Immersed launch 'Visor', Virtuix run after $5 million, & AI dominates Fringe.
Immersed launch 'Visor', Virtuix run after $5 million, & AI dominates Fringe.
Also this week...Apple Vision Pro on track for 2024, Roblox beta hits 1 million downloads, and Disney metaverse chief departs company.
Good morning Metaverse Business Brief readers. Let’s jump into the most relevant news from the immersive world in our weekly roundup.
Top Stories
Immersed launch ‘Visor’ XR headset. Immersed has introduced the ‘Visor’, which claims to be a next-generation AR/VR headset designed for the work environment. The company has partnered with an "undisclosed tech giant" to bring the Visor experience to life, prioritizing a comfort-first design with custom user fitting. The headset is set to be released in 2024, with a waitlist in operation and the price still unknown.
Apple chief Cook confident of 2024 launch. Apple CEO Tim Cook confirmed to investors that the company are on track to launch the Vision Pro mixed reality headset in early 2024, while also stating that he himself uses the device daily. According to market research firm Omdia, Production of the $3,500 headset could be as low as 200,000 units next year, primarily targeting developers and early adopters.
Meta Quest Roblox beta hits 1 million downloads. Roblox's beta has reached over 1 million downloads in its first five days of release on Meta’s App Lab. The move to Meta Quest headsets is the experience’s biggest step into the VR marketplace yet. Roblox CEO David Baszucki shared the news, stating it was "another step towards Roblox everywhere, on all devices."
Disney Metaverse chief leaves company. This brief has previously brought you news of the downsizing of Disney’s Metaverse departments. It was previously reported that Mike White, the ‘senior VP of next-generation storytelling and consumer experiences’ behind Disney’s Metaverse ambitions, would be kept on at the company. However, without comment, Disney has now confirmed that White has departed the company.
In Funding
Virtuix raises $5 million. The company have raised the funds for their VR treadmill product the Omni One. After a launch delay of 2 years as a result of the pandemic, Virtuix plans to use the capital to ramp up production in a bid to reach profitability by 2024. The delivery of 1,000 units to investors is expected by the end of 2023, with pre-orders for the general public expected in late 2023.
HOLOGATE take €8.3 million. The German XR solution specialists announced the raise after a series A funding round. Founded in 2013, HOLOGATE operate the world’s largest location-based VR network in over 450 locations. The funding will support international expansion in Europe and North America, as well as product development.
GoStudent raise $95 million. The late-stage tutor marketplace has raised the capital in what has been described as a strategic fundraise led by Deutsche Bank. The edtech organisation will use the raise to expand it’s VR language learning platform GoVR while also investigating the possibility of creating AI driven tools to aid tutors on the platform.
Keep an eye on
Big tech companies form AR alliance. The Alliance for OpenUSD (AOUSD) has been formed by tech companies like Apple, Pixar, Adobe, and NVIDIA to promote the standardization and development of a 3D file protocol for AR experiences. NVIDIA supports the creator Pixar's Universal Scene Description (USD) technology, which it claims has the potential to become the "HTML of the metaverse.”
Copenhagen Fashion Week goes digital. The largest fashion event in Scandinavia has partnered with Drest, a luxury mobile style game, to enhance its program with daily challenges. Users are invited to style avatars using real-life luxury brands, with the final looks voted for by the community. Drest have worked with over 260 luxury brands including Gucci, Prada, Off-White, Burberry, and Fendi.
The MET unveils new AR app. In what is the latest example of the art world stepping into the digital realm, The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York is introducing Replica, an augmented reality app that enables users to interact with its collection through Roblox. The app allows users to scan popular works, like Vincent van Gogh's Self-Portrait with a Straw Hat, and transfer them into Roblox.
AI tech is the talk of Edinburgh Fringe. The world renowned comedy and arts festival has seen a real impact from the ongoing Artificial Intelligence debate, with many acts this year looking to the current discourse for inspiration. Piotr Mirowski, a research scientist, has co-developed a show titled ‘Artificial Intelligence Improvisation’ featuring algorithmically generated jokes fed from an onstage robot in a bid to show the potential for tech in comedy.
Events to be at
August 08 Online | Insights Live: How the Metaverse would Transform Education
August 30 Singapore | AWE Asia 2023
September 23 Online | Insights Live: How can CEOs stop feeling alone?
October 24-26 Houston | The 10th Augmented Enterprise Summit
November 30 Rotterdam | The 7th International VR Awards
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news and comments to team@aixr.org.
August 07 2023 Edition - Issue 31