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For anyone waiting for groundbreaking augmented reality or virtual reality news from Apple yesterday, sorry, you\u2019re still going to wait. But the announcements that came from the mothership (pun intended, since this presentation came from the new starship-like Cupertino campus) show the sort of\u00a0incremental support that AR needs as it prepares to grow<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tuesday,\u00a0Apple\u2019s announcements<\/a>\u00a0for its ARKit augmented reality tech included The Machines, a new game from Directive Games and support of several existing apps. We didn\u2019t see anything groundbreaking, but that Apple was willing to give precious stage time to not just two games but small updates that add AR capability to existing apps (MLB At Bat and Warhammer 40K: Freeblade).<\/p>\n I found this encouraging. MLB At Bat is popular, but Freeblade hasn\u2019t found the critical mass of other mobile games yet, ranking 330 in action games and 139 in RPGs (according to tracking firm App Annie<\/a>). Considering the huge number of options in the iOS store, Freeblade has made a solid showing. But it\u2019s no Pok\u00e9mon Go or Clash of Clans.<\/p>\n Yet Apple still felt Freeblade merited a presence on the stage thanks to AR. It singled out a game from a smaller studio, Pixel Toys, and gave it a presence at one of its major events. That\u2019s invaluable exposure (it\u2019s got me interested in downloading this game, to see what Apple finds so exciting about it).<\/p>\n All because Pixel Toys is ready to tinker with ARKit \u2014 as I\u2019m sure dozens (likely hundreds) of other studios are ready, and eager, to also do.<\/p>\n For AR\/VR coverage, send news tips to\u00a0Dean Takahashi<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Jeff Grubb<\/a>\u00a0(for those that cross over into PC gaming). Please send guest post submissions to\u00a0Rowan Kaiser<\/a>. Please be sure to visit our\u00a0AR\/VR Channel<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u2014Jason Wilson, GamesBeat managing editor<\/p>\n<\/div>\n P.S. Are you ready for some\u00a0football \u2026 in virtual reality<\/a>?<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Apple shows off the first ARKit apps and games<\/a><\/p>\n Apple showcased a few apps and games that will be supporting ARKit right out of the gates\u00a0at its 10th anniversary event\u00a0today. The augmented reality software developer kit was announced earlier this year at the Worldwide Developer Conference and will be available on the new iOS 11 launching on\u00a0September 19. The company started off with\u00a0[\u2026]<\/p>\n The Machines is Directive Games\u2019 augmented reality game for iOS<\/a><\/p>\n Directive Games showed off its new augmented reality game, The Machines, as an exclusive for iOS today. Directive Games CEO Atli Mar showed off the tank battle game at Apple\u2019s big iPhone 8 introduction event at its headquarters in Cupertino, California. As he spoke, another man held an iPad as if it were a camera.\u00a0[\u2026]<\/p>\n Apple unveils iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus with wireless charging<\/a><\/p>\n At an event at the brand new Apple headquarters in Cupertino today, the company announced the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. The new models support wireless charging through their new glass backs. This is the first time Apple is unveiling three new iPhones \u2014 the two iPhone 8 models will join the new flagship\u00a0[\u2026]<\/p>\n Virtuix launches suite of Omniverse VR games for arcades<\/a><\/p>\n Virtuix launched its Omni motion platform for virtual reality in 2015 so that we could all run around in VR. Today, the company has pivoted to the enterprise and arcade markets, and it is now launching Omniverse, a suite of VR games that you can play on the Omni in an arcade. Austin, Texas-based Virtuix\u00a0[\u2026]<\/p>\n Android\u2019s fragmentation will give Google\u2019s ARCore problems<\/a><\/p>\n Google recently launched an augmented reality platform,\u00a0ARCore, in a direct challenge to Apple\u2019s announcement of\u00a0ARKit.\u00a0A familiar narrative is playing out, one in which Apple and Google will battle for platform dominance, like they\u2019ve done with iOS and Android over the past decade. However, Google probably won\u2019t dominate the smartphone AR ecosystem in the same way\u00a0[\u2026]<\/p>\n L.A. Noire is coming to Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and HTC Vive<\/a><\/p>\n Think of a classic Rockstar game that you want to see brought to modern consoles. OK, L.A. Noire probably isn\u2019t your first choice. But that open-world detective game is now heading to Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on\u00a0November 14. Rockstar is also releasing\u00a0L.A. Noire: The VR Cases for the HTC Vive, which puts\u00a0[\u2026]<\/p>\n Beyond GamesBeat<\/p>\n Learn A New Language With MondlyVR, Now On Daydream<\/a><\/p>\n ATi Studio\u2019s MondlyVR, a language-learning app with voice recognition, is now available on Google Daydream. Designed to help students speak their new language from day one, Mondly moves learners from books and flash cards to an immersive environment where they can speak and interact.\u00a0(via UploadVR)<\/i><\/p>\n Kids Bike Through Their Own Artwork In This VR Workshop<\/a><\/p>\n Remember when arts and crafts meant some glue sticks and a handful of dry macaroni? Ah yes, it was a simpler time that the children of today will unfortunately never fully understand. Especially when you have digital technology groups such as Play Lab dedicated to bringing technology into younger and younger classrooms. Since its initial creation January of this year the company has been developing all types of projects focused on VR & AR learning. However their newest program may be their most ambitious yet.\u00a0(via VR Scout)<\/i><\/p>\n Nintendo Still Not Ready For VR, Not Enough \u201cTruly Fun\u201d Experiences<\/a><\/p>\n Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America\u2019s President and COO, took the stage\u00a0Thursday\u00a0at Variety\u2019s Entertainment and Tech Summit to discuss the company\u2019s immediate future, including the likely (and entirely predictable) shortage of Nintendo Switch this holiday season. According to Fils-Aime, who spoke briefly about the company\u2019s plans for VR, there still isn\u2019t any reason for Nintendo to go head-first into the medium.\u00a0(via Road to VR)<\/i><\/p>\n CAA Signs First Fully Virtual Reality Director In Kevin Cornish<\/a><\/p>\n CAA has signed its first fully Virtual Reality director. Kevin Cornish, who has established himself as a leader in directing high-end, cinematic VR, putting together content for brands ranging from IBM, Google, Oculus, Discovery, MTV, AT&T, Ram Truck and AMD and has worked with such talent including Taylor Swift and Karlie Kloss, has signed with the agency. It will also rep his company Moth + Flame, a full-service virtual reality agency.\u00a0(via Deadline)<\/i><\/p>\n and\u00a0receive this newsletter\u00a0every\u00a0Wednesday<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\nFrom GamesBeat<\/h2>\n
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