Meta introduced a lot at its Join 2024 convention that you might have missed a few of it.
However by no means concern! This is a quick abstract of each vital Meta Join 2024 announcement. For full context and particulars, click on the articles linked.
Headsets & Equipment
Meta launched a brand new headset, simplified its Quest 3 lineup, discontinued Quest 2 and Quest Professional, and launched new official equipment.
A New Headset: Meta Quest 3S
After months of leaks, Meta lastly introduced its new headset: Quest 3S.
Successfully, Quest 3S is a less expensive Quest 3 with a bulkier design, inferior lens readability, and decrease decision.
Quest 3S Begins At $300 And Comes With Controllers
Meta simply formally introduced Quest 3S. Beginning at $300, it options fresnel lenses, the XR2 Gen 2 chipset, combined actuality, and comes with controllers.
Quest 3S has the identical Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset and coloration passthrough combined actuality capabilities as Quest 3, however makes use of the outdated fresnel lenses and stuck single panel from Quest 2 to realize a beginning value of $300.
All purchases of Quest 3S till Might will include Batman: Arkham Shadow.
Quest 3 128GB Gone & 512GB Value Lower
Meta is discontinuing the 128GB base mannequin of Quest 3 and reducing the opposite 512GB mannequin to its $500 value.
Meta Cuts 512GB Quest 3 To $500, Will Discontinue 128GB Mannequin
Meta is discontinuing the 128GB Quest 3 and reducing the 512GB mannequin to $500. The 128GB mannequin is now $430 “whereas provides final”.
Till inventory is gone, the 128GB mannequin is on clearance sale for $430.
Like with Quest 3S, all purchases of Quest 3 till Might will include Batman: Arkham Shadow.
Quest 2 & Quest Professional Discontinued
Quest 2 and Quest Professional will not be obtainable when inventory runs out or on the finish of the yr, whichever comes first.
Meta Is Discontinuing Quest 2 & Quest Professional
Quest 2 and Quest Professional will not be obtainable when inventory runs out or on the finish of the yr, whichever comes first.
Quest 2 was the primary mainstream VR headset and Quest Professional was an revolutionary failure.
Quest 3S will take Quest 2’s place in Meta’s lineup. However there is no direct alternative for Quest Professional. When it is gone, Meta will not provide a headset with eye monitoring or face monitoring.
Quest 3 Open Facial Interface
One side of Quest Professional that Meta will provide a alternative for is its open periphery design, as a result of it is releasing an official Open Facial Interface for Quest 3.
Meta Releasing Official Open Facial Interface For Quest 3
Whereas Quest Professional is being discontinued, Meta is launching an official Open Facial Interface for Quest 3 – with a surprisingly distinctive design.
As an alternative of being a halo strap, the official Open Facial Interface nonetheless presses towards your face. However the house between the interface and the headset itself is empty, permitting you to see the actual world.
Quest 3S Breathable Facial Interface
Quest 3S is getting its personal unique facial interface accent.
Quest 3S Has “Breathable” Facial Interface Accent
Meta is promoting a “Breathable” Facial Interface for Quest 3S, which makes the tradeoff of not being opaque to “assist you preserve cool whereas figuring out or taking part in intense video games”.
The “Breathable” Facial Interface makes the tradeoff of not being opaque to “assist you preserve cool whereas figuring out or taking part in intense video games”.
Meta’s Simplified Lineup
When Quest 2, Quest Professional, and the 128GB Quest 3 are gone, Meta’s headset lineup can be simplified to:
- Quest 3S (128GB): $300
- Quest 3S (256GB): $400
- Quest 3 (512GB): $500
New Horizon OS Options & Apps
YouTube Cowatching
Official YouTube cowatching will lastly launch as a beta subsequent week.
YouTube Cowatching On Quest Will Lastly Arrive Subsequent Week
Official YouTube cowatching on Horizon OS will lastly launch as a beta subsequent week, greater than two years after it was first introduced.
YouTube cowatching will happen in Horizon House, that means you will see different folks as their Meta Avatar alongside you.
Horizon Hyperscape: Photorealistic Scenes On Quest 3
Quest 3 homeowners within the US can strive photorealistic scenes by way of Meta’s new Horizon Hyperscape demo app.
Meta Horizon Hyperscape: Photorealistic Scenes On Quest 3
Meta’s Horizon Hyperscape demo exhibits photorealistic 6DoF scenes on Quest 3, however is simply obtainable within the US.
UploadVR’s Don Hopper tried Horizon Hyperscape and located it to be considerably increased high quality than Gracia, with a “stark distinction” in visible readability.
New Amazon Prime Video App With Downloads
Amazon launched an all-new Prime Video Quest app that helps passthrough and downloads.
New Amazon Prime Video Quest App Helps Downloads
Amazon simply launched an all-new Prime Video Quest app that helps downloads for offline viewing.
Prime Video is the primary main streaming service formally obtainable on Horizon OS to assist downloads, making it ideally suited to be used on airplanes with the Journey Mode Quest headsets now have since Might.
Automated Pairing With Home windows 11 Laptops
Quest headsets will have the ability to lengthen Home windows 11 laptops by simply them, with out putting in any software program, later this yr.
Meta says this can be potential due to a partnership with Microsoft.
Quests Can Quickly Prolong Home windows Laptops By Simply Wanting At Them
Quest headsets will quickly have the ability to lengthen Home windows 11 laptops by simply them, and with out putting in particular software program.
Your laptop computer’s display will flip off and get replaced by an enormous digital display, and you’ll spawn totally digital additional displays.
New Meta Avatars
The brand new Meta Avatars system with overhauled graphics will launch on Tuesday.
The New Meta Avatars Launch Subsequent Week
The brand new Meta Avatars system will launch on Tuesday, that includes overhauled graphics and deeper customization.
And a while subsequent yr, Meta will permit customers to generate a brand new outfit by typing, leveraging generative AI.
In Horizon Worlds, Meta says it is going to additionally assist “fantastical avatars”, non-human varieties which customers can unlock in particular worlds.
Passthrough API
In a shock announcement at Join 2024 immediately, Meta revealed that it’s going to give builders entry to the passthrough cameras of Quest headsets by way of a brand new API subsequent yr.
Quest Builders Will Get Entry To The Passthrough Cameras
Meta says Quest builders will have the ability to entry the passthrough cameras subsequent yr, unlocking totally new capabilities.
Meta hasn’t but stated whether or not there will be any restrictions to the Passthrough API, however we’ll preserve a detailed eye on the corporate for any additional particulars of this thrilling upcoming functionality, which may unlock totally new use instances for Quest headsets.
AI NPCs In Horizon Worlds
Meta says Horizon Worlds creators will have the ability to add AI NPCs to their worlds subsequent yr.
These AI NPCs will have the ability to “interact in conversations, assist folks out, and even compete in video games”,
Meta Horizon Worlds Is Getting AI NPCs You Can Speak To
Horizon Worlds creators will have the ability to add AI NPCs to their worlds subsequent yr, and also you’ll have the ability to speak to them along with your voice.
“Whether or not it is a pleasant fishing fanatic or a fantastically evil boss, it is possible for you to to customise NPCs utilizing our avatar and voice tech, and it is all multiplayer prepared.
We’ll additionally assist world understanding and sophisticated motion chaining, so NPCs generally is a actually wealthy a part of the world you created.”
“The Future Of Horizon OS” Tease
Meta teased “the way forward for Horizon OS”, displaying an idea of a whole redesign.
Meta Teases “The Future Of Horizon OS” With New Design
Meta teased “the way forward for Horizon OS” at Join immediately, displaying an idea of a whole redesign.
Meta did not give even a tough timeline for the brand new Horizon OS interface, and what was proven seems to be an idea.
Two New Video games & Supernatural Multiplayer
Triangle Technique VR Port
Triangle Technique, a turn-based tactical RPG from Sq. Enix, is being tailored for VR this yr on Quest.
Acclaimed Tactical RPG Triangle Technique Will get VR Port Subsequent Month On Quest
Triangle Technique, a turn-based tactical RPG from Sq. Enix, is being tailored for VR this yr on Quest.
On Quest, Triangle Technique’s VR adaptation guarantees a “entire new look” throughout the battlefield, letting you attain out to models and subject instructions immediately.
House Sports activities
House Sports activities is a brand new combined actuality multi-sports recreation that rolls 5 sports activities into one assortment on Quest 3.
House Sports activities Is A Combined Actuality Multi-Sport Sport For Quest 3
House Sports activities is a brand new MR multi-sports recreation from Demeo’s studio that rolls bowling, hockey, and extra into one assortment on Quest 3.
An actual launch date stays unconfirmed. Decision states House Sports activities “can be launching quickly” for the Meta Quest 3 household.
Supernatural Multiplayer
Supernatural Collectively is a brand new growth that provides group-based exercises to the health app on Quest.
Supernatural Collectively Provides Group-Based mostly Exercises To The VR Health App
Supernatural Collectively is a brand new growth that provides group-based exercises to the health app on Quest.
Group Exercises function particular Problem Zones and Victory Tunnels that “require teamwork and coordination to finish.”
Horizon Retailer & App Growth
2D Android Apps On Horizon Retailer
Meta Horizon Retailer, the app retailer on Quest headsets, will permit builders to submit 2D Android apps.
Quest’s Retailer Now Accepts 2D Android Apps
Quest’s Meta Horizon Retailer now accepts 2D Android apps, which may carry extra apps and providers to the platform.
Meta can be hoping this brings a few of the most helpful and entertaining apps from the Google Play Retailer. Nonetheless, the dearth of Google Play Companies will make it difficult for some apps to be ported.
Meta Spatial SDK
Meta Spatial SDK lets builders simply construct apps for Quest’s Horizon OS with conventional cell improvement instruments, with out a recreation engine.
Meta Spatial SDK Lets Builders Simply Construct Quest Apps
Meta Spatial SDK lets builders simply construct apps for Quest’s Horizon OS with conventional cell improvement instruments, with out a recreation engine.
It gives rendering, elective passthrough, controller and hand monitoring, assist for flatscreen and immersive media playback, physics, and spatial audio.
The Ray-Ban Meta sensible glasses are getting a swathe of latest software program options, in addition to new transitions lenses types.
Ray-Ban Meta Glasses Getting Dwell Translation & Extra
Ray-Ban Meta glasses are getting a swathe of latest options, together with dwell translation, reminders, QR code scanning, and voice-controlled Spotify.
New Software program Options
The next options are coming “quickly”:
- Meta AI Reminders
- Extra Pure Visible Meta AI
- Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible, and iHeart Controls
- QR Codes & Telephone Numbers
And these options are coming “later this yr”:
- Dwell Translation
- Meta AI Video Imaginative and prescient
New Transitions Kinds
Additional, EssilorLuxottica and Meta launched new type choices with Transitions lenses:
- Skyler Shiny Black with Amethyst Transitions
- Headliner Shiny Caramel with Sapphire Transitions
- Headliner Low Bridge Match Shiny Black with Sapphire Transitions
- Headliner Matte Black with Grey Transitions
- Wayfarer Matte Black with Graphite Inexperienced Transitions
Orion True AR Glasses Prototype
Meta confirmed off built-in prototype AR glasses with a area of view that is exceptional given their kind issue.
Meta’s Prototype AR Glasses Have Exceptional Discipline Of View
Meta confirmed off prototype true AR glasses at Join, codenamed Orion, with a exceptional 70-degree area of view.
Nonetheless, the Orion glasses will not be bought as a product, as Meta admitted every prices on the order of $10,000 to supply. The corporate stated Orion can be used as a demonstrator and inside improvement equipment, describing it as “a time machine that lets us dwell sooner or later”.
