Several key appointments have been made across the UK games industry. Harvey Elliott, CEO of Playstack, has been voted chair of UKIE, succeeding Maria Sayans. Murray Pannell joins Steel City Interactive as head of publishing, while Dean Anderson leads MV&P's APAC partnerships. Catherine Bygrave is the new head of commercial at Code Wizards Group, and Michał Platkow-Gilewski has been promoted to VP of global communications and marketing at CD Projekt Red.
Jobs roundup: October | Code Wizards Group appoints Catherine Bygrave as head of commercial
Several key figures have moved into new roles within the games industry. Michał Platkow-Gilewski was promoted to VP of global communications and marketing at CD Projekt Red, while Catherine Bygrave was appointed head of commercial at Code Wizards Group. Other notable appointments include Daniel Smith as executive producer at Playground Games, Gero Micciché as lead producer at 2K and Hangar 13 Games, and Tymon Smektala as executive producer at Bloober Team's Broken Mirror Games.
The Americans have officially renamed artificial intelligence to 'Super Intelligence,' which should fix…
The US administration has officially renamed artificial intelligence to 'Super Intelligence' (SI) in an executive order, aiming to reflect the technology's advancing capabilities. This rebranding was met with mixed reactions, with tech leaders like Sundar Pichai and Mark Zuckerberg publicly supporting it, while figures like Bill Gates expressed skepticism about the industry's ability to self-regulate.
Meta unveils AI-powered game tools for mobile devices and browsers; announces VR Glasses with day-one Unity support
Meta has unveiled two AI-powered game development tools, Horizon Create for mobile and Horizon Studio for browsers, that allow users to generate 2D and 3D games from text prompts. The company also announced new VR Glasses, lighter than the Meta Quest 3, featuring a 5K display and day-one Unity support, set to launch in Spring 2027 for $1,299.99.
Meta announces new VR glasses that weigh about 100 grams and cost $1,300
Meta announced its new Meta VR Glasses, priced at $1,300 and weighing approximately 100 grams. The device features hand tracking and passthrough capabilities, and will launch in Spring 2027 with VR adaptations of Ace Attorney: Dual Destinies, Tetris Effect, and Beat Saber. Despite significant financial losses in its Reality Labs division, Meta is pushing forward with new VR hardware.
The Meta Quest 4 isn't a Meta Quest at all - The brand's VR glasses will launch in Spring for $1,299 and…
Meta is launching its new VR Glasses in Spring 2027 for $1,299, focusing on a mixed-reality, wearable AI experience rather than being a direct successor to the Quest line. These glasses feature high-resolution displays and a lightweight design but have a limited field of view and do not include controllers, suggesting a primary focus on entertainment and spatial computing over gaming. Significant privacy concerns are raised regarding the device's always-on camera and AI capabilities.
Meta’s $1,300 VR Glasses Could Be The Most Expensive Way To Play Xbox Games
Meta announced its new VR Glasses, a lightweight headset designed for portability, launching in Spring 2027 for $1,300. The glasses feature 5K Micro OLED lenses and can access the Meta Quest catalog and Xbox Cloud Gaming. While offering advanced features, the high price point is highlighted as a significant obstacle compared to existing Meta headsets and competitors.
Meta's new VR headset isn't really a headset and doesn't look like it's meant for gamers
Meta has unveiled new VR Glasses, a device significantly lighter than the Quest 3 and featuring Micro-OLED displays, pancake lenses, and a Snapdragon XR2 Gen 3 chip. Despite the VR branding, the glasses lean towards an XR experience with AI integration and hand tracking support for select games, though controllers are not included. Priced at $1,300, these glasses are positioned as a premium device rather than a direct successor to the Quest line.
Meta VR Glasses Will Launch With Every Quest Game in 2027
Meta announced its new Meta VR Glasses will launch in spring 2027 for $1,299, featuring a lightweight design and compatibility with all existing Quest games. The device will launch with new titles like Beat Saber: Flux and Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Dual Destinies VR, with a focus on hand-tracking gameplay.
