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Muse Charm device for the AI agent revealed at Meta Connect 2026
Meta unveiled the Muse Charm, a keychain-sized device for its AI agent Muse, at Meta Connect 2026. The device allows users to interact with Muse via real-time voice and avatar, and Meta aims to ship it for the holidays. This announcement comes after the failure of Humane AI Pin in the wearable AI space.
Meta VR Glasses offer virtual reality experiences in a sleek form factor
Meta has unveiled its new Meta VR Glasses, a lightweight virtual reality headset weighing only 100 grams, with computing power housed in a separate puck. These glasses feature a 5K Infinite Display, Dolby Atmos and Vision, and offer gaming experiences with over 75 titles at launch, alongside Xbox Cloud Gaming integration. The device is set to go on sale in spring 2027 for $1,299.99 USD.
The Pimax Dream Air costs double the Steam Frame, and while its visuals are worth every penny, its performance demands and inconsistencies make it hard to recommend
The Pimax Dream Air VR headset offers exceptional visual fidelity and a lightweight design, but its high price, performance demands, and software inconsistencies make it difficult to recommend. Despite its stunning visuals, frequent crashes and volatile performance, even on high-end hardware, detract significantly from the experience.
As VR gamers celebrate the launch of Steam Frame, Meta's next headset leaks ahead of Connect 2026, but I don't…
Ahead of Meta Connect 2026, imagery has leaked for Meta's unannounced 'Project Phoenix' device, which appears to be more akin to smart glasses than a traditional VR headset. This comes amid Meta's recent studio closures and layoffs in its Reality Labs division, and a price increase for Quest headsets, suggesting a potential shift away from the mainstream gaming market. The article questions whether this new device will pose a competitive threat to Valve's Steam Frame, especially given its potential focus on controller-free interaction and a smaller lens.
Valve's Steam Frame pricing starts at $1,059
Valve has announced the pricing for its new Steam Deck virtual reality device, with the base 256GB model starting at $1,059 and a 1TB model at $1,200. Additional accessories will further increase the cost. This pricing is significantly higher than the Meta Quest, with both companies adjusting hardware costs due to a computer memory shortage driven by AI firms.
Valve targeted a lower price for the Steam Frame, then the memory crisis happened: 'I wish we could have shipped it…
Valve's new Steam Frame VR headset is launching at higher price points than initially intended due to a global memory crisis. Engineers Joy Lyons and Jeremy Selan confirmed Valve aimed for a lower price but component costs, particularly RAM, forced adjustments. The Steam Frame's pricing is significantly higher than competitors like the Meta Quest 3, which also faced price increases.
The internet's new obsession: Gabe Newell explaining why Valve defied big tech by staying a private company and…
Valve co-founder Gabe Newell's past comments on why the company remains privately held have resurfaced, resonating with a modern audience disillusioned by tech layoffs and 'enshittification.' Newell argued that private ownership allows Valve to prioritize employees and create value by hiring expensive talent, contrasting with the cost-cutting measures often seen at public companies like Microsoft and Meta.
I've been using the Steam Frame for 3 weeks—here's what I think
After three weeks of testing, the Steam Frame is hailed as the best all-round VR headset, praised for its comfort, ease of use, and excellent tracking. Despite its high price point and some display limitations compared to competitors like the Meta Quest 3, its seamless wireless streaming and integrated SteamOS offer a convenient and immersive PC VR experience.
Moss studio Polyarc shuts down, becoming the latest casualty of a brutal year for VR
Polyarc, the studio behind the acclaimed VR series Moss, has shut down after nearly 12 years in operation. This closure marks the latest casualty in a difficult year for the virtual reality development sector, with Meta and nDreams also implementing significant layoffs and studio closures.
Nvidia is reportedly being investigated by the DOJ over its biggest ever deal, a $20 billion non-exclusive agreement…
The Department of Justice is reportedly investigating Nvidia's $20 billion non-exclusive agreement with AI chip company Groq for potential antitrust scrutiny. The deal, which grants Nvidia non-exclusive rights to Groq's low-latency inference AI chips, is being examined to see if it was structured to bypass standard government reviews. If found at fault, Nvidia could face fines, though the investigation is ongoing and no specific findings have been made.
VR headset shipments are down 18% compared to this time last year, and that may not be great news for Valve
Global VR headset shipments saw an 18% year-on-year decline in Q2 2026, attributed to a lack of major game releases and rising hardware costs, impacting companies like Valve. Conversely, AR device shipments surged significantly, and VR continues to see strong demand from enterprise and government sectors for its productivity and data collection capabilities.
Meta reveals its AI agent that can shop, send emails and plan trips on your behalf
Meta has unveiled Muse, a new AI agent capable of autonomously performing tasks such as shopping, sending emails, and planning trips. The agent's ability to act independently relies on user trust.
Threads is overhauling its in-app analytics with more details, except for link clicks
Meta's Threads app is updating its in-app analytics to provide more detailed performance insights, including AI-generated summaries of post engagement. However, specific data on link clicks will not be included in this overhaul.
Meta's new AI transcription model can distinguish between multiple speakers and languages in real-time
Meta's Superintelligence Lab has released a new artificial intelligence transcription model capable of real-time, multi-speaker, and multi-language transcription. This advanced model represents a significant step forward in AI-powered audio processing.
Jobs roundup: September 2026 | Fandom expands executive leadership team
Several companies in the gaming industry have announced executive appointments and promotions. Fandom expanded its leadership team with new hires and a promotion, while The New York Times appointed Jonathan Knight as chief games officer. Scopely saw two new appointments, and other companies like Arrowhead Game Studios, Epic Games, Blizzard Entertainment, King, CD Projekt Red, and Unity also announced new roles and promotions for their staff.
Jobs roundup: September 2026 | Asmodee appoints Brian Trunk as senior vice president, Route to Market for the Americas
This article rounds up recent appointments and transitions within the games industry. Notable moves include Brian Trunk joining Asmodee as senior vice president, David Scarborough becoming senior manager of EMEA communications at Blizzard Entertainment, and Ilari Kuittinen stepping down as managing director of Housemarque after 31 years. Several other individuals have taken on new roles at companies like CD Projekt Red, Epic Games, and Activision Blizzard.
Nvidia’s Jensen Huang declares AGI achieved — then calls the milestone meaningless
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang declared that the company has achieved Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) but immediately dismissed the milestone as 'senseless' due to the lack of a clear definition or agreed-upon benchmarks. He emphasized that the true value lies in AI's ability to perform productive work and generate profit through autonomous agents, rather than the abstract concept of AGI itself. The article explores the ambiguity surrounding AGI and how various tech companies exploit its vagueness for their own narratives.
Two Hours a Day: Inside Meta’s Sweeping New Teen Limits for Instagram and Facebook
Meta has agreed to impose a daily two-hour time limit on teen accounts for Instagram and Facebook in the US as part of a child safety settlement with attorneys general nationwide. The agreement also includes new safeguards and limits on teen access during certain hours, with most protections mandated for at least 10 years. A significant portion of Meta's $17.1 billion settlement payment is contingent on TikTok and YouTube matching these new teen usage restrictions.
Meta is closing a loophole that allowed people to record with their smart glasses' light covered
Meta is implementing an update to its smart glasses to close a loophole that allowed users to record footage with the device's light indicator covered. This change addresses ongoing privacy concerns related to the smart glasses' recording capabilities.
Legal experts say Meta's settlement puts YouTube, TikTok and Snap on notice
Meta's recent settlement could prompt major competitors like YouTube, TikTok, and Snap to alter their application designs. Legal experts suggest this development signals a potential shift in how these platforms operate.