The Apple Vision Pro has finally been unveiled, taking the XR world by storm! In typical Apple style, the presentation during the WWDC 2023 keynote was slick and stylish and left us wanting to know more about the device. A definite head-turner thanks to its feature set and design, there was one clear omission from the announcement; immersive gaming.
During the lengthy presentation, Apple’s CEO Tim Cook talked enthusiastically about Vision Pro. Saying: “Today marks the beginning of a new era for computing. Just as the Mac introduced us to personal computing, and iPhone introduced us to mobile computing, Apple Vision Pro introduces us to spatial computing.” And it’s that last part which is most noteworthy, with Apple highly focused on spatial computing functionality.
Apple Vision Pro spatial computing power
Apple spent a great deal of time talking about the computing aspect of the headset. From dealing with everyday work routines to FaceTiming your family, looking through photos and watching movies. All of it is clearly tailored to current high-end Apple users who want the benefit of multiple devices in one.
It incorporates eye and hand tracking alongside voice as the only input methods, creating a seemingly seamless experience for users. Apple Vision Pro has an ultra-high-resolution display system that packs 23 million pixels across two displays, a unique dual-chip design using Apple Silicon and its own operating system, visionOS. 12 cameras, five sensors, and six microphones track and sense the world around you for a powerful mixed reality experience. There’s even a screen on the front to display a user’s eyes. Thus enabling others to interact with them in a natural way called EyeSight.
Make no mistake, the Apple Vision Pro will likely be the new XR industry benchmark when it arrives in 2024. But for $3,499 the company isn’t targeting a mainstream audience.
No VR gaming
Blink and you might have missed it during the presentation but Apple did mention videogames. “Spatial computing makes new types of games possible with titles that can span a spectrum of immersion and bring gamers into all-new worlds,” the company excitedly proclaimed.
However, what was demonstrated was the ability to play over 100 Apple Arcade games on a large virtual screen using traditional game controllers. At no other point did Apple mention gaming as part of its entertainment plan. This is a complete reversal of Meta’s path, which focused entirely on gaming before adding in social and productivity features.
Apple was very direct in mentioning that the Vision Pro doesn’t have controllers. With most of the input handled via hand gestures. Hand tracking doesn’t lend itself particularly well to a lot of games. So with the occlusion of controllers, you’re not going to be able to play Half-Life: Alyx or Resident Evil 4 on Apple’s pretty new device.
What is clear is that Meta and Apple aren’t going head-to-head anytime soon. Meta is focused on the consumer end of the market, evidenced by the Meta Quest 3 announcement and the Quest Gaming Showcase. However, the Vision Pro announcement will make more people sit up and pay attention to XR, which is good for the whole industry.
What did you think of the Apple Vision Pro, are you sold on it? Or are you more interested in Quest 3? Let us know in the comments below.