New Spatial Apps, Games, and Video Coming to Apple Vision Pro

[MacRumors]

Apple is expanding its selection of spatial and immersive experiences for the Vision Pro headset with a series of new games, apps, and video content.

Among the newly introduced experiences is a spatial version of "Castle Crumble," a physics-based puzzle game that lets players interact in a 3D environment. Players can use their hands to precisely target the castles' weak points with a variety of powerful explosives, mystical spells, and unlockable boosts. Castle Crumble is available now on the App Store.

"Puzzle Sculpt," another spatial game, is set to release on September 5. Developed by Schell Games, an award-winning studio known for pioneering gameplay with emerging technologies, "Puzzle Sculpt" offers a relaxing, 3D puzzle-solving experience. The game invites players to interact with a variety of puzzles in a fully immersive spatial environment.

Meanwhile, "Immersion Golf" from Tag Heuer takes golf enthusiasts to the next level with detailed 3D maps of nearly 40,000 courses worldwide. The app allows players to preview course layouts and obstacles, providing a comprehensive tool for planning their game strategy.

"Sandblox: The Marble Game" allows players to create and share physics-based puzzles and marble runs using intuitive hand tracking. The game encourages both solo and collaborative play, with users able to build complex structures and share their creations online. "Pinball Nation" transforms living spaces into a virtual 1980s pinball arcade, complete with life-sized virtual tables and realistic gameplay, while "Beat Slash - Mixed" offers a high-energy rhythm game where players use swords to slash beats in time with the music.

Starting September 6, Vision Pro users will also have access to new films and series captured in Apple Immersive Video. This includes the premiere of "Elevated," an aerial travel series that provides viewers with breathtaking views from staggering heights. Available exclusively to U.S. users, "Elevated" aims to transport audiences to iconic vistas around the world. Another notable addition is "4 Minutes Inside Super Bowl LVIII," a short film that offers an immersive glimpse into the intense atmosphere of the Super Bowl LVIII, where the Kansas City Chiefs faced off against the San Francisco 49ers. This film will be available to a global audience.

On the same day, Vision Pro users worldwide will also be able to watch the first episode of "Boundless," titled "Hot Air Balloons," and the second episode of "Wild Life," focusing on elephants.

Popular Vision Pro apps are also receiving significant updates. The PGA TOUR app now features SharePlay support, enabling users to watch every hole, follow the leaderboard, and examine every shot in 3D. Meanwhile, "Synth Riders," available on Apple Arcade, has been enhanced with a new Adrenaline Pack, adding high-energy punk and ska music to its existing eclectic mix.

Article Link: New Spatial Apps, Games, and Video Coming to Apple Vision Pro

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Castle Crumble looks like a Wii game.

Gotta hand it to Apple, they know their audience.

 

[springsup]

"Beat Slash - Mixed" offers a high-energy rhythm game where players use swords to slash beats in time with the music.

“We have beat saber at home…”

 

[DMG35]

I really hope the Vision Pro succeeds, but its one of those products that no one talks about any more. I don't even see ads for it. When I go to Apple Stores no one is demo-ing them like they were a few months ago. Sales for it cannot be very good.

 

[jcmoney10]

They are really fumbling the strategy here.

Countless 3D puzzle games and 10 min docuseries are cool gimmicks, but it won’t drive people to purchase this.

They should have had a big budget action movie ready to go at launch, that completely immerses you.

They should be producing games (or partnering with game studios) to produce sports or adventure games.

When they said golf, I got excited… but then I realized it’s a useless app that only .01% of the population would ever use.

This is a really expensive TV at this point … but they need to be focusing on fully immersive content, not just special gimmicks and junk apps

 

[Kylo83]

New puzzles ok now I’m sold, now its worth £3500 lol but honestly I do like it but just wish it was cheaper and had real controllers for better gaming like the quest

 

[Kottu]

We all know how VHS did vin over Betamax. Apple should let certain industries to create special contents for Vision Pro, Any way, in Private life Vision Pro is a good option for singles. So, sales would shoot up. 😉

 

[swester]

These aren't apps, these are gimmicks. Useful for a quick demo to impress a friend, at best.

Until this device has a truly killer app, it's never going to be anything but an extremely overpriced headset monitor for immersion enthusiasts.

 

[mrat93]

I really hope the Vision Pro succeeds, but it’s one of those products that no one talks about any more. I don't even see ads for it. When I go to Apple Stores no one is demo-ing them like they were a few months ago. Sales for it cannot be very good.

It’s not “there” for most people yet — even if you ignore the price. I think Apple will stay in the space, but their offering(s) in 5 years may look extremely different. I think that the external battery was a good move, and if Apple and Meta are moving forward with external compute units (as opposed to cramming a whole Mac in the headset), I think it’ll be more appealing. I’ve been doing VR for years, and the weight/comfort of AVP just isn’t great.

I actually did see a few (old) people doing a demo when I was in an Apple store last weekend.

 

[Wieslawo]

AVP is an AirPower that, unfortunately for Apple, has appeared to the world. You don't have to be an engineering and marketing genius in one to realize that a non-replaceable processor in a $3,500 headset is one of the main reasons not to buy it! Today, when everything will soon be on M4, will their latest device be advertised with a powerful M2 processor? They could have done it better. Since the battery is in some box that is constantly connected, they should have placed the entire CPU in it and replaced this device only with a device for about $1,000.
And games. Work, except for specialized design professions, makes no sense in these headsets. This is an entertainment device, and Apple has Spatial Video, Apple TV+, producers, Arcade and development studios for this entertainment, and they do nothing! Nothing! They showed the world a beautiful device, amazing technology that has nothing to do with ergonomics and usability, and the entertainment potential is... 3D puzzles or something else.

 

[lindros2]

Wow - the five people who own it will be really excited.

 

[coffeemilktea]

Honestly, this is great news, and I'm glad Apple is making more content for it... anything to keep the headset from just getting left on the shelf like a very expensive paperweight. 🙃

("The future of spatial computing" seems to be off to a slow start)

 

[GrayFlannel]

Apple must be pleased to see entertainment products trickle in.
Is Apple subsidizing companies to help encourage these products?
Is Apple replacing all their desktops and laptops with this amazing revolutionary productivity tool?

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Honestly, this is great news, and I'm glad Apple is making more content for it... anything to keep the headset from just getting left on the shelf like a very expensive paperweight. 🙃

("The future of spatial computing" seems to be off to a slow start)

I've posted this before, but a buddy has one and he says he hasn't picked it up since either late April or early June. Him and his kids love to share their Quest, though. He mentioned wanting to sell it, but the resale value is pretty low.

Not being able to readily share it is a BIG, BIG, BIG downside. ...and no, popping it into demo mode doesn't count.

 

[CharlesShaw]

I really hope the Vision Pro succeeds, but its one of those products that no one talks about any more. I don't even see ads for it. When I go to Apple Stores no one is demo-ing them like they were a few months ago. Sales for it cannot be very good.

Agreed. I don't see myself owning one, but I've always felt like the R&D on this platform will lead to benefits for other platforms. Especially for persons with disabilities.

 

[contacos]

Beat Slash looks laggy AF, even in it's AppStore preview video. There is such a delay from your actual hand and the virtual sword, it would drive me nuts.

Also, why do the flying music boxes you need to hit not match the color of each sword to indicate what hand you are supposed to hit it with and instead it's just seemingly random colors?

 

[turbineseaplane]

The golf mention made me blink…

Then I realized it’s just a content viewing bauble for a few rich folks on their PJ

 

[TechnoMonk]

Microsoft bled money on Xbox for long time until few years ago. Apple has the money to keep working on AVP.

 

[Dionte]

Did Netflix and YouTube ever get added?

 

[klasma]

Castle Crumble looks like a Wii game.

Gotta hand it to Apple, they know their audience.

Talking of hands, I’d like to see a shoot-out which of the two offers more precision, the Wii controller or AVP hand-tracking.

 

[Dawn of Individual Merit]

Microsoft bled money on Xbox for long time until few years ago. Apple has the money to keep working on AVP.

Sure they have the money.

But I wish they'd use all that money and engineering resources for their actual productivity platforms, instead of rich people toys.

These games do show very clearly, the AVP is just a toy. Apple isn't interested in making it a gaming machine, so you're stuck with the blandest clones of casual gaming trivialities.

 

[TechnoMonk]

Sure they have the money.

But I wish they'd use all that money and engineering resources for their actual productivity platforms, instead of rich people toys.

These games do show very clearly, the AVP is just a toy. Apple isn't interested in making it a gaming machine, so you're stuck with the blandest clones of casual gaming trivialities.

It may be toy you for you, but I am hoping next iteration of AVP will be my main productivity tool on the road. I travel a lot, and would love to take high quality screens on the go to tether my mac. There is lot more to AVP than games, hope Apple keeps working. I won’t use for gaming, but others may. More user base, better it is.

 

[gigapocket1]

They have to be dropping the price going into the holidays…

 

[klasma]

("The future of spatial computing" seems to be off to a slow start)

It probably will remain the future for at least a decade or two.

 

[klasma]

Also, why do the flying music boxes you need to hit not match the color of each sword to indicate what hand you are supposed to hit it with and instead it's just seemingly random colors?

They can’t use timing precision to up the difficulty level, so they have to make it more difficult in some other way.