Catch up on the latest AR+VR highlights, funding news & launch announcements: Week of Jan 22

Source: Magic Leap

By Tom Emrich

Highlights

It’s been another busy week in AR+VR! In addition to keeping you up-to-date on the top AR+VR news, funding activity, and launch announcements, here are there three stories you need to know: Meta sale, Facebook AR glasses and Magic Leap mobile AR.

Last week I highlighted news of a AR pioneer, ODG, ending its 20-year journey. This week it was confirmed that Meta, makers of the Meta augmented reality headset, has sold its assets to an unknown company.

Meanwhile, Facebook was in the AR news this week with the company bringing on the lead engineer for Google’s AR/VR team to head up its Portal division as well as a restructuring within the company to set up a group tasked with building AR glasses.

Finally, a job posting by Magic Leap suggests that the AR headset maker is looking to expand into mobile AR.

Funding News

Niantic finalizes its Series C at $245M with a valuation of nearly $4B (TechCrunch)

AR headset company Meta shutting down after assets sold to unknown company (The Verge)

Ubiquity6 acquires AR music startup Wavy (TechCrunch)

Brud, the company behind virtual influencers, is now worth at least $125M (TechCrunch)

Tindall onboard as digital human startup FaceMe finalises $10m raise (NZ Herald)

Microsoft opens AI and VR incubator in China (VentureBeat)

Launch Announcements

Microsoft to hold HoloLens 2 press event next month (The Verge)

7-Eleven Collaborates with Ghostbusters World to Bring Customers an Unforgettable AR Experience (PR Newswire)

ISS Astronauts Use Magic Leap One to Prepare for Next Mission (Next Reality)

Arvizio Cross-Platform AR Tool Lets HoloLens & Magic Leap One Users View 3D Models Together (Next Reality)

First HoloLens app get FDA approval for Surgical Planning (MSpoweruser)

Put Your Own Face Into AR With The AURA Avatar Creator App (VR Focus)