The holidays may have left you with a modest surplus of time and/or cash, and that never happens. Well, the fine people at Valve have a convenient solution in mind, as the Winter Sale has knocked down prices on top PC VR games that should get you through the cold winter.
Whether you’re kicking it with a bonafide PC VR headset or a shiny new Quest 2 to go along with your VR-ready PC, this winter’s Steam sale has you covered with a ton of top VR titles, some of which are currently ranging from 50-75% off.
The sale goes from now until January 5th at 10AM PT (local time here), so you still have some time to do the responsible thing and burn all of your fun money on video games.
We’re keeping an eye out for more sales heading into the new year, so check back soon for all things VR in the coming days. We’re expecting to see a repeat of the Quest New Year’s sale, which ought to give you a chance to get some Quest native titles on the cheap in case you missed the Quest Winter Sale that just ended.
Talk of a tech recession and mass layoffs across the sector dominated the headlines in 2022.
And while certain areas have contracted and companies have acted accordingly by reducing their workforces, various industries continue to go from strength-to-strength and have been bolstered by the growing demand for cloud-based technology, machine learning tools, blockchain technology, and the acceleration of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) in our everyday lives.
Fintech’s future
The last 12 months have rocked the foundations of fintech—in May, Swedish BNPL fintech Klarna slashed 10% of its workforce, and in November Stripe announced it was laying off 14% of its staff, affecting approximately 1,120 of the fintech leader’s 8,000 strong workforce—but despite these attention-grabbing statistics, the sector’s future looks bright for 2023, thanks to the emergence of B2B fintech.
In fact, according to data compiled by Dealroom, fintechs selling to businesses have attracted €13.1 billion in investment compared to €3 billion for fintechs selling to consumers, the lowest figure B2Cs have commanded since 2015.
Cybersecurity is on the rise
The threat of online security breaches and hacking of personal information continue to inform the sector and cybersecurity is expected to grow globally by 14% before 2029. The need for more secure networks is also fuelling the demand for cloud-based data security as many organizations move away from network-centric security towards a multi-cloud strategy using two or more vendors.
And the job market can’t keep up—43% of organizations globally are struggling to find top talent, meaning an even greater reliance on automation and managed security tools.
A boost to blockchain
Cryptocurrency has traditionally dominated the blockchain space. But with experts predicting that the sector will add €5.67 trillion to the global economy by 2030 due to the mass adoption of Web3.0, a strong component of which is decentralized finance, a career in blockchain is a safe bet.
This is further bolstered by the technology’s infiltration into retail, media, and entertainment. Market Research Future also predicts that decentralized finance will become more prominent within traditional banking, financial services, and the insurance sector.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is getting real
With machine learning and automation becoming increasingly important to service-based companies, AI software sales are booming and are forecast to increase even more.
According to data compiled by Gartner, the AI software market has increased by 21% when compared to 2021, and workers with AI experience, especially those in more senior or leadership roles, are in even higher demand.
AR/VR to become an everyday reality
While the Metaverse still appears to be very far from completion, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) look set to infiltrate our everyday lives, especially for remote workers who are predicted to rely on AR and VR to help them connect with their teams.
In financial terms, GlobalData equates this to the AR market hitting €56.83 billion in 2023 before reaching €315 billion by 2028.
So, if securing your long term career goals by aligning your skillset with a more stable sector is on your agenda for 2023, The House of Talent Job Board is a pretty good place to start your search. Or why not check out the open roles at the three companies below, all currently hiring in the fields we’ve outlined above.
Raisin GmbH
Founded in 2012, Raisin GmbH is a fintech pioneer and allows financial institutions to set up their own marketplaces while also transforming their BaaS (banking as a service) solutions. In 2021, Raisin merged with the leading B2B deposits platform Deposit Solutions, forming one of the biggest open banking fintechs to come out of Europe, and further securing the success of the company into the future. If you’re interested in joining the company in its fintech endeavours, visit the Raisin GmbH Job Board today.
Google
Customers in more than 200 countries and territories turn to Google Cloud as their trusted partner to enable growth and solve their most critical business problems. A pioneer in cloud computing, Google also offers additional training via certification programs to help staff get the accreditation and knowledge they need to work on cloud technology. You’ll also be able to get access to some of the best working conditions and get practical experience in the field. View all opportunities at Google here.
Trade Republic
German securities trading platform and investment firm Trade Republic is on a mission to democratize wealth and uses blockchain technology to allow customers to invest in stocks, EFTs, and cryptocurrency. It’s currently hiring across various sectors including cybersecurity, machine learning, and data science. Find out more about how you can join the Talent Republic team now.
Few could have predicted the economic and geopolitical landscape that confronted the mobility sector in 2022. With the industry still reeling from materials shortages — particularly semiconductor chips — caused by COVID-19 lockdowns, the invasion of Ukraine has further tested the sector’s resiliency.
This has led to companies scrambling to wean themselves off Russian oil. The outcome of this has created a strong focus on renewable energy, including preservation, optimization of operational efficiency, and electrification, topics that’ll extend across all areas of mobility in 2023.
But there’s a lot more we can expect from the sector next year, and here are a few of those predictions.
Greater subsidized public transport
2022 saw countries like Spain and Germany subsidise public transport and these initiatives will extend into 2023.
France has banned short-haul domestic flights, reducing the cost of rail tickets along the way. We’ll likely see more countries investing in public transport to reduce citizens’ reliance on gas.
Solar electric vehicles (sEVs) will hit roads for the first time
This is the Sono Motors Sion car.
We can expect big things for solar EVs in 2023. Sono Motors’ €25,000 solar electric hatchback, Sion, is expected to go into production in the second half of year. According to CEO Laurin Hahn, the company will begin fulfilling pre-orders within the EU after that. Although, the company is going through some issues.
Lightyear’s €250,000 Model “0” solar electric vehicle — which is developed in the Netherlands — will probably hit the roads alongside the Squad Solar City. Over in California, Aptera may also release its two-seater solar electric vehicle.
According to Sono Motor’s CEO, Hahn, the availability of technologically-advanced, safe, energy-producing solar electric vehicles — as opposed to simple energy-consuming EVs — represents a great leap forward in the electric vehicle industry to date.
He added: “Each of these companies are pioneers in an emerging industry that is committed to delivering on the dream of truly zero-emission mobility, which has evaded us for too long.”
Bidirectional charging to have its moment
Bi-directional charging is the ability for your car battery to receive energy from the electricity grid, as well as sharing the power it generates.
Currently, EV bidirectional charging is a nice-to-have feature, but, in 2023, it will become far more sought after.
EV owners will want to reduce home and office energy costs, and using their EV as an alternative power source could be just the ticket.
Bidirectional charging usually requires a hardware investment. But according to Hahn, Sion could be among the first European car makers to offer consumers the ability to charge other vehicles or put energy back into a public or private grid (e.g. home grid) — without any additional hardware.
Ebikes are at a point of inflexion
2022 has been a great year for ebikes, with the hardware even outselling cars in the US. In much of Europe, they are becoming the ubiquitous mode of transport for urban dwellers.
Tanguy Goretti — co-founder and CTO of Cowboy — predicts a wider adoption amongst families who will continue to ditch their second car as it becomes too expensive to run. Ebikes provide families with “a more affordable, practical transport option that the whole household can share.”
TNW has reviewed many great ebikes for their great design and utility, but there’s also a considerable amount of software innovation that Goretti expects to grow in 2023.
He believes ebikes will have their iPhone moment, explaining that in the last 10 years, two significant hardware moments occurred: electrification and connectivity. He continued: “This is precisely what happened with iPhone or Tesla; hardware differences became less relevant, and software became the main element, and soon the ebike industry will follow suit.”
Micromobility will expand, but will struggle with profitability
2022 has been another big year for micromobility, as operators focused on expanding fleets and entering new markets. But the challenge of profitability has loomed large, leading to the layoffs we’ve seen across the entire tech ecosystem. This year major operators of shared micromobility services like Voi, Bird, and Tier have all significantly downsized.
A Lime escooter being driven around Paris.
There’s also speculation that Paris may ban escooters in response to parking challenges and accidents, despite a boost in both ownership and ridership. The city’s contracts with Lime, Dott, and Tier are all up for renewal in February 2023, so expect to see the dangers of escooters dominating the French media.
Parking and sidewalk riding remain notable pain points, so expect to see more attention given to the technology that manages how escotoers are ridden and parked. Docking (and charging) solutions may become a critical part of city infrastructure in some public spaces to reduce clutter.
And then there’s Berlin. Beginning on Jan 1, bikes, escooters, scooters and motorcycles (rental or otherwise) can be parked in regular spaces free of charge. While I like the elevation of their status in the parking food chain, I’m just waiting for the hordes of angry car owners to drive over them.
There’s also good news in the UK with the Department for Transport extending trials of hire escooters until May 2024. This will be a litmus test as to whether vendors can improve rider behaviour and increase user numbers. That said, it’s unlikely we’ll see the ban lifted on private escooters, which are currently restricted to private land use.
The rise and rise of circular design
I predicted last year that circular design would be a key feature of 2022 — and this will continue.
As a reminder, circular design completely reimagines product creation, from the original blueprints to various lifecycle stages, and what happens to each element after it has fulfilled its original purpose.
Next year kicks off the expansion of global regulations for batteries and the origin of critical, but not infinite, materials like cobalt and lithium.
New EU Battery Regulations have created a series of mandatory incremental requirements. These force battery makers (and users like carmakers) to consider the battery lifecycle, from R&D to mining source materials, closing material recycling loops, and end-of-life battery management.
In practice, in 2023, we’ll see car and bike makers focused on closed-loop circularity where end-of-life parts are reused to make new designs. We can also expect an expansion of R&D in battery innovation from materials design to the development of reusable and repairable batteries.
Greater manufacturing of sustainable materials
In 2023, innovation will continue to grow in terms of the materials used to build our vehicles.
the first electric trucks from Volvo with fossil-free steel are now being delivered to customers.
This year, Swedish Volvo became the world’s first truck manufacturer to begin using fossil-free steel in its electric trucks. The steel is made by using a completely new technology with green electricity and hydrogen. The result is a significantly lower climate impact and an important step towards a net-zero emissions value chain.
Additionally, startup Roetz is working on a modular bike called Life, something made up of swappable parts. Modules will be repaired or remanufactured, ready for the next lifecycle. Roetz’s modular ebike will be launched in 2023.
Also, German company igus and Dutch company MTRL have partnered to create igus:bike, and what makes it so special is the fact that it is made from 90% recycled plastic waste, including the frame, bearings, brake levers, pedals, and belt.
So there we have it, just a few predictions for 2023. We know that even with challenges, the mobility sector is forever improving and evolving product offerings and changing how we move people and products for the better.
You might have checked out more than a few ways to spend your first $100 on the Quest Store, but the savings are so deep right now that you might just add a few more top VR titles to your shopping cart today to take advantage of the biggest Quest game sale of the year.
From now until December 26th at 11: 59 PM PT (local time here), you’ll be able to save up to 50% on some of the top VR games for Quest 2.
Some of the best savings can be found in the multitude of mixed game packs available. Remember: Meta does dynamic bundle pricing, so even if you already have a game in the packs below, you’ll see pricing automatically adjust.
There are a ton of games currently on sale, and you can check out all of the season’s savings here for a complete list of Quest titles currently discounted.
According to the International Energy Association (IEA), the buildings sector in 2021 was responsible for around one-third of global energy and process-related CO2 emissions.
Specifically, 6% of these emissions resulted from the manufacture of cement, steel, and aluminium used for construction; 8% from the use of fossil fuels; and 19% from the generation of electricity and heat needed to maintain them.
This makes one thing clear: more attention needs to be paid to making our buildings greener and more sustainable.
Thankfully, 2023 will be the year when we start taking some significant steps towards this goal.
“The building sector has not received nearly the amount of attention that it deserves given the havoc it wreaks on the environment,” Talia Rafaeli, Partner at KOMPAS, a Copenhagen-based early-stage VC firm, told TNW.
“Next year, I think that the quicker we provide financing to scale sustainable technologies for the built environment, the faster we reach economies of scale to allow for widespread adoption,” she added.
Rafaeli specified that the investments should focus on the following: lower-emission concrete, green steel, cooling technologies to improve HVAC systems (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), and heat pumps.
Optimistically, we’re already seeing European companies developing projects on lower-emission concrete and green steel production.
Among them, is the Finnish Betolar, a business is creating an alternative to cement-based concrete. There are also Swedish manufacturers H2 Green Steel and SSAB, which are developing hydrogen-based green steel solutions.
Betolar’s Geoprime solution has up to 80% lower carbon footprint. Credit: Betolar
Yet, there is a lot to be done with pre-existing buildings. Dr Aidan Bell, co-founder of UK-based EnviroBuild maintains this is a “significant” step which should start with ensuring a house is well-insulated. “Roof and wall cavity insulation [in particular is] very cost-effective,” Bell told TNW.
There are also additional technologies for those who have already done the basics, he added, telling us about Airex a type of smart air brick that reduces heat loss.
Bell foresees two more trends picking up in 2023: the increased installation of solar PV panels on rooftops and the use of smart meters, which enable “better awareness of electricity peaks and troughs.” Even simple steps such as using machines overnight can assist in lowering peak demand on the national grid, he noted.
A way of encouraging this balance of energy consumption are flexibility services. Chantel Scheepers — CEO of OakTree Power — believes these are likely to become mainstream in 2023. The goal os these schemes is to offer consumers financial compensation for using less energy during peak times, she told TNW.
Scheepers noted that they’re gaining popularity in cities like London, where they’re being adopted by multinational companies, such as the Financial Times and Pinsent Masons — showing their “enormous potential” to optimize energy usage.
Ultimately, making our buildings more sustainable won’t happen in 2023 alone, but every small action we take is crucial in the long term — and there’s no time like the present to begin.
Meta has announced that an upcoming Quest 2 update will unlock additional performance that developers can tap into to make their games look better. Some apps will benefit from the increased performance automatically.
Meta says “no integration or coding is needed to start reaping the benefits of this improvement,” as the headset’s dynamic clocking system will automatically boost the GPU speed if it detects that an app needs it. For apps with occasional stuttering, this little boost could smooth things out.
For apps using the headset’s dynamic foveation capability (which blurs the area in the peripheral view to improve performance), Meta says the headset will boost the processor to the new 525MHz speed to maintain visual quality before blurring the peripheral area. That means apps which previously relied on cranking up the blur during demanding scenes should look better in those cases than if they didn’t have access to the extra power.
Meta says the Quest 2 performance increase is technically available as of v47, but requires a bit of a workaround to enable it each time. As of the Quest 2 v49 update the performance boost will be unlocked without any caveats.
Not ready to plonk down your first $100 on Quest 2 games? Thankfully there’s an impressive number of free games, experiences, apps, and social VR platforms to keep you playing before you’re paying.
We have however included App Lab games. If you want to see more, SideQuest’s search function is a great resource for finding free stuff and demos. Below you’ll find some of the top App Lab games in addition to those hosted on the official store.
Free Games
Blaston
This shooting game just went free-to-play, letting you take on friends, family and foes head-to-head in 1v1 dueling action. Refine your loadout and jump into the action as you scramble for weapons and send a volley of hellfire as your enemies, all the while Matrix dodging through this innovative bullet hell meets futuristic dueling title. Spend money on cosmetics, or don’t: it’s a massive slice of fun any which way.
There aren’t a ton of free-to-play shooters out there that promise multiplayer action, however Gun Raiders fits the bill with its multiple game modes that let you jetpack through the air, climbing from wall to wall, and shoot down the competition. There’s the same sort of microtransactions you see in bigger games, but it they’re all avatar skin stuff, so no pay-to-win here.
Ultimechs should look pretty familiar: it’s basically Rocket League, but instead of driving around in cars, you’re given rocket-powered fists to punch balls into the goal. Online multiplayer includes both 1v1 and 2v2 matches, offering up tons of opportunities to earn cosmetic gear that will let you outfit your battle mech into something unique. There are also now two paid battle passes too, offering up a ton of cosmetics to set you apart from the competition.
Battle Talent is one of those fighting sims that let you go ham on ragdoll baddies, which in this case are wily goblins and loads of skelingtons. This physics-based roguelite action game lets you climb, run and slide your way through levels as you slash, shoot, and wield magic against your foes.
From the studio that brought you the award-winning puzzle game, I Expect You to Die, comes the room-scale mixed reality experience Home Sweet Home, which offers up a new way to defuse potentially lethal situations, and all in the comforting backdrop of your own living room thanks to Quest 2’s passthrough mixed reality function.
Ever wanted to play Counter-Strike on Quest? Pavlov Shack offers up a pretty comparable experience, as you play in either deathmatch or co-op mode. It’s got all of the realistic gunplay and much of the fun of the paid PC VR title, but it’s still going strong with a free open beta on Quest.
Zero-g sports aren’t possible unless you’re stationed on the ISS, and even then you probably shouldn’t muck about. In this fast-paced game of ultimate frisbee-meets-hockey-meets-whatever you’ll launch at speed to the goal, evade the opposing team and chuck your Tron-style frisbee-thing for the win. Remember: you can smash your opponent in the face, but please follow the same suggestions mentioned in Gorilla Tag above.
Freshly launched into open beta, this 4v4 arena-scale shooter requires space and Quest 2 (or Quest Pro) owning buddies—both of which you may not have. Still, it makes for an incredible time that is basically the best version of laser tag you’ve ever played. You’ll need SideQuest to download this one since it disables Quest’s guardian system, but it’s well worth jumping through the hoops to get working if you have everything else.
This humble game of tag has taken both SideQuest and App Lab by storm with its infectious gameplay, and it’s now made its way to the official store. You’ll be lumbering around a tree-lined arena using its unique grab-the-world locomotion style that lets you amble around like a great ape. Chase the other apes and infect them or climb for your life as the infected chase you. Pure and simple. Make sure you’re far from TVs, furniture, babies, and pets because you will punch something in the mad dash for sweet, low-poly freedom.
No real cash gambling here, but PokerStars VR not only let you go all-in on games of Texas Hold’em, but now a full casino’s worth of table games a machines that are sure to light up the dopamine starved pleasure centers of your brain. It’s all free play, so you won’t be risking real cash unless you buy in-game chips, which cannot be turned back into real money: it’s only to keep your bankroll flush for free play.
Gym Class – Basketball is the solution if you’re looking to shoot some hoops and dunk like you probably can’t on a physical court. Online multiplayer lets you go head-to-head for a pretty convincing game of b-ball thanks to the game’s physics-based and full-body kinematics.
This plucky roguelite dungeon crawler is still in beta (still!), but there’s a reason it’s become an App Lab favorite. Explore a vast dungeon to explore, housing plenty of baddies just asking for the steel of your sword, knives, and arrows. You’ll climb over deep pits, dodge lethal traps, and search for hidden treasures. Smash all the pots and crates you can before it officially launches on Quest sometime in the near future.
Would-be wizards, this is your time to shine. Explore a magical laboratory and take on the job of apprentice wizard. The lab is full of gadgets and magical stuff to mess around with; as one of the games that natively supports Quest’s hand tracking, you can put your controllers down and get experimenting with this little slice of the dark arts.
Since the recent Fishin’ Buddies update, this classic VR title has gotten a whole new lease on life as a multiplayer VR fishing game that lets you sit back and crack a cold one with the boys as you reel in the big’uns. The additional social areas also let you sit back between your fishing adventures to take part in casual mini-games.
Without a doubt one of the most fun, and most expansive VR titles out there… and it’s free. Sure, you can pay real cash for in-game tokens to buy spiffy clothes for your avatar, but that’s really up to you. Gads of mini-games await you in both first-party creations such as the ever so popular co-op Quests—that could be games in their own right—to user-created stuff that will keep your pocket book gathering dust. It’s social VR, so meet people and have a ball for zero dollarydoos. Fair warning: there’s a ton of kids.
If you’ve been anywhere near the Internet in the last few years, it’s likely you’ve already heard about VRChat, the user-generated social VR space filled with… well… everything you can imagine, re-pro games included like Among Us, Mario Kart, and even a version of Beat Saber. Fashion your own avatar or download the millions of user-generated avatars out there so you can embody SpongeBob, Kirito from Sword Art Online, or any one of the million anime girl avatars that you’re bound to see there.
Horizon Worlds is still taking baby steps, although recent efforts have brought more tools and user-generated content to the platform which has rounded out things to make it more competitive with Rec Room and VRChat. You may want to check in just to see the state of Meta’s first-party VR social platform—and then check right out again—but at the price of ‘free’, you may just find an environment or community you really gel with, which is the whole reason behind social VR in the first place.
Vertigo 2, the hotly awaited sequel to the original 2016 single-player VR adventure, has had the same demo on Steam for the past three years. Now developer Zulubo Productions has brought a complete overhaul to the free demo, which the studio says better reflects the quality of the final game.
No new content or areas have been added to the demo, although you may still want to pop your head in to see just how the update shows off “how the final game will look and feel,” the studio says.
In addition to adding better visuals and physics, the demo’s intro area has been removed altogether, something the studio says will “get new players right into action.”
Here’s the change list, courtesy Zulubo Productions:
Weapon interaction has been overhauled and now uses physics
Arm and upper body IK has been added
Enemy AI has been greatly improved
Graphics and sounds have been polished
Environments are more detailed and interactive
Lighting has been improved
Performance has been improved
Detailed graphics settings and other options have been added
Vertigo 2 is slated to take PC VR players deep underground in the reaches of Quantum Reactor VII, again setting you on an upwards journey back to your home on the surface. You’ll face bizarre alien flora and fauna leaking from other universes—deadly android security forces included. The game is also set to feature a branching narrative, which promises plenty of surprises around each corner.
Vertigo 2 is slated to launch on SteamVR headsets on March 30th, 2023. If you haven’t had a chance to play the original Vertigo,the game’s rerelease Vertigo Remastered (2020) may still show a bit of its pioneering 2016 roots, but admittedly with much higher quality visuals and interactions. Well worth a play-through to give you something to do while you wait!
New research values the UK tech industry at a whopping $1 trillion (€942 billion) — making it comfortably the leading ecosystem in Europe.
This sector is now worth more than double Germany’s ($467.2 billion) and three times more than France’s ($307.5 billion), according to a report by data provider Dealroom. The UK also leads the continent in overall funding, unicorns, and startup numbers.
“UK tech has remained resilient in the face of global challenges and we have ended the year as one of the world’s leading destinations for digital businesses,” said Digital Minister Paul Scully in a statement. “This is good news and reflects our pro-innovation approach to tech regulation, continuing support for start-ups, and ambition to boost people’s digital skills.”
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Dealroom conducted the research for the Digital Economy Council, which is part of the British government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS).
The study found that fast-growing UK tech companies raised a near-record £24 billion (€27.3 billion) during 2022 — more than France and Germany combined. A total of 144 unicorns and 237 futurecorns have now been created in the country — up from 116 unicorns and 204 futurecorns at the same time last year.
DCMS credited sustained upskilling, investment, and growth for the expansion of the sector, which now employs 3 million people. The department also noted the UK’s focus on standards and values. It highlighted recent proposals for AI regulation, based on core principles such as safety, transparency, and fairness. DCMS claims it’s taken a less centralized approach than that of the EU.
Fintech dominance
The UK becomes the third country to hit the $1 trillion milestone, after China and the US. A large chunk of this figure comes from British fintech, which dominates Dealroom’s list of the most valuable startups.
The Amsterdam-based organization named Worldplay, a payments software firm, as the UK’s most valuable tech company. The top five also included Revolut, FNZ, Rapyd, and Blockchain.com.
Rounding out the rankings were The Access Group, Checkout.com, Global Switch, JustEat, and ION Group. The combined valuation of the top 10 is $177.9B — almost 20% of the entire ecosystem.
Green energy also attracted growing investment — a shift that’s set to accelerate in the coming years.
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People have differing views on the best way to tackle climate change. In fact, some think it’s too late to make a difference. The problem has become too big and complicated. As a result, humanity can’t rely on just a small part of society to manage it.
In line with this, Augmented World Expo (AWE) launched the “XR Prize Challenge: Fight Climate Change.” The organization will accept AR and VR video concept submissions until December 31. Each should present an impactful, creative, and functional XR-based solution to the climate crisis. AWE will award $100,000 to the winning group or individual.
XR Prize Challenge Categories
Entries should portray XR’s role in society in one of these four categories:
1. REPLACE – Replacing Wasteful Material Practices – Concepts in this category should focus on demonstrating how to use XR solutions as communication and collaboration media to reduce the need for transportation and new property development.
2. VISUALIZE – Visualizing The Causes & Impacts of Climate Change – Solutions competing in this category will need to demonstrate how XR can be used for creating empathy for climate change efforts through visualization. As explained in the XR Prize Challenge guidelines, these submissions should illustrate “XR’s unique ability to educate people about the causes and effects of climate change, and influence behaviors and policies to promote equity and fairness.”
3. EDUCATE – Educating About Solutions to Climate Change – This category focuses on how to use XR’s storytelling power to empower solution providers and climatologists. “As an immersive, spatial, and task-oriented story-telling medium, virtual environments can capture ideas and imaginations like no other communication platform can,” reads the guidelines page.
4. OPTIMIZE – Optimizing Design & Execution of Climate Solutions – Concepts in this category will aim to demonstrate the use of XR technology for perfecting solutions for managing or reversing climate change.
XR Prize Challenge Judging Criteria
XR and climate experts will make up the judging panel and they will choose the winner based on:
Creativity – originality, design, beauty, and appropriateness of extended reality to fight climate change;
Functionality – thoughtful user experience, innovative user interaction, and ease of use;
Impact – viability and scalability of the XR-based solution in the marketplace.
XR Prize Challenge Stages
The XR Prize Challenge will have three stages:
1. Qualification for the minimum viable product (MVP) of their concept
Firstly, AWE will send invites in January 2023 to qualified contestants. These contestants should submit their MVP by April 16, 2023. Entries should not be longer than 90 seconds, and must be in must be English or have English translation.
2. Selection of finalists
Secondly, the judging of MVP submissions will take place between April 17 and April 30, 2023. AWE will announce the finalists on May 1, after which they will hold live demos of their MVPs in Santa Clara, USA, prior to AWE USA 2023.
3. Selection of winners
Lastly, the jury will choose winners from the batch of finalists. They will award the cash prize during the Auggie Awards on June 1, 2023.
Help Fight Climate Change Now
As AWE co-founder, Ori Inbar, says in a press release shared with ARPost, “There is truly no more important collective challenge facing humanity today than climate change – and XR is the ideal technology platform to try and develop creative solutions to address it.”
Those interested in participating in AWE’s XR Prize Challenge: Fight Climate Change Fill can submit their concept until the end of this year through this form.
Phaser Lock Interactive, the VR studio behind Final Assault (2019) and Twisted Arrow (2017), announced the release date for Primal Hunt, its upcoming co-op dinosaur hunting game which pits you against a Jurassic Park’s worth of the mighty beasts.
Update (December 22nd, 2022): Primal Hunt is slated to arrive on Quest 2 and Pico headsets starting January 19th, 2023. The game is also targeting Vive Focus, however the studio hasn’t mentioned whether it’s launching concurrently on that headset.
Additionally, Phaser Lock threw out a new trailer which shows off some of its archery-based gameplay. The studio says that as you progress, dinosaurs become even more deadly with the inclusion of cybernetic implants, armor, and weapons such as machine guns, rocket launchers, and the lethal ion cannon—something that ought to up the ante as you encounter all of its different dinosaur species.
Original Article (September 7th, 2022): Called Primal Hunt, the cross-platform co-op game gives you a variety of armor and weapons as you track down and fight the deadliest creatures to have ever walked the Earth.
The game, which is inspired by the Turok series and TV show Westworld, is slated to land on Meta Quest 2, HTC Vive Focus, and Pico headsets sometime in early 2023.
The studio also released a short teaser video (below the article) and a few images, showing off what looks to be a bow-heavy hunting experience that features plenty of pushback from the native fauna.
There’s still much to learn about Primal Hunt. Here’s how Phaser Lock describes it on the game’s website:
Face the ferocity of a pack of Raptors, the strength and power of a Triceratops, and the terror of coming face to face with a 30-ft Tyrannosaurus Rex, all in VR!
With a variety of armor and weapons at your disposal, you are poised to become the ultimate hunter…if you can survive. As you master each challenge, your prey will also become more dangerous as they are outfitted with advanced cybernetic enhancements and weapons, including carbine machine guns, rocket launchers, and more!
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We’ll be keeping our eyes out for all things Primal Hunt as Phaser Lock promotes its first game in the past three years since it launched Final Assault out of Early Access of PC VR headsets in 2019.
War has decimated much of Ukraine’s economy, but a notable exception is the IT sector. As of November, the industry’s annual export revenues had hit a record $5.5 billion — 13% more than in the same period last year.
Since Russia invaded in February, 58% of Ukrainian tech firms have processed new orders from clients. Despite brutal assaults, martial law, and general mobilization, 85% have restored their pre-war business activities. That’s according to Lviv IT Cluster, a community of companies, universities, and local authorities.
“Ukraine’s tech industry is not only showing the ability to operate fully, but it’s demonstrating growth,” says Stepan Veselovskyi, the group’s CEO. “The export of IT services grew by 9.9% compared to last year, and brought in more than $6 billion in revenue, surpassing the 2021 figure by $542 million.”
Veselovskyi (center) at the IT Arena conference, which his organization runs. Credit: Lviv IT Cluster
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Getting to the heart of the European tech and startup scene
This triumph over adversity has been indispensable for Ukraine. While conflict ravages the country’s coffers, the sector provides wages for workers, taxes for the economy, and technical support for the war effort. Tech provides the military with encrypted communications, UAVs, and cyber defenses, and civilians with digital IDs, air raid alerts, and online payments.
IT will also be integral to the post-war recovery — but getting there will be tough.
It can be mutually beneficial.
A summer survey by Lviv IT Cluster found that over 50,000 IT workers had relocated since the invasion, while a further 7,000 had joined the armed forces. Those that remain now endure blackouts caused by attacks on infrastructure. Some fear that empathy from clients will dwindle as war fatigue sets in.
As the challenges mount, help from overseas becomes increasingly crucial. But the benefits of support extend far beyond altruism.
“Charity is good, but you can also work with companies. It can be mutually beneficial,” says Oleksandr Yatsenko, managing partner at BRISE Capital, a Kyiv-based investment firm.
Yatsenko (far right) also works for the Ukrainian Startup Fund and software firm Finmap. Credit: Lviv IT Cluster
Indeed, Ukraine’s tech ecosystem has a unique blend of assets. The country’s rich history in computer science laid the foundations for a thriving sector. Today, it encompasses over 200,000 IT specialists and one of the world’s biggest pools of tech talent. Stellar programming skills, a high level of English, and a timezone that overlaps well with both the US and Europe comprise a compelling package.
These attributes have made Ukraine a global hub for IT outsourcing. Now, the country wants to turn its expertise into domestic tech giants.
President Zelensky’s administration has made bold moves to bring these ambitions to reality. this future. In 2019, his government established the Ministry of Digital Transformation. By 2024, the department aims to put every public service online, expand access to high-speed Internet; teach 6 million Ukrainians digital skills, and increase tech’s share in GDP to 10%. It currently accounts for around 4.5%.
Industry is united with government.
To reach these goals, the government has championed business-friendly policies: low taxation, minimal paperwork, and massive deregulation, alongside extensive anti-corruption reforms and funding initiatives, such as the Ukrainian Startup Fund.
This program has been bolstered by collaboration between the public and private sectors. War has made both sides appreciate their interdependence.
“The world should know that industry is united with the government and they help each other,” says Ivan Babichuk, chairman of the supervisory board of Lviv IT Cluster. “And it makes [Ukraine] a protective and secure place to run a business — despite the whole security issue around the country.”
Babichuk (right) in conversation with Ukrainian official Alex Bornyakov. Credit: Lviv IT Cluster
The hardships of war have added further qualities. Ukraine’s digital infrastructure and economy has been remarkably resilient since the full-scale invasion, while the workforce has acquired a rare blend of courage and adaptability. New skills in crisis management, leadership, teamwork, and efficiency have been forged in conflict.
“Most companies have retained customers and the volume of their contracts,” says Alex Bornyakov, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation. “Ukrainian developers have shown that they are capable of doing their job well even under extreme conditions. For the whole world, this is an indicator that Ukraine is a reliable partner and an attractive investment destination.”
We’ve become more active — and stronger.
Some tech businesses have thrived since the invasion. Take Mosqitter, which won the prestigious IT Arena Startup Competition in 2021. While the conflict escalated, the company grew its team and developed a new product line.
“Difficulties bring you opportunities and possibilities for growth,” says Olga Diachuk, the company’s COO. “It shows you who you really are, what you are made of, and how smart you are.”
Digital businesses also typically require fewer physical resources — which makes their revenues increasingly important to Ukraine. Brick-and-mortar stores, for instance, are now more likely to close due to safety concerns than e-commerce sites.
Nonetheless, tech firms face immense challenges of their own. Investment from overseas will be crucial a component of their future fortunes.
“It’s very important to keep the support of the local tech ecosystem from outside as Western-based funds do,” says Joachim Laqueur, General Partner at VC firm Acrobator Ventures.
“Technology is such a long-term beneficial force. Now we’re seeing the first wave of successful companies breaking the ground. Even during the time of war, these people, these companies are able to address problems that are not restricted by borders.”
Laquer (second from right) was on the jury for the 2022 IT Arena Startup Competition, which was won by WRAP, an app that automates video production flows. Credit: Lviv IT Cluster
People who already invest in Ukraine note that war is fostering a unique set of skills. For example, thousands of volunteer hackers have joined the IT army, an organization that’s defending Ukraine against Russia’s vaunted hacker groups.
Members of the group have attained unparalleled experience. Mykhailo Fedorov, the country’s Minister of Digital Transformation, describes the conflict they’ve withstood as “the first world cyber war.” The volunteers now want to share their expertise with international allies.
“Ukrainian tech companies are strengthening their cyber defense capabilities, and can help other countries better understand the nature of modern cyberattacks,” says Veselovskyi, the Lviv IT Cluster CEO.
The First World Cyber War. The first IT Army in the world. 270K of angry IT-warriors of cyber frontline. Rutube shutdown. AI tech & identification of war criminals. And many more cases to disclose after the victory. You are free to join, by the way. pic.twitter.com/3PDP075nU5
— Mykhailo Fedorov (@FedorovMykhailo) May 26, 2022
Despite these strengths, the potential of Ukraine’s tech sector will only be fulfilled through support from the international community. For Veselovskyi, the simplest way they can help is by cutting all ties with Russia.
“The next step is motivating your local governments to support Ukraine and get involved with Ukraine’s fundraising initiatives,” he says. “The future safety and economic prosperity of Europe depend on the victory of Ukraine on the battlefield. You can start working with Ukrainian companies already today through our B2B platform Lviv Tech.”
To forecast the sector’s future, Veselovskyi’s team surveyed over 5,000 tech industry representatives. In the most positive scenario, which presupposes European integration and liberalization of the economy, 78% of the respondents would remain in Ukraine. A further 12% would try to move abroad, while another 10% are yet to decide.
The best way to help Ukraine is to invest in Ukraine.
This outcome can provide the foundations for a flourishing post-war industry. To build this, continued support from Europe will be essential. Government officials have sought to spread this message at IT events around the world.
“We tell them one specific thing: the best way to help Ukraine is to invest in Ukraine,” says Bornyakov, the Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation. “Work with Ukrainian companies, give money to Ukrainian startups, and if you are able to hire Ukrainian freelancers, do it.”
The stakes are extremely high. IT remains the only industry in Ukraine that still shows growth. If it shrinks, the whole country will suffer. If it expands, however, the sector can help Ukraine not only survive, but flourish.
