4 – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
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Virtual Reality

The Verge’s 2024 in reviewThe Verge’s 2024 in review
Verge Staff
Even Apple wasn’t able to make VR headsets mainstream in 2024

Glasses may be more promising as the head-worn computers of the future — and there’s a chance Apple might be looking in that direction.

Jay Peters
Thomas Ricker
Thomas Ricker
Galaxy S25 on January 22nd.

Both @evleaks and @sondesix are saying that’s the date for Samsung’s next Unpacked event, with the former sharing a leaked Italian marketing image as confirmation. In addition to the company’s much leaked Galaxy S25 series of phones we’re expecting to hear more about Samsung’s “Project Moohan“ XR headset we recently previewed.

That’s January 22nd, 2025, capisce?
That’s January 22nd, 2025, capisce?
Image: @evleaks
Victoria Song
Victoria Song
Here’s an official look at Samsung’s long-awaited headset.

It’s called Project Moohan — and if you’re wondering what the heck is a moohan, it means infinity in Korean. Because there are “infinite possibilities” in XR.

Naming aside, I demoed the headset earlier this week and got a sneak peek at Android XR, Google’s new OS for mixed-reality devices. It’s for devs only right now, but a consumer launch is planned for 2025.

Render of Project Moohan
Image: Google, Samsung
I saw Google’s plan to put Android on your face

Google’s prototype smart glasses made me feel like Tony Stark. Can Android XR make it happen outside of a demo?

Victoria Song
Jay Peters
Jay Peters
Meta is partnering with a James Cameron venture.

Meta and Lightstorm Vision’s partnership will help “scale the creation of world-class 3D entertainment experiences spanning live sports and concerts, feature films, and TV series featuring big-name IP on Meta Quest — which will be Lightstorm Vision’s exclusive MR hardware platform,” according to a Meta blog post. Cameron says it’s a multi-year partnership.

Tom Warren
Tom Warren
Windows in mixed reality arrives for Meta Quest 3 headsets in December.

Meta has been working on improving the Windows VR experience with its Quest headsets in recent months, and now Microsoft says the full capabilities of Windows 11 are coming to the Meta Quest 3 and Quest 3S in December. You’ll be able to have a large multiple-monitor workstation through Quest 3 headsets in public preview next month.

We’re still waiting to hear when Windows Volumetric Apps will be available, though.

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
Ladies and gentlemen, The Weeknd.

...on Apple’s Vision Pro headset. “Open Hearts,” which Apple describes as a “new immersive music experience,” debuts on Thursday. The company is steadily introducing new immersive content for the headset.

Wes Davis
Wes Davis
Apple’s latest visionOS beta update wraps you in macOS.

The company just released the developer beta for visionOS 2.2, which brings with it wide and ultrawide curved virtual display options for the Vision Pro, 9to5Mac reports.

Beta users will also finally be able to output their Mac’s audio on the headset while using the virtual display with this update. (Before, the audio would only come from the Mac’s speakers.)

Wes Davis
Wes Davis
Apple is preparing to sell a Belkin-made Vision Pro head strap.

The strap, which is listed on Apple’s store for $49.95 but not yet available, combines with the Solo Knit Band, giving wearers over-the-head support that looks nicer than fiddling with the Vision Pro’s included Dual Loop Band.

As 9to5Mac notes, it’s similar to an accessory that appeared in materials when Apple announced the headset, but was never something you could buy.

A picture of the Belkin Head Strap attached to a Vision Pro along with the Solo Knit Band.
How it should have been all along.
Image: Apple
Jay Peters
Jay Peters
Triangle Strategy in VR.

Square Enix’s strategy game is out now for Meta’s Quest headsets. Based on a trailer, VR seems like an interesting way to take in the battlefield.

And if you were wondering, the game’s developers know it has a weird name.

The VR game I’ve been waiting forThe VR game I’ve been waiting for
David Pierce
Jay Peters
Jay Peters
Trombone Champ’s VR version comes out in November.

Trombone Champ: Unflattened launches on Meta Quest headsets on November 26th. If you pre-order, you’ll get a ridiculous fish-themed trombone you can use in the game.

A screenshot of the Trombone Champ: Unflattened’s fish trombone pre-order bonus.
I appreciate this joke.
Image: Flat2VR Studios and Holy Wow Studios
Jay Peters
Jay Peters
Apple will have more immersive videos to check out soon.

If you’ve already watched Submerged on your Vision Pro, there will be additional Immersive Video content over the course of this year, and you can see the list of what’s coming on 9to5Mac.

Sean Hollister
Sean Hollister
Google’s wacky VR game studio just dropped a free game for Meta’s headset.

Dimensional Double Shift is a four-player co-op game from Owlchemy Labs, the creators of Job Simulator, Vacation Simulator and Cosmonious High.

Like those games, you’ll be doing hilarious oddball tasks in VR — but now you’re working for an “interdimensional” gas station, diner, and garage, and using your actual tracked hands to manipulate objects.