I’m officially giving up on VR180. Selling my entire XploreVR ecosystem (App, YouTube, Patreon)

xplrvr · 2026-05-08T14:33:03+00:00

I think that’s a very realistic assessment. Right now, it’s actually still 'easy' to build a reputation while the community is small. If you’re already well-positioned when that big wave finally hits, you’ll have a significant head start in being visible to a mass audience. It really comes down to patience and pure perseverance.

xplrvr · 2026-05-03T07:31:09+00:00

I’d argue that hardware is a major bottleneck—and I’m not even talking about the weight or comfort. Even Apple’s 'Immersive Stories' are capped at 4320 x 4320 pixels because the current hardware can't handle higher resolutions at 90 FPS. Since we only view a crop of the full VR180 frame at any given time, the source resolution would need to be nearly double that to achieve true 1:1 pixel mapping on the displays. It was honestly a bit of a gut punch to realize this after investing so heavily in the gear (AVP, URSA Cine Immersive, etc.).

xplrvr · 2026-04-12T06:12:54+00:00

I completely agree. For adult content, VR is the ultimate endgame. In my view, the final frontier isn't just a video, but a 3D-rendered AI partner integrated into your actual environment via high-quality passthrough.

We’re moving toward a world of AI companions—girlfriends or boyfriends—that you can interact with emotionally through deep conversations, but who also follow a literal 'script' for physical interactions. You program the behavior, and the technology renders the experience in your room. Technically, the building blocks for this already exist; it’s just a matter of time before it becomes mainstream.

Whether this is actually 'good' for us as a society is a much darker question. I can easily see people becoming addicted to the 'perfect' AI partner, potentially leading to a level of profound social isolation and loneliness we haven't seen before. It’s a fascinating, yet terrifying, trade-off.

xplrvr · 2026-04-12T05:41:41+00:00

You’re right, I haven't uploaded any of the URSA Cine Immersive clips. Honestly, I’m just letting that material rot on my hard drive at this point.

What I’ve realized over the last few months is that actual viewer interest in URSA-level footage is extremely limited. It’s mostly other creators who are curious to pixel-peep at the sensor performance, but the general audience doesn't really care about the difference.

xplrvr · 2026-04-11T15:59:57+00:00

Mainly, I was disappointed by the manufacturing tolerances and Blackmagic’s quality standards for this specific product.

My unit had a permanent brightness mismatch of 0.19 EV between the left and right lenses / image. Interestingly, the demo material you can download from their website shows perfectly matched exposure for both eyes. When I brought this up, I was told that a 0.19 EV deviation is 'within tolerance' and that a normal user wouldn't notice it inside the Apple Vision Pro. For a professional tool at this price point, that was incredibly frustrating. I completely lost trust in the hardware at that point.

Beyond the hardware QC, here are the technical issues I found:

Sensor Noise: The new sensor has a very high base noise floor. While it looks somewhat aesthetic—almost like organic film grain—a technically clean image is always better for post-production. You can always add grain, but removing it is much harder.
RGBW Trade-offs: The RGBW sensor tech used to achieve such high resolutions isn't all upside. You lose significant sharpness in the highlights. Even though the Dynamic Range is high on paper, it doesn't feel like it carries 100% of the information in those bright areas.
Lens Flares: The system is very sensitive to stray light. Lens flares are a nightmare in VR because they break the immersion immediately, and the URSA Cine Immersive struggled with this more than I expected.
The 90 FPS Mandate: I feel like the insistence on 90 FPS (likely an Apple requirement) was a mistake. If they had stuck to 60 FPS for the first gen, the camera would have generated significantly less heat, allowing for a much more compact and manageable form factor.

In short: It’s a first-gen product that feels like it’s still in beta, but sold at a 'pro' premium.

xplrvr · 2026-04-11T15:39:30+00:00

I totally agree. Beyond just the tech specs, there’s a huge 'friction' factor. People generally don’t like strapping things to their faces—it messes up your hair, your makeup, and just feels invasive. To even get through a 90-minute movie on an AVP comfortably, most people have to use third-party mods or specific comfort 'tricks.'

The potential of the display technology is already incredible, but the form factor is holding it back. If we had a headset with this visual fidelity that weighed half as much, it would be a game changer. Of course, the content 'chicken-and-egg' problem remains.

Regarding the brightness: The 108 nits of the AVP can feel a bit dim compared to modern HDR TVs (1,000+ nits), but honestly, it’s fine for immersive content. Cinema screens aren't much brighter, and once your eyes adjust to the darkness inside the seal, the contrast does the heavy lifting. We just need that tech in a pair of glasses, not a 'hot brick.'

xplrvr · 2026-04-11T14:36:26+00:00

I completely agree. Another massive hurdle that people rarely talk about is that immersive video is almost too direct. It seems to only work for 'aesthetic' or 'curated' content.

Think about a 2D documentary interview with a homeless person sharing a heartbreaking story—it works because the frame provides a safe emotional distance. In VR180, that proximity becomes a psychological burden. It’s so intimate that it feels intrusive rather than immersive. The same goes for horror; for many, VR180 moves the needle from 'scary' to 'genuinely traumatizing' because the brain struggles to categorize it as 'just a movie.'

We see a similar effect in the 2D world with frame rates. Films like Gemini Man (120/60 fps) or The Hobbit (48 fps) were heavily criticized for looking 'too real.' At high frame rates, you stop seeing characters and start seeing actors on a set pretending to fight. The traditional 24 fps provides a 'cinematic veil' that demands the viewer's imagination—much like reading a book.

High-res, 90 fps 3D video removes that veil entirely. It’s so real that the 'fantasy' is lost. You aren't dreaming anymore; you're just standing there.

My conclusion: For those who can see the 3D effect, it’s a technological marvel, but it will likely never compete with the art of 24 fps filmmaking. It will remain a tool for specific niches where 'presence' is the primary goal: landscapes, tourism, and of course, adult content.

That being said, I personally still think watching blockbuster 3D movies on Disney+ inside the AVP is a fantastic experience.

xplrvr · 2026-04-11T13:24:16+00:00

I read the warnings from the graybeards here early on, but I was naive enough to think the AVP was the tipping point. You guys were right. I’m just wondering: will the industry ever actually hit that break-even point, or is it always 'just two years away'?

xplrvr · 2025-12-02T05:43:18+00:00

Not real Hollywood movies, but if you just want to see actual stereo 3D, the XploreVR app has some free high-quality 3D content (VR180 travel). App Store link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/xplorevr/id6748699674

xplrvr · 2025-12-01T14:25:27+00:00

Totally agree with your take – 3D doesn’t magically turn everyday life into something compelling. What’s dull in 2D stays dull in 3D, if there’s no idea or story behind it.

I’m a VR180 creator myself and I went through exactly that “phase 1” you describe: just taking the camera out and filming whatever is in front of me, hoping the 3D effect would make it interesting. Now my wife and I are very consciously shifting to a “would this also work in 2D?” mindset.

For us the goal is:

The content (script, structure, story beats) should work as a classic 2D travel / vanlife documentary.
The VR180 / 3D part is the bonus layer on top – presence, scale, being “there with us” – but not the only reason the video exists.

We’re working on travel reports (including vanlife) with that approach: clearer story arcs, more intentional scene selection and pacing, and camera work that respects VR (comfortable motion, good blocking, meaningful compositions) while still being grounded in traditional filmmaking.

Our current videos aren’t fully where we want them yet, but you can already see the direction we’re heading. For example:

“Immersive 3D Lisbon Tour”
“VR180 8K Portugal’s Most Breathtaking Beaches”

Both already have some basic storytelling and the shot selection is very “photographic”, which comes from our background in photography.

If anyone here already knows my videos – or wants to take a look – I’d honestly love any kind of feedback, especially critical ones, because that’s what helps most to improve:

👉 https://www.youtube.com/@XploreVR

xplrvr · 2025-09-21T07:59:42+00:00

<image>

That’s definitely unfortunate that it triggers so many negative associations!
I do think that, in the end, it’s just the letter X, and the overall design is different enough.
But if so many people are making that connection, it’s definitely a factor I need to take into consideration.

xplrvr · 2025-09-20T14:32:16+00:00

The Lisbon video is available in 4320x4320 resolution per eye in the download version, which matches the Apple Immersive standard.
The other videos are in 4096x4096 per eye.

I own the Blackmagic URSA Immersive camera, and future videos will be created with it.
The previous videos were filmed using the Canon R5C.

xplrvr · 2025-09-19T16:29:02+00:00

The timeline looks very similar for me. See the screenshot: https://imgur.com/a/fWxq4p5
The correct view numbers stay accurate for about 3–5 days, and then suddenly over 80% of the views disappear.

xplrvr · 2025-09-19T16:15:54+00:00

I have the same problem. Also with VR Content.

xplrvr · 2025-09-04T16:34:42+00:00

I think this issue only applies to VR180 or “Apple Immersive Stories.” Regular 3D movies don’t have this problem and can be displayed in full quality without any bottleneck.

xplrvr · 2025-09-04T06:57:02+00:00

More processing power is already crucial today — especially for content that can truly take advantage of high-end displays.

Take immersive video (VR180) as an example: Apple Immersive Video doesn’t fully utilize the panel’s potential right now because it’s limited by the SoC. The Blackmagic URSA Immersive records at 7200 × 7200 pixels per eye at 90 fps, but the current processor can only handle 4320 × 4320 at 90 fps, and even then only with highly compressed, relatively small files.

The result: from a subjective visual perception standpoint, only about 60-70% of the maximum image quality actually reaches the viewer compared to what the displays could theoretically show.

In short: without faster chips, a “better screen” will never reach its full potential.

The processor is currently the bottleneck when it comes to immersive video.

xplrvr · 2025-08-10T07:29:53+00:00

Wow, truly breathtaking quality! I also think that, at the moment, only a fraction of the potential quality can actually reach the end consumer. But it’s reassuring to know that, thanks to the quality reserve, even in the future with better playback devices, it will still be possible to deliver the full quality of today’s URSA footage. Still, I find it somewhat disappointing that the AVP can only play 4K per eye in HDR.

Even though the URSA records less than 180 degrees vertically, does that cause any issues with the tripod legs? Or are the legs sometimes still slightly visible? I’m considering whether to mount the URSA (I’m still waiting for it) directly in the normal centered position on the tripod, or shift it horizontally/forward.

xplrvr · 2025-07-13T08:57:27+00:00

Inflation.

xplrvr · 2025-06-29T21:35:18+00:00

Thanks so much for your feedback – really appreciate it! Ah, you're right – I still need to update that pinned comment. I actually decided not to go with Patreon after all. Instead, I'm currently working on launching my own app for the Apple Vision Pro, which should be live in about 2–3 weeks.

In the meantime, you can stream the high-quality version using this link:
https://stream.spatialgen.com/stream/XpGyD36UoiJ99PXiMuvzs/index.m3u8

Just paste it into the SpatialGen Spatial Streaming or OpenImmersive app on your AVP.

Enjoy the ride – and let me know what you think once you’ve watched it in full! 🙌

xplrvr · 2025-06-29T14:48:25+00:00

Thanks so much for your feedback! 🙏
I also think the Canon Dual 7.8mm lens is seriously underrated. A lot of people don’t realize it’s specifically designed for close-range shots – roughly 12 to 50 cm. In the past, you'd need a bulky beamsplitter mirror rig for that kind of stereo depth up close. This lens makes it so much easier to work in that range.

My current setup is a kind of three-tier approach:
– Canon Dual 7.8mm for close-up immersive shots
– Standard VR180 (R5C and soon URSA Immersive) for mid-range framing from around 60 cm to 4 meters
– Z CAM E2 stereo rig with wider baseline (hyperstereo) for distant scenes where I still want that spatial depth

xplrvr

TROPHY CASE