NWAXR Meetup Recap: XR Industry Insights – April 17, 2025
Reality Check with Jeremy Dalton
Jeremy Dalton, author of Reality Check and former PwC XR lead, outlined XR’s current position on Gartner’s Hype Cycle—peaking through the “metaverse debacle” and now ascending the Slope of Enlightenment. He applied his CECE framework to the four main XR adoption challenges:
- Cost: Devices like Apple Vision Pro still start at $3,500.
- Education: The business value of XR remains underappreciated despite robust ROI data.
- Content: High‑quality immersive experiences are time‑intensive to produce.
- Experience: User friction—from setup complexity to head‑set comfort—is an ongoing hurdle.
He also shared historical context—from 1849 stereoscopes to early 1990s pro VR rigs and his own wall‑drilled 2016 HTC Vive setup—demonstrating that immersive tech’s roots run deep over nearly two centuries. Despite past setbacks, 35% of enterprises still plan VR investments, and AI stands out as a key accelerator.
🎥 View Jeremy’s slide deck | 📖 Preorder Reality Check Discount Code KOGANPAGE25
Cause + Christie: Creative Applications in WebXR
Austin Caine and Christie Fenison of Cause + Christie showcased their browser‑delivered escape room, Ship Happens, on Viveverse. Key takeaways:
- WebXR viability: Full‑featured games (not just demos) can run straight from the browser.
- Workflow: Narrative planning → floor plans → gray boxing → texture/lighting baking → performance optimizations.
- Tech stack: Built in PlayCanvas with baked lighting and careful frame‑rate tuning to stay above 55 FPS.
- Artistic vision: Embrace stylized, impossible spaces over literal digital twins.
XR ROI Calculator: AI‑Powered Business Case
We closed the night with a live demo of an AI‑driven ROI calculator, illustrating:
- Quantitative modeling of direct/indirect cost savings (prototyping, shipping, staff time).
- Productivity gains & error‑reduction estimates.
- Long‑term value beyond initial spend.
Community Engagement & Next Up
Vibrant Q&A followed, from WebXR battery benchmarks to Easter‑egg design philosophies. Our next meetup on May 22 will explore the intersection of XR and AI, with guest practitioners talking about the modern Omniverse.