<div>
  <ul>
    <li>
      <p>
        EVA.gg (EVA), a French startup building esports-based VR arenas, has raised EUR 5 million (~USD 4.3 million) in a seed funding round led by Trust Esport Ventures and BPI along with two French tech entrepreneurs, Jean Baptiste Rudelle and Alexandre Yazdi.
      </p>
    </li>
    <li>
      <p>
        The proceeds are to be used to scale their operations in Europe and enter the US market. The company has signed a franchise agreement to open 30 arenas in Texas, with the first one opening in September 2022.&nbsp;
      </p>
    </li>
  </ul>
  <p>
    &lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;
    <b>Analyst QuickTake</b>
    : EVA will directly compete with 
    <a href="https://sp-edge.com/companies/118632">
      Virtuix
    </a>
    , a location-based provider of turnkey full-body VR esports experiences. It accommodates multiplayer experiences with built-in weekly and monthly esports contests. Other location-based providers in our coverage focus on adventure-based experiences.&lt;/ul&gt;
  </p>
  <p>
  </p>
</div>


<div>
  <p>
    <a href="https://esportsinsider.com/2022/07/eva-gg-secures-e5m-investment-to-scale-in-the-usa/">
      Esports Insider
    </a>
  </p>
  <p>
    <a href="https://gaminghybrid.com/news/2022/07/20/eva-gg-secures-e5m-investment-to-scale-in-the-usa/">
      Gaming Hybrid
    </a>
  </p>
  <p>
  </p>
</div>


Extended Reality

EVA.gg raises EUR 5 million in seed funding

ANALYST_QUICK_TAKE

<div>
 <p>The startup holoride, which specializes in in-car VR entertainment, has received an unreported funding amount from Fuel Ventures Asia. This funding will aid holoride in its expansion into the Asian market and its entrance into business-to-business markets. Furthermore, the funding will also be used to further develop its technology for use on various platforms such as smartphones, tablets, wearables, and in-car infotainment systems.&nbsp;</p>
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
 </b> After facing insolvency last May due to a failed funding round, holoride has rebounded with new funding, reaffirming its focus on cars into mobile amusement parks through VR technology that syncs with vehicle movements. The company, spun out of Audi in 2019, is now expanding into Asia, aligning with its <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/33775"> previously announced </a> strategy to target high-growth markets and broaden its global reach, positioning itself for renewed momentum in the immersive tech space.</p>

holoride raises undisclosed amount of funding for market expansion and B2B ventures

PROMINENT_CATEGORY

<div>
 <p>XR Training (XRT), a company that specializes in portable VR training systems, has globally deployed 81 Amphibious Combat Vehicle Driver Training System (ACV-DTS) simulators for the US Marine Corps.</p>
 <p>Developed together with Talon Simulations, Theory Studios, and Enludio, the ACV-DTS is a training tool that uses XR technology to simulate amphibious combat vehicle driving. Its main features include portability, two degrees-of-freedom motion, and the simulation of complex driving conditions on diverse terrains such as land, surf zones, and sea. XRT and its collaborators aim to provide continuous system maintenance and engagement tracking to ensure that ACV operators remain equipped with advanced training technology.&nbsp;</p>
 <p>Besides, XRT is also working on the XR-VDT, an adaptable immersive training platform based on the ACV-DTS architecture, in an effort to meet evolving training requirements.</p>
</div>

XR Training completes global deployment of ACV-DTS simulators for US Marines

<div>
 <p>BILT, a company that develops 3D work Instructions, has recently raised 21 million dollars in a Series B funding round. The round was led by Silverton Partners and had participation from other investors such as Amex Ventures, Fifth Growth Fund, and Silicon Valley Bank.</p>
 <p>The funds raised will be channelled towards expanding operations and widening the areas its 3D intelligent instructions platform caters to, encompassing more categories and industries.</p>
 <p>The primary product of BILT is the BILT app, which provides users with voice-guided, text-based, and animated 3D Intelligent Instructions for a catalogue of more than 10,000 SKUs from almost 300 brands, in 12 different languages. It serves over 10 million users, including customers from the consumer, commercial, and government sectors. Some of its key clientele includes companies like Weber, Whalen, Siemens, and Clearfield.</p>
</div>

BILT raises USD 21 million in Series B funding to expand operations of its 3D work instructions platform

INCUMBENTS_PRESENT

<div>
 <p>Meta has launched v11 firmware for its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, introducing "live AI." This feature allows users in the US and Canada to have live, ongoing dialogues with the AI assistant, Meta AI, without the need for wake words.</p>
 <p>Users can now conduct extended conversations with Meta AI and refer to past interactions. The update also includes live video support, enabling users to ask real-time inquiries about what they're currently viewing. The smart glasses have been enhanced with real-time speech translation capabilities between English and Spanish, French, or Italian. This functionality delivers audio translations via open-ear speakers and text transcripts on paired smartphones. Additionally, users can identify songs using voice command through Shazam.</p>
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake</b> :<br>
 Meta continues to extend its leadership in the smart glasses space by becoming one of the first to offer real-time AI video capabilities in smart glasses. This latest update builds on a slew of new <a href="https:<br>
//about.fb.com/news/2024/09/ray-ban-meta-glasses-new-ai-features-and-partner-integrations/"> AI enhancements and partner integrations </a> introduced earlier in the year and is also likely to be rolled out to European users following its <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/36164"> recent launch </a> in the region.</p>

Meta adds real-time AI video to Ray-Ban smart glasses

<div>
 <p>Samsung has launched Project Moohan, a mixed-reality headset operating on the latest Android XR operating system. The headset is a joint effort with Google and Qualcomm, and will function hand in hand with Google's app suite and the Galaxy ecosystem.</p>
 <p>This project showcases multimodal technology, serving as a spatial canvas enabling users to navigate Google Maps, engage with YouTube content, and organize holidays. Different interaction methods are supported by the headset, such as controller input, gestures, voice commands, and natural dialogue. Google's Gemini AI module, designed for environmental contextual comprehension, powers the system.</p>
 
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
</b> The announcement marks Samsung’s entry into the consumer XR headset space. The project, which has been plagued by <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/19894"> delays </a> , may nevertheless enjoy a first-mover advantage over other manufacturers, given its collaboration with Google, where the announcement was soon after the launch of Google’s <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/37180"> Android XR operating system </a> . Other manufacturers such as Lynx, Sony, and XReal are likely to closely follow Samsung’s developments in anticipation of their own device launches, which will also leverage Google’s operating system.</p>

Samsung unveils XR headset Project Moohan with Android XR OS

<div>
 <p>Apple has launched visionOS 2.2, a software update for Vision Pro. This update incorporates new virtual display formats and is designed for Mac devices dating from 2017 iMac Pros to new M4 chip MacBooks, with a requirement of macOS Sequoia 15.2.</p>
 <p>The Mac Virtual Display now includes three screen size options: Standard, Wide (21:9), and Ultrawide (32:9). The Ultrawide option offers a resolution similar to two 4K monitors. Dynamic foveated rendering is used to keep content sharp irrespective of viewpoint.</p>
 <p>The iOS' Personal Hotspot feature is now supported by the update, allowing Vision Pro users to share cellular data from iPhones or iPads. As a result, access to 5G download speeds is available, extending the device's connection options beyond conventional Wi-Fi.</p>
</div>

Apple releases visionOS 2.2 with ultra-wide display for Vision Pro

<div>
 <p>Google has unveiled Android XR, a fresh operating system targeted for extended reality devices such as headsets and smart glasses. Samsung's Project Moohan headset will mark the first launch. The headset is set to be released in the upcoming year.</p>
 <p>The new system, Android XR, is grounded in Android architecture and pledges to facilitate immersive XR activities and augmented content covers. The system will be integrated with Google applications such as YouTube, Maps, Chrome, and Google Photos. It will also be compatible with apps currently available on Play Store. Android XR embraces an emulator in Android Studio, a tool designed for developers to envision apps in virtual surroundings.</p>
 <p>Google asserts that the new system will promote smooth transitions between the virtual and actual worlds, with multi-window multitasking capabilities in browsers, and feature Gemini AI to control the device and provide relevant information.</p>
 <p>Google also announced partnerships with manufacturers including Lynx, Sony, and XReal for imminent device releases, with the intention of constructing a large ecosystem of XR devices.</p>
</div> <p><b>Analyst </b> <b>QuickTake:<br>
</b> The launch of the new operating system is a significant step towards Google’s re-entry into the headset space, which it had stepped away from with the discontinuation of projects such as <a href="https:<br>
//www.engadget.com/google-retires-glass-ar-eyewear-082512062.html"> Google Glass </a> and <a href="https:<br>
//arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/03/googles-vr-dreams-are-dead-google-cardboard-is-no-longer-for-sale/"> Google Cardboard </a> . The launch will likely foreshadow a potential future launch of its <a href="https:<br>
//techcrunch.com/2024/12/12/google-wants-to-sell-those-project-astra-ar-glasses-some-day-but-it-wont-be-today/"> Project Astra AR glasses </a> , a Google DeepMind initiative to develop AI-powered apps and agents for real-time, multimodal understanding, aligning with its vision for combining AR with multimodal AI capabilities.</p>

Google launches Android XR operating system for XR devices

<div>
 <p>INCISIV, a developer specialising in Virtual Reality (VR) sports training, has introduced DodgeCraft, a VR-based sports training game on Meta Quest platform. DodgeCraft aims to heighten action speed and agility, following the studio's prior release, CleanSheet Soccer.</p>
 <p>DodgeCraft presents two primary gameplay modes for players, named Dodge'Em and Run the Gauntlet. Dodge'Em necessitates players to do exhaustive body movements to evade incoming meteorites in an asteroid belt. Run the Gauntlet challenges players to obstruct wave after wave of bots and humanoids with cunning tricks. Mixed reality support is also part of the game's features.</p>
 <p>With DodgeCraft, players can enhance their defensive skills and practice anticipative maneuvers without any risk of physical harm. This makes it an effective training platform for improving tackling certainty and decision-making capabilities.</p>
 <p>Incisiv, situated in Belfast, Northern Ireland, is known for designing VR tools that augment athletic performance. They fuse VR technology with behavioural analytics to offer valuable insights concerning athletes' decision-making processes and movements under stressful conditions. Professional teams from football, hockey, and other sports comprise their client base.</p>
 
</div>

INCISIV launches VR sports training game DodgeCraft on Quest

<div>
 <p>Meta has initiated some major updates on its Quest range of virtual reality headsets including Quest 3, Quest 3S, Quest 2, and Quest Pro, with Update V72 beginning its rollout from December 9th. The updates encompass new features such as integration with Windows, enhancement of hand tracking, and a new application for the gallery.</p>
 <p>Windows 11 PC streaming, better hand tracking 2.3 for improved cursor stability, a specialized media application for managing images and videos, and enhanced keyboard tracking technology are included in the update. Live captions for calls, the inclusion of Instagram direct messages directly in the headset, improvements to boundary, and improved visibility of travel mode in its universal menu are other key aspects.</p>
 <p>The update brings considerable improvement in hand-tracking capabilities, leading to more stable and accurate interactions particularly while using universal menu and applications. A new feature capable of detecting various keyboards and displaying them in passthrough windows is introduced in keyboard-tracking.</p>
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake</b> :<br>
 According to <a href="https:<br>
//gamerant.com/meta-quest-improvement-hand-tracking-v72-update/"> early product reviews </a> , the latest update enables the use of the Quest headset while walking and in confined spaces such as in a plane or train seat. This is likely to support greater adoption of the headset and expansion of potential use cases for headsets. In line with this, other headsets like Apple’s Vision Pro are also rumored to be exploring <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/36969"> integrations with Sony’s PSVR2 controller </a> .</p>

Meta releases Quest update 72 with Windows integration and hand tracking

<div>
 <p>There are rumors that Apple is collaborating with Sony to include PSVR2 controller support for its Vision Pro headset. The information comes from Mark Gurman at Bloomberg who also mentions that the initial rollout has been delayed and will now involve Apple selling Sony's controllers separately in their store.</p>
 <p>This planned integration would enable users to navigate through visionOS using PSVR2 controllers. This method of navigation promises more accurate control in applications such as Final Cut Pro and Adobe Photoshop. At present, the Vision Pro headset supports conventional Bluetooth controllers which is mainly used for navigation and play for iPad and iPhone games only.</p>
 <p>The goal of this collaboration between Apple and Sony is to enhance the gaming potential of Vision Pro which, as of now, has a limited number of native visionOS games.</p>
 
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
</b> The collaboration could potentially expand the use case for Vision Pro’s potential as a gaming system. However, the success of the partnership would depend on Vision Pro's adoption and support from third-party game publishers to develop games leveraging Sony’s controllers.</p>

All Updates

EVA.gg raises EUR 5 million in seed funding

holoride raises undisclosed amount of funding for market expansion and B2B ventures

XR Training completes global deployment of ACV-DTS simulators for US Marines

BILT raises USD 21 million in Series B funding to expand operations of its 3D work instructions platform

Meta adds real-time AI video to Ray-Ban smart glasses

Samsung unveils XR headset Project Moohan with Android XR OS

Apple releases visionOS 2.2 with ultra-wide display for Vision Pro

Google launches Android XR operating system for XR devices

INCISIV launches VR sports training game DodgeCraft on Quest

Meta releases Quest update 72 with Windows integration and hand tracking

Apple rumored to be developing Sony PSVR2 controller support for Vision Pro

Extended Reality

EVA.gg raises EUR 5 million in seed funding

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