Augmented reality (AR) — or “mixed reality” — technology is a game changer. Forgive the pun. It overlays digital worlds and characters over the physical environment, breaking the fourth wall and inviting gamers to move through their surroundings as they play. Taking this further, AR glasses analyze the real world using cameras and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensors.
Cameras and LiDAR sensors build a visual map, while small projectors display the images in front of the user’s lenses. Motion sensors simultaneously track head and body movements. The Pokémon Go craze is evidence enough of the excitement surrounding AR innovations in the gaming industry, and many still cite it as the most successful AR game.
CEO of Monsarrat — an AR gaming development company — John Monsarrat believes AR has more potential to satisfy wider audiences than virtual reality (VR) since it doesn’t disconnect you from the world.
In an interview with Nomtek hosts, he said, “People who work in VR tend to be a little condescending because augmented reality games work on a small [mobile] device … but the thing is that the game doesn’t really take place on the phone. The game is enabled by the phone, but it takes place in the real world, which — by the way— is bigger than VR.”
Monsarrat’s Landing Party overlays the virtual world on top of the real one, where you can interact with characters, and it even buzzes when you bump into a virtual object, heightening the sense of reality. You’re able to adjust the boundaries of the game, so if the integrated AI technology fails to understand you’re standing in front of a wall, you can reposition the whole digital environment.
Gamers and industry journalists got to test Landing Party at the 2024 Fan Expo in Boston. The game only requires a phone to play, but it does work on the XREAL Light and Air 2 Ultra AR glasses. Developers like Monsarrat are taking AR glasses seriously but aren’t leaning on this innovative technology as their sole method.
Pokémon Go developer Niantic was set to release MARVEL World of Heroes but unfortunately shut it down in 2023. The game excited fans because it promised to let them create their own crime-fighting superheroes to patrol the real world.
Cost is a concern when it comes to the future of AR glasses. In September 2024, Meta revealed their development in this space — Orion. It’s a three-part system, which includes the glasses, a small puck that can fit into your pocket and takes care of the most intensive computing, and a wrist strap that lets the device pick up on users’ subtle movements.
The glasses use silicone-based light-emitting diode (LED) technology, which is lightweight and enables the glasses’ sleek design. LEDs are also 90% more energy-efficient than incandescent lights. The Meta team hopes the glasses will set the bar for future innovations in AR. However, due to the high production costs, Orion is unavailable for commercial sale for the time being.
Ludia’s Jurassic World Alive made waves in the AR gaming world. In partnership with Universal, Ludia created the game, which places virtual dinosaurs in the user’s world for seamless integration. Reflecting on the future of AR games, Ludia producer Marc Poulin believes there is still a lot of potential for exploration but that “the entry cost to get into the genre will continue to be one of the barriers for a lot of companies.”
Gamers and tech journalists alike are unsure whether AR glasses will become a core part of gaming or just a case of technology brands inciting hype. Many agree that AR is here to stay, but they also worry it will lead to new concerns like increased screen fatigue and security issues. These glasses may play an uncertain role in the gaming industry right now, but there’s no doubt they’re creating newsworthy buzz.