The Witcher: Monster Slayer Is A New Mobile AR Game From CD Projekt Red

A new mobile The Witcher AR game called Monster Slayer developed by Spokko, part of the CD Projekt Red family, will bring the monsters of the dark fantasy universe to your neighborhood using Pokemon Go-style gameplay.

Since the runaway success of Pokemon Go, there’s been an absolute plethora of similar games aiming to emulate that success. There was a The Walking Dead location-based AR game, Harry Potter: Wizards Unite from the same studio, then Minecraft Earth and now… The Witcher: Monster Slayer.

That’s right, you’ll soon be able to get your Geralt on and go out hunting for monsters in the streets around you house, catching them using an AR interface that places creatures in your surroundings using a live feed from your phone’s camera.

While the trailer, embedded below, shows a young man playing the game in a beautiful eastern European-looking forest, it’s not likely everyone will have such an apt setting to play the game in. I’m personally looking forward to catching some monsters from the Witcher in a dirty city alleyway.

Spokko says that “preparation is key” if you want to defeat the enemies in Monster Slayer, perhaps hinting at more depth in the mechanics of this title than others in the genre. You’ll have to use potions, oils, bombs, and bait if you want to succeed, just like in the mainline Witcher games.

The game announcement comes at a strange time — while Pokemon Go remains popular, none of the more recent games that followed it seem to have had the same success. Plus, for many people around the world, walking around their neighborhood is not a great idea, or even not allowed, at the moment due to the pandemic. That being said, a release date for the game hasn’t been announced, so that could be less of a concern in the future.

Will you be trying out The Witcher: Monster SlayerLet us know in the comments.

New HoloLens 2 App Helps UK Doctors Train To Identify COVID-19

A new HoloLens 2 application uses volumetric capture of a COVID-19 patient to help UK doctors and nurses safely identify symptoms.

HoloPatient: COVID-19 is a free extension of GIGXR’s HoloPatient platform, produced in partnership with the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) and the new Resilient XR consortium. The app presents users with a ‘standardized patient’ showing COVID-19 symptoms. The patient was captured using Dimension’s London-based Mixed Reality Capture studio, with features a rig with over 100 cameras that record humans ten stitch their actions back together as a 3D asset. The company says it shot the footage under safe conditions.

“Shoots are looking a little different at Dimension today, in the name of the health and safety of both the crew and the general public,” said Adam Smith, Head of Production at Dimension. “In line with advice from the APA and the Government, protocols include adherence to the 2m social distancing rule, strict use of PPE and regular temperature checks by a medic on set. To limit the number of people present, we have remote directing capabilities, streaming a live feed of the action from a wide selection of camera viewpoints. It’s not traditional but it’s efficient and hasn’t impacted quality in our experience.”

The app, meanwhile, takes users through four stages of COVID-19 illness, providing a safe means for doctors and nurses to recognize symptoms seen in a typical case.

Resilient is a group consisting of UK-based immersive technology companies such as Dimension, tech hub Digital Catapult and VISR VR. Also included are developer agencies like Fracture Reality and Make Real. It’s also supported by the University of Leeds’ Centre for Immersive Technologies and University College London. Along with this HoloLens app, the group has also been using volumetric capture to deliver online training videos in which viewers can zoom in and inspect processes in greater detail.

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Report: Apple Takes AR Lenses Into ‘Trial Production’

A new report from The Information says Foxconn Technology has moved into “trial production” on “semitransparent” lenses for Apple’s AR efforts.

The report indicates that Apple’s partner in iPhone production moved from the prototype stage to trial production of the critical component. Dueling reports in the past few months from Mark Gurman at Bloomberg and reporters for The Information have tried to zero in on Apple’s plans for VR and AR.

It is believed Apple is still some time away from shipping anything to compete with Facebook’s Oculus Quest — a VR headset which targets indoor use. Meanwhile, Apple’s CEO Tim Cook has made comments suggesting he sees huge opportunity in AR. The issue is that there are still enormous technical hurdles to overcome before anyone can ship lightweight AR glasses you use outside the home to insert digital objects into your view. Camera-laden VR headsets, of course, can also provide a passthrough way of seeing the environment around the person wearing the device and thus provide certain features through a kind of AR-in-VR mode. Windows MR headsets, Oculus Quest and Valve Index, for instance, all feature modes that let you view the environment on the other side of the otherwise opaque display.

Microsoft’s HoloLens, of course, is a relatively bulky but completely standalone AR headset and the company has encountered some issues with the display technology.

This is all to say that while The Information reports Apple and its Foxconn partner have been in development for three years with these lenses, it’s unclear exactly what kind of device they are meant for and precisely how far away that device might be from shipping to consumers.

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HaptX Partners With Military Training Company To Develop Mixed Reality Training Systems

A Florida-based military training and technology company, ECS (Engineering & Computer Simulations) has been awarded a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project to develop “haptics-based mixed reality training systems within the U.S. Army’s Synthetic Training Environment.”

The project will be developed in conjunction with the Defense Health Agency and includes a partnership with haptic glove company HaptX and the Mayo Clinic at the College of Medicine and Science in Florida.

“This type of haptics integration offers a sense of touch and natural interactions within various virtual, augmented, and mixed reality scenarios,” said Waymon Armstrong, ECS CEO and President. “When applied in a medical environment, this integration with TC3 will provide our Warfighters and healthcare professionals the tools that they need to improve their quality of training and retention to potentially save more lives.””

The HaptX Gloves will be integrated into several areas of medical training in the Department of Defense, which aim to provide haptic feedback in training environments, as to reduce the need for “live tissue training.” The programs will use both augmented and virtual reality systems, with multi-user capabilities and training analytics and assessment tools.

Joe Michaels, the Chief Revenue Officer of HaptX, says that the company’s technology is “uniquely suited” to work with the U.S. Army’s training programs, and feel that the the gloves will be able to “increase the effectiveness of mixed reality training for military and civilian healthcare professionals.”

Back in December last year, HaptX announced a new $12 million funding round and the next month, we got to try the gloves at CES 2020.

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Magic Leap Appoints New CEO: Microsoft Executive Peggy Johnson

Microsoft’s Executive Vice President of Business Development, Peggy Johnson, is Magic Leap’s new CEO.

Johnson, who also previously worked at Qualcomm, will lead the heavily-invested augmented reality company from August 1. Magic Leap’s hunt for a new CEO began in May when founder and figurehead Rony Abovitz stepped down from the role following a significant round of layoffs for the company.

“Magic Leap’s technological foundation is undeniable, and there is no question that has the potential to shape the future of XR and computing,” Johnson said in a blog post announcing the news.

Magic Leap CEO Peggy JohnsonJohnson joins the company following a recent shift in focus for its $2,295 Magic Leap One headset, which projects virtual images into real-world environments through a pair of transparent lenses. Originally aimed at consumers and featuring apps made by famous developers such as Insomniac Games, the company pivoted its hardware more towards enterprise customers at the end of last year following reports of slow sales.

“As CEO, I look forward to strategically building enduring relationships that connect Magic Leap’s game-changing technology and pipeline to the wide-ranging digital needs of enterprises of all sizes and industries,” Johnson added. As a former Microsoft executive, Johnson will already have experience in the field of AR, given that the company has produced two enterprise-level headsets, HoloLens and HoloLens 2, which are similar to Magic Leap One in capabilities.

Magic Leap is currently working on its second-generation product, Magic Leap 2, which hasn’t been revealed yet. A recent report stated that the device was targetting a 2021 release but, which the recent layoffs and changes in leadership, it’s unclear if that’s still the goal.

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Niantic To Launch New Mobile AR Game Based On Catan

Niantic announced that it is working on a new mobile AR game called Catan – World Explorers, based on the popular board game Catan. The company is also partnering with immersive theater studio Punchdrunk to create several other new projects.

Niantic is one of the biggest players in the mobile AR market, with a variety of successful titles like Pokemon Go and Harry Potter: Wizards Unite. Now, the studio looks to expand its offerings with a new game based on the popular strategic board game.

Similar to other Niantic games, Catan – World Explorers is a multiplayer augmented reality title for mobile platforms, which “transforms the entire Earth into one giant game of CATAN”. Players will be able to “harvest, trade, and build in the real world as cities and landmarks transform into settlements where you can collect resources, construct buildings, and score points for your Faction.”

catan mobile game ar niantic

There’s a few graphics on the World Explorers website, embedded above, which indicate that the UI and general aesthetic of the game will continue the same style and use similar assets seen in Pokemon Go and Wizards Unite. There’s a few more gameplay tidbits over on the World Explorers site too.

Niantic also announced that it is partnering with Punchdrunk, an immersive theater studio, to develop multiple new projects. “I believe that Punchdrunk and Niantic can create something that has never been done before,” said Punchdrunk Artistic Director Felix Barrett. “They do it in AR, we do it in real life. Collide the two and I think we will blow people’s minds; bend the rules of genre and redefine the norms of mobile gaming.”

Catan – World Explorers will go into beta very soon and those who are interested in taking part can sign up online.

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Google Launches Depth API for ARCore, Increasing Realism And Improving Occlusion

Google announced today that the Depth API is now available for ARCore 1.18 on Android and Unity. The Depth API is meant to improve occlusion and increase realism thanks to new interaction types.

The Depth API was first announced with a preview on the Google developers blog last year. The API allows a device to determine the depth of objects shown on the camera, according to how far or close by they are. In terms of AR, the API helps to significantly improve occlusion, which Google succintly describes as “the ability for digital objects to accurately appear in front of or behind real world objects.”

snapchat hotdog arcore

The example embedded above shows the dancing hotdog filter on Snapchat being accurately occluded by a lounge as the camera moves down. According to Google, another case where the API would be useful is in Five Nights at Freddy’s AR: Special Delivery, as occlusion is vital to the experience — characters can accurately hide behind objects and then provide a jump scare by moving out from behind the real-world object. Niantic showed something similar with Pokemon Go in the past as well.

However, Occlusion is not the only use for the Depth API — Google notes that developers have found many other uses as well, including implementing more realistic physics, better surface interactions, and environmental traversal. For example, the Google Creative Lab experiment ‘Lines of Play’ allows users to build AR domino arrangements that will accurately collide with furniture and walls in the room when the dominoes knocked over.

The Depth API will begin rolling out today. You can read more over on the Google developers blog.

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HoloLens 2 Now Available To Purchase Direct For Non-Enterprise Customers

The HoloLens 2 is now available to purchase for regular consumers in the United States, direct from Microsoft’s online store. Previously, the AR headset was only available at an enterprise level, and businesses were required to contact Microsoft to discuss placing an order.

Microsoft’s second enterprise-level AR headset, the HoloLens 2, began shipping in late 2019. However, now just over a year later, US consumers are able to place an order for the headset online through the Microsoft Store. Upon launch, the headset was aimed at an enterprise level, priced at $3500 per unit — $1000 above the Magic Leap One Creator Edition. Any prospective business looking to adopt HoloLens headsets had to contact Microsoft to discuss purchase options.

A screenshot of the HoloLens landing page, featuring a new ‘Buy Now’ button.

However, on the US Microsoft site, the device is now available to be purchased directly on the HoloLens webpage — any visitor is able to add the HoloLens 2 directly into their cart and place an order. At the time of writing, Microsoft offers a 2-day express shipping for the headset as well, so you wouldn’t have to wait very long for it to turn up on your doorstep.

However, don’t get too excited — just because the HoloLens 2 is available to purchase online doesn’t mean it’s any less pricey or overflowing with consumer-facing apps yet. If you’re sitting at home and fancy placing an order, you’ll still have to shell out a hefty $3500 to get your hands on one.

We first went hands-on with the device in February of 2019. At the time, Jamie was quite impressed, calling it ‘an AR headset that [he’d] actually use‘. You can place an order for a HoloLens 2 over on Microsoft’s website.


Did you miss out on the UploadVR Showcase: Summer Edition? Check out every trailer, article, announcement, interview, and more from the UploadVR Showcase right here.

The post HoloLens 2 Now Available To Purchase Direct For Non-Enterprise Customers appeared first on UploadVR.

HoloLens 2 Now Available To Purchase Direct For Non-Enterprise Customers

The HoloLens 2 is now available to purchase for regular consumers in the United States, direct from Microsoft’s online store. Previously, the AR headset was only available at an enterprise level, and businesses were required to contact Microsoft to discuss placing an order.

Microsoft’s second enterprise-level AR headset, the HoloLens 2, began shipping in late 2019. However, now just over a year later, US consumers are able to place an order for the headset online through the Microsoft Store. Upon launch, the headset was aimed at an enterprise level, priced at $3500 per unit — $1000 above the Magic Leap One Creator Edition. Any prospective business looking to adopt HoloLens headsets had to contact Microsoft to discuss purchase options.

A screenshot of the HoloLens landing page, featuring a new ‘Buy Now’ button.

However, on the US Microsoft site, the device is now available to be purchased directly on the HoloLens webpage — any visitor is able to add the HoloLens 2 directly into their cart and place an order. At the time of writing, Microsoft offers a 2-day express shipping for the headset as well, so you wouldn’t have to wait very long for it to turn up on your doorstep.

However, don’t get too excited — just because the HoloLens 2 is available to purchase online doesn’t mean it’s any less pricey or overflowing with consumer-facing apps yet. If you’re sitting at home and fancy placing an order, you’ll still have to shell out a hefty $3500 to get your hands on one.

We first went hands-on with the device in February of 2019. At the time, Jamie was quite impressed, calling it ‘an AR headset that [he’d] actually use‘. You can place an order for a HoloLens 2 over on Microsoft’s website.


Did you miss out on the UploadVR Showcase: Summer Edition? Check out every trailer, article, announcement, interview, and more from the UploadVR Showcase right here.

The post HoloLens 2 Now Available To Purchase Direct For Non-Enterprise Customers appeared first on UploadVR.

Niantic Plans To Release 2 New Apps Per Year, Announces Pokémon GO Fest 2020

Pokemon Go Niantic revealed it has a multi-year roadmap with more than 10 titles in development and two titles planned to launch each year. The roadmap also includes non-game AR experiences, according to the company.

The reveal came as the company detailed its Pokémon GO Fest 2020. It will be a digital event open to players in all regions taking place on July 25 and 26 with tickets for $14.99 to access both days.

​”​Trainers can experience an all-new gameplay experience of rotating virtual habitats in Pokémon GO that will change every hour. Trainers can look forward to discovering more than 75 unique Pokémon over the course of the weekend,” according to a statement from Niantic. “Trainers will be able to enjoy an all-new story and adventure that will span the Pokémon GO app as well as the Pokémon social channels and news hub.”

In recent months Niantic acquired 6D.ai to strengthen its 3D mapping technology and launched a Reality Blending feature first on some Android phones that recognizes occluded areas of the real world for more convincing AR experiences. The feature is expected to launch on more devices in the near future.

Niantic of course offers other titles like Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, but Pokemon Go remains the company’s powerhouse location-based game. The reveal about the company’s product roadmap is an intriguing one as momentum begins to accelerate surrounding the possibility of more compelling AR headsets. Could Pokémon GO and other AR apps in development from Niantic one day make the jump to true AR hardware?

You can find more information about Pokémon GO Fest 2020 here.

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