Khronos OpenXR Working Group released Spatial Entities Extensions

Executive summary

Welcome to your weekly briefing on the metaverse and spatial computing. Here are your snippets to sound smarter in meetings this week:

• Top Story: The Khronos OpenXR Working Group released Spatial Entities Extensions (more below)

• Other stories: Neurophysicists found that space-mapping neurons in the hippocampus respond differently in VR compared to real life, revealing significant neurological changes that could impact future research into brain-related diseases (more below)

Top story

The Khronos OpenXR Working Group released Spatial Entities Extensions.

• What is the significance? It is the first open standard for spatial computing, enabling cross-platform support for plane detection, marker tracking, spatial anchors, and persistence across XR sessions. This may reduce fragmentation and simplify development.

• Is it a full release? Nope, it’s a developer preview.

Other stories

• Babcock International launched an AR-enabled welding apprenticeship school in Bristol, in partnership with Weston College, to enhance skills development in defence and manufacturing sectors.

• Cornerstone VR launched a new 360-degree film initiative on knife crime and serious youth violence, with support from UK councils and frontline professionals.

• Maradin launched a new XR Laser-Based Scanning lighting platform featuring a 50-degree FoV and 720p resolution.

• Marvel revealed Deadpool VR at Summer Game Fest.

• Meow Wolf partnered with Niantic Spatial to develop a location-based AR experience using Niantic’s Visual Positioning System, launching a closed beta at Convergence Station in Denver to extend its immersive storytelling beyond physical exhibitions.

• Neurophysicists found that space-mapping neurons in the hippocampus respond differently in VR compared to real life, revealing significant neurological changes that could impact future research into brain-related diseases.

• Semnox Solutions partnered with Virtuoze, a new VR arcade in New Brunswick, to deliver a customised technology system supporting its immersive gaming and event-based experiences.

• Snap has announced that its next-generation AR Spectacles, now called “Specs,” will launch in 2026 as lighter, more powerful smart glasses.

• Xpeng, in partnership with Huawei, has unveiled an 87-inch AR head-up display that spans the entire windscreen, delivering navigation, safety alerts, and driving data directly into the driver’s field of view.

Note: The Immersive Wire is run by Tom Ffiske, who also works at Accenture. The contents of the newsletter should not be regarded as Accenture’s views.

All spelling mistakes are deliberate, actually.