The document summarizes recent news and releases in the virtual reality industry from January 2018. It discusses new features for Vuforia 7 including object recognition by shape and ground plane placement. It also mentions new VR games being released for major headsets in January, an updated version of the Oculus Rift software, and new technologies like a metalens that could improve AR glasses and VR controllers that can shape-shift.

1. VR digest
January 2018
by Marina Kolesnichenko
Software Developer at ElifTech

2. www.eliftech.com
Technologies

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Vuforia 7
Features:
Vuforia Model Targets recognize objects by
shape, in contrast to existing methods that
rely on detailed visual designs typically found
on print media
Vuforia Ground Plane enables digital content
to be placed on the ground, floor, or tabletop
Vuforia Fusion, is a new capability designed
to solve the problem of fragmentation in AR
enabling technologies such as cameras,
sensors, chipsets, and software frameworks
like ARKit and ARCore
Read more - here

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VorpX
VorpX is a 3D driver which allows users to
play their non-VR game library
immersively through an Oculus Rift or HTC
Vive headset.
Facebook
Facebook launches social VR ‘Spaces’ on
HTC Vive
Read more - here Read more - here

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Oculus Rift Core 2.0 Beta
News:
Oculus’ biggest Rift software update to
date finally arrives as a beta starting
today.
Rift Core 2.0 is designed from the ground
up and consists of three major
components that are built natively for
Oculus’ intuitive Touch motion
controllers.
The second is Oculus Dash, a brand-new
system interface that makes it simple to
switch between different apps at any time.
Read more - here

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Amazon Lumberyard 1.12
Amazon Game Studios has presented
Lumberyard 1.12, a brand new version of
its game engine, and a video that goes over
the engine’s biggest milestones in 2017.
Valve
Valve is adding custom button mapping
for all VR controllers to openVR
Read more - here Read more - here

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BBC
News:
Inspired by NASA and ESA training
programs and the experiences of real
astronauts
A VR Spacewalk enables you would-be
astronaut to embark on a spacewalk 250
miles above Earth’s surface.
Rewind collaborated with the BBC
Science, BBC Learning and BBC Digital
Storytelling to create the cinematic and
fully interactive 15-minute VR experience.
Read more -

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UNIGINE 2.6.1 Released
UNIGINE Corp. has released an update for
its game engine. The newest release: brings
improved multi-channel rendering,
runtime grass modification.
GIMP 2.9.8
A new version of GIMP has been released.
The update brings on-canvas gradient
editing and various enhancements.
Read more - here Read more - here

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Google
News:
Pixel 2 and Daydream View: new
experiences in AR and VR
ARCore Developer Preview 2
GAPID - new 3D debugging tool
Read more - here

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Hardware

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LooxidVR
LooxidVR is a phone-based
headset created by Looxid
Labs. VR headset comes with
eye trackers and brain sensors
SEAS
A groundbreaking new lens
could make future augmented
reality glasses lighter and less
obtrusive
Xiaomi
Xiaomi to bring Oculus Go to
China under its own brand
Read more - here Read more - here Read more - here

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SteamVR
SteamVR Tracking 2.0 will support
33×33 foot playspaces and 4 base
stations
Google & Lenovo
Google reveal more details on its
standalone VR headset created in
partnership with Lenovo.
Read more - here Read more - here

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Harvard
News:
The metalens can focus the entire visible
spectrum of light — including white light —
in the same spot.
“Metalenses have advantages over
traditional lenses,” says Federico Capasso
Harvard team has created a metalens that
feature arrays of titanium dioxide
nanofins to equally focus wavelengths of
light and eliminate chromatic aberration.
Read more - here

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Oculus
Oculus ‘Handheld Controller’
passes FCC testing, possible
Oculus GO 3DoF controller
3dRudder
3dRudder announces
improved ‘Blackhawk’ VR foot
controller
Pico
Pico’s new 6DoF standalone
VR headset is coming
westward, including 6DoF
controllers
Read more - here Read more - here Read more - here

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HTC VuzixTactical Haptic
Read more - here Read more - here Read more - here
HTC revealed a new version
of the VIVE VR headset at
the CES press conference
in Las Vegas.
Tactical Haptics’ new
prototype VR controller
shapeshifts to fit your game
Vuzix is launching the first
Alexa-enabled AR glasses at
CES

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News

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Grand Prize
1
7
Excellence in Visual Art
Read more
Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy (Bennett Foddy), Night in
the Woods (Infinite Fall), West of Loathing (Asymmetric
Publications), Into the Breach (Subset Games), Heat Signature
(Suspicious Developments), Baba is You (Hempuli)
Night in the Woods (Infinite Fall), Cuphead (StudioMDHR), Echo
(ULTRA ULTRA), Luna (Funomena), The Gardens Between (The
Voxel Agents), Chuchel (Amanita Design)
here
2018 IGF Finalists Announced

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January 2018 VR Game Release Date
▪ MGSLeisure1000 – Oculus Rift/HTC Vive (Jan. 1)*Early Access
▪ VR Dunhuang – HTC Vive (Jan. 1)
▪ VR Furballs – Demolition – Oculus Rift/HTC Vive (Jan. 2)
▪ Flappy Arms – HTC Vive (Jan. 3)
▪ Kitty Hawk – HTC Vive (Jan. 3)*Early Access
▪ Battlemage Training – HTC Vive (Jan. 6)*Early Access
▪ Unbound – Oculus Rift/HTC Vive (Jan. 8)*Early Access
▪ Westard – Oculus Rift/HTC Vive (Jan. 10)*Early Access
▪ Internal Light VR – Oculus Rift (Jan. 12)
▪ Mike was Сursed – Oculus Rift (Jan. 12)
▪ Light Tracer – HTC Vive (Jan. 15)
▪ Stunt Corgi VR – HTC Vive (Jan. 15)
▪ Coaster – HTC Vive (Jan. 18)
▪ The Inpatient – PSVR (Jan. 23)
▪ SURV1V3 – Oculus Rift/HTC Vive (Jan. 29)*Early Access
▪ Data Thief – HTC Vive (Jan. 30)

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January 2018 VR Game Release Date
▪ BattleSky VR – Oculus Rift/HTC Vive (January 2018)*Early Access
▪ Day of Destruction – HTC Vive (January 2018)
▪ GNOG – Oculus Rift/HTC Vive (January 2018)*Already out on PSVR
▪ JetX – Oculus Rift/HTC Vive (January 2018)
▪ Kung Fu All-Star VR – HTC Vive (January 2018)*Early Access
▪ LIV Client – Oculus Rift/HTC Vive (January 2018)
▪ Primordian – Oculus Rift/HTC Vive (January 2018)*Early Access
▪ Rosebaker’s Icy Treats – HTC Vive (January 2018)

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VOID
2
0
Department of
Homeland Security
HoloLens
The VOID opens downtown Disney location today hosting new
Star Wars VR experience.
Read more - here
Homeland Security releasing VR School Shooting Training
Simulator.
Read more - here
HoloLens App Brings Doctors To Life-Threatening Situations.
Read more - here
Announces

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