Asgard's Wrath
News, coverage and analysis tracking Asgard's Wrath across the outlets.
Latest coverage
The Steam Frame needs to be more than a cool device if Valve want to reshape the VR market
The VR market is facing a decline in headset shipments and studio closures, with a shift away from mid-range devices towards high-end or AR/XR alternatives. Despite Meta's continued dominance and some internal successes with its Quest ecosystem, the overall VR gaming landscape struggles with visibility and the high cost of developing tentpole titles. Valve's upcoming Steam Frame faces challenges related to pricing and a lack of compelling exclusive content, suggesting VR may become an integrated feature rather than a standalone market.
Moss The Forgotten Relic is a great example of transferring games from VR, but making it "was no simple task"
Polyarc successfully transitioned the VR titles Moss and Moss: Book Two to flat-screen platforms like PC with Moss: The Forgotten Relic. Technical Art Director Tyler Walters detailed the challenges of adapting input systems, camera perspectives, and interaction design for a non-VR experience. While the lack of VR's immersive scale is noted, the porting process is highlighted as a significant achievement in game development.
After losing over 30 pounds exercising in VR for six months, I can say it's worth the effort (and sweaty…
After six months of consistent use, the author finds that exercising in VR with a Meta Quest 3 has been a worthwhile endeavor, leading to significant weight loss and improved fitness. Despite initial skepticism and the cost of subscriptions, the immersive nature of VR workouts encourages pushing physical limits beyond traditional exercise methods, making fitness more engaging and convenient.
The death of video game VR is a crying shame - Reader’s Feature
A reader laments the apparent decline of virtual reality gaming, citing the limited support for PlayStation VR2 and the closure of Meta's VR developers as evidence. Despite initial excitement and impressive experiences like Resident Evil Village VR, the high cost of headsets and the isolating nature of VR are seen as major barriers to its widespread adoption.
Meta Quest 3 VR Headset Prices Are Increasing, Making Reality More Expensive To Escape
Meta is increasing the prices of its Quest 3 and Quest 3S virtual reality headsets starting April 19 due to rising component costs, particularly memory chips. The Quest 3 (512GB) will go from $500 to $600, and the Quest 3S models will increase by $50 each. Meta cites the global memory shortage and the rising cost of building high-performance VR hardware as reasons for the adjustment.
Meta sends more mixed signals about its future in VR with more layoffs at Reality Labs, while its director of games told GDC, "We've a lot going on – new hardware, new audiences, new games"
Meta is reportedly conducting further layoffs across various departments, including its Reality Labs VR division, as it shifts focus towards Artificial Intelligence. Despite these cuts and the closure of some VR studios, Meta's director of games stated that investment in Meta Quest hardware and games remains high. The company is exploring new hardware, potentially with pricier components like Micro-OLED displays for future headsets, while also adapting to community feedback on platforms like Horizon Worlds.
