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Oculus Quest

Quest Home Spaces Get Node-base Movement, a First Step Toward Upcoming Social Features

From roadtovr

Last year Meta announced that it would finally be bring social features to the Quest home environments, allowing users to easily get together in the same virtual space. We aren’t there yet, but the company has taken a first step in that direction by adding node-based locomotion to all of Quest’s home spaces.

Back in October Meta announced that it “soon” planned to upgrade Quest’s home space into a social area where users can congregate together (without a third-party app) and do basic activities like watch videos and launch into other VR apps together. The company calls it ‘Horizon Home’.

Well, the actual social part of Horizon Home isn’t here yet, but the company has taken a first step toward it.

At launch, all Quest home spaces placed the user in one specific spot from which they couldn’t move.

Now, as of at least Quest v38, all home spaces have an array of nodes which users can move between by pointing their controller and using the thumbstick. Moving between nodes with controllerless hand-tracking alone doesn’t seem to work yet.

Ostensibly this will allow multiple users to navigate the same spaces. It isn’t clear how many users will be supported in a single Quest home space (though voice parties currently support up to 8 people).

Quest’s home environments appear to be using typical real-time rendering, so it isn’t clear why Meta has decided to limit users to moving between specific nodes rather than letting them move anywhere within a pre-determined safe area. Especially odd because users can navigate away from any individual node by physically moving within their playspace. Furthermore, the distance between nodes is decidedly ‘impersonal’, and further away than friends hanging out in the same area would likely want to stand.

So while movement within the Quest home spaces is a first step toward social features, it will hopefully see some refinement by the time users are actually able to join each other in the same space.

Meta Quest 2 Boxes Appear on Store Shelves, Rebranding Still Incomplete

From roadtovr

It seems the Oculus brand is finally departing physical retail. While Quest 2 boxes emblazoned with the new Meta name and logo are already on store shelves in the US, the swap from Oculus to Meta still has a ways to go.

Spotted by Upload VR’s Ian Hamilton, Meta has rolled out the freshly-rebranded Quest 2s to Walmart, one of its largest retail partners. So far, online retailers like Amazon, Target, NewEgg, and yes… also Walmart’s website still list the headset as ‘Oculus’ Quest 2.

And it doesn’t seem the company is worried about any of the self-inflicted brand confusion either, as the newly dubbed Meta Quest 2 oddly sits right next to a stack of the headsets in its original Oculus packing.

Look a little closer and you can see the 256GB version of Meta Quest 2, priced at $400, is also still labeled on shelves as ‘Oculus Quest 2’.

Image courtesy Ian Hamilton

The transformation from Facebook to Meta started back when the company announced in October 2021 it was putting a new emphasis on XR by becoming a “metaverse company.”

This also led to a progressive roll-back of the Oculus brand in effort to reposition its latest VR headset closer to its primary mission. And it appears that the rebranding has a ways to go, as the soft launch maneuver has yet to address some key areas.

Image captured by Road to VR

Oculus.com is still the main digital storefront, which mentions the name Oculus a half-dozen times in tandem with Meta.

If you want to buy a Quest 2 direct from Meta, you’re also still buying an ‘Oculus Quest 2’ under the Oculus warranty. Need product support? That Meta Support’s job, though they help you fill out Oculus bug reports for Oculus devices. The Meta Quest YouTube channel also still features the old Oculus logo.

Quest users however have recently seen the iconic Oculus startup image replaced in-headset with the new Meta branding. So there’s that.

Watch The First-Ever Spacewalk Captured In VR

From vrscout

Spacewalkers is available now on Oculus TV and Horizon Venues.

Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to float through the dark void that is outer space? Well, wonder no more as the immersive content and technology company Felix & Paul Studios has released a new movie featuring the world’s first spacewalk captured in VR.

Available now on Meta Quest headsets, Spacewalkers – Space Explorers: A Special Feature was captured just outside the International Space Station using a one-of-a-kind 3D 360-degree camera designed specifically for use in the harsh conditions of space. The film is roughly 10-minutes long and features incredible footage captured in low orbit over a handful of days by the astronauts themselves.

For those unfamiliar with Space Explorers, this incredible episodic series takes you on an in-depth tour of the International Space Station where you learn more about the incredible work being done by its team of highly-trained astronauts.



What’s unique about the series, besides being one of the largest productions ever filmed in space, is that the crew themselves serve as the directors, camera operators, and stars of the series. The result is a thoughtful and captivating series with some of the most impressive footage I’ve ever seen inside a VR headset.

Spacewalkers – Space Explorers: A Special Feature is available now on Oculus TV as well as Horizon Venues as part of the “Always On” Programming from March 1st to March 31st. You can watch other Space Explorers content on Oculus TV.

Previous episodes, including ADAPT, ADVANCE, and UNITE, are currently available for free via Oculus TV. The series was shot using a specialized 3D 360-degree camera designed for use in a zero-g environment and features some truly breathtaking shots of Earth from the ISS. The most recent installment, UNITE, features incredible footage from outside the International Space Station as it orbits over 200 miles above the Earth.

If you’re a fan of space or cinema in general, I’d highly recommend giving this series a shot.

Image Credit: Felix & Paul Studios

Meta’s AI Tech Lets You Craft VR Worlds With Your Voice

From vrscout

Builder Bot is an AI-powered system capable of generating custom 3D worlds and objects.

Yesterday, Meta (formerly Facebook) hosted a special “Inside the Lab” event centered around its recent advancements in artificial technology during which the company revealed an AI-powered universal translater that allows users “the ability to communicate with anyone in any language.”

Not only that, but Zuckerberg himself made an appearance to unveil a ground-breaking artifical intelligence system that allows users to build complex virtual worlds for Meta’s Horizon Worlds metaverse by simply describing they want.



The proof-of-concept technology, referred to by the company as ‘Builder Bot,’ was demonstrated yesterday during the live event by Zuckerberg and a team member, who used the technology to automatically generate a handful of 3D landscapes they could explore using their VR avatars.

By simply saying the words, “let’s go to the park,” Zuckerberg was able to instantly generate a custom environment complete with trees, rocks, and other shrubbery you might find at your local park.

He then generated a colorful beach location by saying “actually, let’s go to the beach.” It’s at this point Zuckerberg begins to get more specific with his commands. He first asks for clouds, at which point a layer of basic clouds accumulates above them. He then changes his order to even more specific altocumulus clouds.

From there the duo grow their little slice of virtual paradise by adding everything from an adjacent island and palmtrees to a picnic table with drinks and a boombox. They even incorporate various sound effects like ocean waves and seagull chirps as wel as tropical-themed music.

Zuckerberg wraps up the demo by requesting a hydrofoil, a reference to a popular meme featuring himself. “As we advance this technology further, you’ll be able to create nuanced worlds to explore and share experiences with others, with just your voice,” he added during the event.

No word yet on when we can expect to get our hands on this exciting new system. While simple, Builder Bot could help the company bolster its catalog of user created worlds by simplifying the creation process. The Horizon Worlds creator system is fairly straight-forward already, but this could serve as an excellent way to quickly build the foundation for more complex worlds.

It appears as though Meta is taking aim at the voice assistant market with its continued investment in AI technology. According to Zuckerberg, the company is working on making conversation with voice assistants more natural using artificial intelligence.

Image Credit: Meta

Meta Announces Big Update For Its VR Avatars

From vrscout

These new-and-improved 3D avatars will be available on Meta Quest, Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram.

Meta today announced that its lineup of expressive 3D avatars will be getting a major face lift in the form of new facial expressions, assistive devices, and limited edition clothing options. These new-and-improved avatars have already begun rolling out on VR headsets as well as Facebook, Messenger, and—for the first time—Instagram Stories and DM.

Last year Meta spent a significant amount of time and energy on improving its 3D avatars with new customization options that allow users to craft their own digital persona with an impressive amount of detail. Today, the company announced new updates the promise to expand the platform even further.

Image Credit: Meta

This includes new facial shapes as well as improvements to the skin shader that add even more customizations. In an effort to remain inclusive, the company has added new items such as Cochlear implants, over-the-ear hearing aids, and wheelchairs in a variety of different colors. In honor of the upcoming Super Bowl between the LA Rams and Bengal Tigers, Meta has also introduced limited edition clothing for each time.

As previously stated, these new-and-improved 3D avatars will be available in VR via Meta Quest headsets as well as Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram Stories and DM. You can create separate avatars for each platform or use the same avatar across all three.

Image Credit: Meta

“Being able to have the same avatar across our platforms is an early step towards making this a reality, and one we’ve been working towards for a long time,” said Aigerim Shorman, General Manager for Avatars and Identity at Meta. “We hope your new virtual self enables you to represent yourself online the way you want to be represented—whether that’s to friends and family, your local community, or beyond.”

These updates will begin rolling out on Quest, Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram over the next few months, so don’t freak out if you don’t see the options available right away.

Feature Image Credit: Meta

Sundance 2022 In VR: What To Check Out

From vrscout

Another year, another stellar lineup of ground-breaking VR and AR projects.

Today marks the start of the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, kicking off nine days of incredible films premieres, conversations, and immersive experiences. This year the festival is celebrating the 16th birthday of its New Frontier showcase, which serves to highlight the very best in multimedia storytelling.

Similar to last year’s proceedings, event organizers have partnered with digital production studio Active Theory to create The Spaceship, a “biodigital showcase” accessible via a computer or VR headset. Here attendees can use their very own customizable avatars to explore three virtual worlds.

Image Credit: Sundance Institute
  • New Frontier Gallery – A digital event space where attendees can browse the entire catalog of XR content available as part of the New Frontiere showcase and chat with attendees as well as festival employees via proximity chat.
  • Cinema House – An immersive stage environment that will serve as the primary venue for various screenings throughout the festival. This years’ venue includes a new stage designed specifically for live scheduled performances.
  • Film Party – A dedicated social space where attendees can chat with Sundance creators about their respective projects using proximity audio and video chat.
Cinema House / Image Credit:

This years’ New Frontier showcase features over 15 genre-defying projects to enjoy, from comedic VR parodies such as Flat Earth VR to interactive AR experiences like Atua. It can be a bit overwhelming navigating this digital venue, especially for first-time festival-goers.

To help guide you through this years’ offerings we put together a list of must-try XR projects currently available in The Gallery. Here’s what you won’t want to miss:

Flat Earth VR / Image Credit: Sundance Institute
  • Atua (scheduled performances) – “Atua reimagines the realm of Pacific gods in this sculptural AR experience that claims space for gender-diverse identities impacted by colonial first contact, and creates an intimate portal for users to see themselves reflected as vital to their cultural heritage and an intrinsic part of the cosmos.“
  • Flat Earth VR – “Lucas Rizzotto’s delightful and immersive satirical comedy boards audiences onto a stolen NASA ship and launches them into the stars. Here, they have the chance to live out the ultimate flat-earther fantasy of becoming the first flat-Earth astronaut to ever go to space and prove the globe-earthers wrong.”
Suga’ / Image Credit: Sundance Institute
  • Suga’ – A Live Virtual Dance Experience (scheduled performances) – “Suga’ is a collective immersive experience that features live dance performance as volumetric video in a social virtual reality space. The experience takes audiences on a journey through the historical reality of the Transatlantic Slave Trade and the establishment of the sugar industry, which has had a lasting legacy on our world today.”
  • The States of Global Peace – “In this immersive documentary, you’ll inhabit the shoes of a prime minister who is preparing to deliver a high-profile speech at a virtual U.N. General Assembly in the near future. The political stakes are high. As you are about to begin your remarks, a group of students hijack the security system and take over the screens, asking to have a dialogue with you.”
This is Not a Ceremony / Image Credit: Sundance Institute
  • This is Not a Ceremony – “Part performance, part participatory media, This Is Not a Ceremony asks us to consider our role in engaging with documentaries about social injustice and to confront modern notions of empathy and personal responsibility. Darkly humorous and occasionally caustic, This Is Not a Ceremony offers contemporary insights into the lived experience of Indigenous men, and extends a chance to embrace responsibility and the meaningfulness of redemption.”

The Sundance Film Festival 2022 runs now until January 28th exclusively online. Those interested in checking out the New Frontier showcase can purchase an Explorer Pass for $50. This enables you access to The Gallery, Cinema House, and Film Party worlds via a computer or any VR headset compatible with the Chrome browser.

For more information visit here.

Feature Image Credit: Sundance Institute

Expand Your VR Workout Routine With FitXR’s new 2022 Updates

From vrfocus

We all know that the new year tends to be a time where everyone makes a resolution to do something different, usually to get fit and burn off those festive calories. To help with that, FitXR for Meta Quest is adding a whole new range of features and upgrades to aid your 2022 fitness.

FitXR

First up are the new class formats to the Box workout studio – Vibe, Velocity and Knockout. Each has its own unique style, so Vibe is all about the feel of the music and the flow of the class, whereas Velocity is far more intensive with the music and routine ending in a sweaty high note. As you might have guessed, Knockout simulates a boxing match, keeping with FitXR’s roots when it was known as BoxVR.

“We want to continue to drive our members, encouraging them to advance in their fitness goals,” said Kelly Cosentino, Director of Fitness at FitXR in a statement. “For this reason we’re pumped to create these new Box class formats that will deliver a boutique fitness studio experience and get members further invested in classes from start to finish.” 

Next up is the “Find Your Fit” Training Program. This is very much in keeping with those healthy resolutions that only last for one month, as the program is a four week, 12 class workout regimen which launched yesterday. Members can sign up to receive weekly emails with their suggested fitness classes and will also get motivational tips and advice from the FitXR team.

FitXR

“I’m thrilled to give members structured guidance that will allow them to determine what works best for them individually. Fitness is not a sprint, it’s a marathon, and ultimately we want our members to adapt these habits for the long term. The ‘Find Your Fit’ program will help steer members to the coaches, style of classes and music genres that speak to them and keep them coming back,” Cosentino adds.  

Lastly, three new coaches have joined the FitXR squad, Elise, Billy and Adam. Each will bring their own expertise to the role as they seek to inspire and motivate FitXR users to achieve their fitness goals.

FitXR is a subscription-based fitness app exclusive to the Meta Quest platform. With a vast array of total body workouts synced to the catchiest tunes, there’s a 7-day free trial to test it out. After that, it’ll cost you $9.99 USD a month to continue the membership. For continued updates, keep reading VRFocus.

VR Series ‘Space Explorers’ Releases Its Biggest Episode Yet

From vrscout

Space Explorers: The ISS Experience took over two years to shoot and is the largest production ever filmed in space.

According to a recent article by CNBC, the Oculus app was the #1 most downloaded app on Christmas Day, which means there are a lot of new Quest users out there. If you are one of those lucky new Quest owners, or if you already own an Oculus headset, do yourself a favor and check out Space Explorers: The ISS Experience “UNITE”.

Brought to us by Felix & Paul Studios and Time Studios, the third and latest installment of the Emmy-award-winning VR series delivers over 100 mind-blowing minutes of incredible 3D 360-degree footage of the International Space Station, something that only a small number of people have ever experienced.



The moment you put on your Quest headset and launch the app you’ll find yourself orbiting about 200 miles above Earth, traveling at an insane speed of 17,500 miles per hour. Here you’ll take part in an ISS reunion between astronauts Nick Hague, Christina Koch, Andrew Morgan, Jessica Meir, Luca Parmitano, Hazzaa Almansoori, Alexey Nikolaevich Ovchinin, Oleg Ivanovich Skripochka, and Aleksandr Alexandrovich Skvortsov. 

As the new batch of astronauts arrives on the station, they greet one another like old friends and talk about the impact of their life-changing mission as part of the ISS crew, sharing everything from their unique perspective and stories of being an astronaut to their thoughts on space culture, day-to-day life in outer space, and their dreams of the humanization and colonization of space.

Image Credit: Felix & Paul

The Space Explorers: The ISS Experience series took over two years to shoot and is the largest production ever filmed in space. In order to accurately capture life aboard the ISS, Felix & Paul designed their own 360-degree camera built specifically for use in a zero-g environment. The ISS crew themselves served as the directors, camera operators, and stars of the series, offering viewers an exclusive look at important space research, moments of camaraderie during dinner, personal video blogs, and candid moments between crew members.

Image Credit: Felix & Paul

In total, Felix & Paul Studios—the same team behind original VR experiences such as Traveling While Black, MIYUBI, the Nomads series, and Strangers with Patrick Watson, as well as collaborated with President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, LeBron James, President Bill Clinton, Eminem, Wes Anderson, Brie Larson, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Murray, and many others—captured hundreds of hours of high-end VR footage both inside and outside the ISS. This includes cinematic footage of a white-knuckle space walk directly outside the station.

“UNITE” can be viewed now as a fully-immersive VR experience on the Meta Quest, Quest 2, and Rift for free via Oculus TV. For some cool behind-the-scenes footage, head on over to Time.com/Space.

Feature Image Credit: Felix & Paul

Third Episode of Space Explorers: The ISS Experience Available Now For Meta Quest

From vrfocus

If you love all things related to space then you’ve probably been closely following the rather epic project that is Felix & Paul Studios’ Space Explorers: The ISS Experience. Over the last few years, the studio has partnered with NASA and Time to record some amazing 360-degree footage aboard the International Space Station. Released episodically, today sees the launch of UNITE, the third instalment of the series.

Space Explorers

As the title implies, UNITE focuses on the crew members aboard the ISS. More specifically, the episode sees crew members from the same astronaut training class reunite. “A space culture evolves between the select few who have had the chance to live and work aboard the International Space Station. Old friends arrive, and for the first time, half of an entire astronaut class reunites on the station. The cycle continues as, once again, one mission ends and another begins. The crew’s unique shared perspective grows stronger as colleagues realize dreams of the humanization of space together,” the synopsis details.

The astronauts featured in this particular episode are: Nick Hague, Christina Koch, Andrew Morgan, Jessica Meir, Luca Parmitano, Hazzaa Almansoori, Alexey Nikolaevich Ovchinin, Oleg Ivanovich Skripochka and Aleksandr Alexandrovich Skvortsov.

Space Explorers: The ISS Experience has been pushing technological boundaries as it captures life onboard the station orbiting 250 miles above the Earth’s surface. In August the teams announced that the first 3D, 360° scenes in space had been captured using the highly specialised Outer Space Camera, a customized Z-Cam V1 Pro housing nine 4K sensors to record scenes at 8K resolution. Expect to see those in the final episode.

Space Explorers - Felix & Paul Studios

Space Explorers: The ISS Experience “UNITE” is available now for free. You can watch all three episodes on Meta Quest and Oculus Rift either via the Space Explorers app or on Oculus TV. This isn’t the last instalment either. The fourth (and final) episode Expand is due for release in Spring 2022.

For continued updates on Felix & Paul Studios projects, keep reading VRFocus.

Workout With Comedian Tiffany Haddish in Supernatural’s “This Year, Be You” 2022 Campaign

From vrfocus

There are a number of apps for the Meta Quest platform that focus on fitness with Supernatural being one of the most prominent. Today, the Supernatural team have announced that actress, comedian and producer Tiffany Haddish will be starring as the app’s next guest coach from January.

Supernatural
Photo credit: Supernatural

From 1st January 2022, you’ll be able to enjoy workouts led by Haddish as part of Supernatural’s This Year, Be You campaign, encouraging Meta Quest owners to start feeling healthier by getting their sweat on in VR. She’ll coach four Supernatural sessions during January: Boxing, Flow – a cardio workout – guided meditation and a stretch session.

“I became addicted to Supernatural last year,” says Haddish, having lost over fifty pounds using the app. “I’ve never felt so powerful or had so much fun working out. I can travel the world from my living room, move to music I love, and feel like a superhero every day. My mission in life is to spread joy and empower people and, as a Supernatural Guest Coach, I get to spread that goodness in a way that also gets people sweating and smiling as they get a great workout.”

Supernatural arrived on Quest in 2020, becoming one of the first apps for the headset to offer a purely subscription-based service. Whilst there’s a 7-day free trial, after that Supernatural will cost you $18.99/month or $179.99/year to enjoy its workouts. Aside from the range of workouts on offer, Supernatural also boasts an expansive collection of major-label music featuring over 1000 songs. The only caveat, Supernatural is currently only available in the US and Canada. Other territories are supposedly coming but there’s been no mention of when.

Supernatural

“Tiffany is not just a force for joy, she is a force for good, breaking boundaries and expectations with everything she does,” adds Supernatural Co-Founder and CEO, Chris Milk. “With this series, we’re proud to have her share her unmatched energy with the Supernatural community through a series of workouts that invite you to take on the most welcoming, positive and joyful new years resolution possible.”

Supernatural has done so well since its initial launch that in October the company announced that it had been acquired by Meta.

For continued updates on Supernatural and all the other ways to stay fit in VR, keep reading VRFocus.