Final Payday: Aces High playtest on Meta Quest and Steam comes with a free mask this week

9to5google.com Oct 20, 2026

Final Payday: Aces High playtest on Meta Quest and Steam comes with a free mask this week

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Oct 20, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Payday: Aces High, the franchise’s first full‑VR title, enters its final public playtest from October 19‑26 on Meta Quest and Steam. Participants who join this week receive an exclusive Kitty mask, unavailable elsewhere. The full game launches on November 5 across Meta Quest, SteamVR and Steam Deck for $24.99, featuring seven initial missions, co‑op heists for up to four players, and a new storyline with protagonists called The Aces. Gameplay emphasizes stealth, rewarding players with in‑game cash to unlock weapons, traps, masks and abilities. The playtest adds a second mission not seen in the earlier trial, giving testers extra experience before the official release.

💡 Why It Matters

· The free mask creates a limited‑time incentive that drives early adoption and community buzz ahead of a major VR franchise debut.

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Iron Man himself now officially endorses Snap’s latest smart glasses

Snap has opened pre‑orders for its first consumer‑ready smart glasses, called Specs, and secured actor Robert Downey Jr. as an honorary Chief Customer Experience Officer. Downey Jr. praised the device after a 40‑second demo and will lead a video series on Snap’s YouTube channel to showcase features such as AR painting, in‑bed movie viewing, and golf shot calculation. The $2,200 glasses compete with Meta’s Ray‑Bans and upcoming VR glasses, offering standalone displays and full hand‑tracking. Snap also partners with HBO for a Harry Potter experience and the NBA.

💡 By aligning with a high‑profile tech icon, Snap positions Specs as a mainstream XR contender, potentially accelerating consumer adoption of wearable AR. The collaboration signals a shift toward celebrity‑driven tech endorsements that could reshape marketing strategies in the emerging smart‑glasses market.

windowscentral.com · Oct 19

Gears of War: E‑Day hits VR and looks fantastic?

Gears of War: E‑Day’s launch has been met with strong approval, as critics and players commend both its campaign and multiplayer experiences. Early community activity includes a Halo‑themed squad‑swap mod and a standout virtual‑reality conversion posted by user @rockonthehillc on X. The VR mod adds full‑body tracking, manual reloads and other immersive features, prompting speculation about a first‑person Gears title. The author argues that expanding the franchise into new perspectives—such as first‑person horror set amid the Locust—could revitalize the IP, noting Xbox’s recent genre experiments with Gears and contrasting them with Halo’s missed opportunities. While an official VR or first‑person game remains unlikely, the fan‑driven project showcases the series’ adaptability and the community’s enthusiasm for innovative gameplay.

💡 The VR mod demonstrates that fan‑crafted tools can unlock fresh ways to experience established franchises, pressuring publishers to consider officially supporting such immersive formats.

9to5google.com · Oct 16

XREAL 1 Pro+ has exactly the right hardware upgrades at the same…

XREAL has released the XREAL 1 Pro+ at the same $599 price as its predecessor, adding key hardware upgrades ahead of the upcoming Aura XR headset. The new model nearly doubles display brightness to 1,200 nits and introduces AI‑powered HDR, along with dedicated “Standard,” “Movie,” and “Reading” modes. 3D conversion now supports 60 Hz, up from 30 Hz. The nose pads feature a larger air‑cushion design for improved comfort. Availability begins today.

💡 By boosting brightness and adding higher‑refresh 3D, XREAL addresses common user complaints without a price hike, positioning the 1 Pro+ as a compelling upgrade path for early adopters.

androidcentral.com · Oct 16

Xreal One Pro Plus is official: Here’s what changed from the One…

Xreal released the One Pro Plus AR glasses, boosting peak brightness to 1,200 nits from 700 nits on the One Pro. The device keeps the X1 chip and 57‑degree field of view, and adds Sony Micro‑OLED panels, AI‑HDR, and three viewing modes—Standard, Movie, and Reading. The Real 3D engine now processes up to 60 fps, doubling the previous 30 fps. Comfort improvements include a redesigned nose pad. The glasses launch in the U.S. for $599.

💡 The higher brightness and faster 3D rendering bring the One Pro Plus closer to true spatial computing, enabling clearer, more immersive content for everyday use.

playstationlifestyle.net · Oct 15

PlayStation Plus Adds Award-Winning 2025 PS5 Adventure Game

Sony announced that PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium subscribers can now access “The Midnight Walk,” an award‑winning horror adventure developed by MoonHood, as part of the October 2026 catalog update. The game, which debuted on PS5 and supports PlayStation VR2, is the first VR title added to the service in years. It is immediately available in the United Kingdom, United States and Japan, with a rollout to additional regions scheduled for October 20. Players assume the role of “The Burnt One,” teaming with a lantern creature called Potboy to navigate a dark world using flame, confronting monsters across five narrative chapters. The title builds on MoonHood’s previous work on “Lost in Random,” “Fe,” and “Ghost Giant,” and expands the Plus library with a premium‑grade, immersive experience.

💡 Introducing a VR‑compatible, narrative‑driven game to PlayStation Plus signals Sony’s push to revitalize its subscription service with high‑quality, exclusive experiences that leverage next‑gen hardware.

androidcentral.com · Oct 14

More Nothing smart glasses rumors suggest we might see two variations

Rumors on Bluesky claim Nothing is developing two smart‑glasses models: an audio‑only version with auto‑tinting transition lenses, phone‑integrated calls, and an optional camera version that would add translation, ChatGPT, and similar features. The audio model would rely on the user’s phone for AI processing, while the camera model could raise privacy concerns. Nothing’s CEO Carl Pei reportedly steered the company toward this direction earlier this year, with a potential 2027 launch. The company has previously released Android phones, headphones, and earbuds.

💡 The dual‑variant strategy could set a new standard for modular AR wearables, offering both privacy‑sensitive and feature‑rich options. This approach may influence how competitors balance functionality with user trust.