htc New HTC CEO Yves Maitre Faces Uphill Battle Amid Ongoing Losses HTC's new chief executive Yves Maitre takes the reins after five consecutive quarterly losses and major layoffs. He discusses leveraging 5G and VR to revive the struggling smartphone maker.
verizon Verizon Acquires Fading VR Startup Jaunt's Tech Assets Verizon picks up the technology assets of Disney-backed virtual reality startup Jaunt after the company struggles to find a sustainable business model. The deal includes both Jaunt's older VR tech and newer augmented reality efforts, though no employees are joining Verizon.
facebook Facebook Horizon Aims to Build the Ultimate Social VR Sandbox Facebook unveils Horizon, a user-generated virtual reality universe designed to be a lasting social destination rather than a simple novelty. The closed beta launches in early 2020, replacing older social VR apps like Spaces and Oculus Rooms.
oculus Oculus Link Makes The PC-Tethered Rift S Headset Obsolete A new beta feature called Oculus Link allows standalone Quest users to connect to a PC and play high-end VR games, delivering an experience nearly identical to the Rift S. This new technology effectively renders the Rift S irrelevant by giving the cheaper Quest the same PC-powered capabilities.
facebook Facebook Horizon Brings User-Built Social VR Worlds to Oculus Facebook announces Horizon, a new social VR world for Quest and Rift where users build and explore custom environments. The launch prompts the immediate closure of older apps Facebook Spaces and Oculus Rooms.
oculus Oculus Link Update Transforms Quest Into PC VR Headset Facebook announces Oculus Link, a feature that allows Oculus Quest owners to connect to gaming PCs via USB-C to play Rift games.
facebook Facebook Acquires CTRL-labs to Advance Neural Input Armband Tech Facebook purchases CTRL-labs, a startup that creates armbands translating neural impulses into digital signals, for an estimated $500 million to $1 billion.
google Google Closes Emmy-Winning Spotlight Stories VR Studio Google is officially shutting down its Spotlight Stories immersive entertainment division after more than six years of producing innovative virtual reality films.
5g China Accelerates 5G Commercial Deployment to Rival US and South Korea China officially grants commercial 5G licenses to four major state-backed operators months ahead of schedule. The early rollout highlights Beijing's push to lead the global 5G race despite international scrutiny of Huawei.
facebook Facebook Pins Mainstream VR Hopes on the Launch of Oculus Quest Facebook releases the Oculus Quest, a streamlined VR headset designed to finally bring virtual reality to a mass audience. The tech giant faces intense pressure to prove its billion-dollar investment works as it struggles to simplify its confusing product line.
facebook Facebook Shifts Focus From News Feed to Privacy and New Features at F8 Facebook uses its F8 conference to outline a future beyond the news feed, focusing instead on privacy, Groups, and new consumer products. TechCrunch analysts break down how this pivot creates new opportunities for startups and investors.
facebook Facebook Ships VR Headsets With Embarrassing Hidden Inscriptions Facebook admits that tens of thousands of upcoming Oculus VR controllers ship with internal prototype messages like "Big Brother Is Watching." The company reveals the embarrassing hardware error ahead of two major headset launches.
valve Valve Index VR Headset Confirmed for June 15th Release Valve confirms its upcoming Index VR headset ships on June 15th, complete with integrated headphones and optional motion controllers. The leak reveals standard PC requirements and hints at inside-out tracking technology.
valve Valve Reveals Index VR Headset Launch Date and Controller Details Valve accidentally reveals key details about its upcoming Index VR headset, confirming a June 15 launch alongside its Knuckles controllers. The high-end device features integrated headphones as it prepares to compete with Oculus and HTC.
no man's sky No Man's Sky Beyond Update Brings Full Virtual Reality Support This Summer Hello Games announces that No Man's Sky is receiving a complete virtual reality overhaul as part of its free Beyond update this summer. The immersive upgrade promises to make the procedurally generated space sim one of the most expansive VR experiences available.