Metanaut, the creative force behind the Rube Goldberg-inspired physics sandbox Gadgeteer (2019), has unveiled an enchanting new project set to captivate VR and mixed reality fans. Their latest venture, Wonder, is a collection of beautiful virtual and mixed reality experiences designed to transport users into awe-inspiring worlds.
Announced for the Meta Quest 3 and Quest 3S, Wonder is expected to launch within the “next couple of months,” promising what Metanaut describes as a “perfect escape” from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Initially teased in late 2021, this anthology is poised to redefine immersive storytelling when it arrives this spring.
At launch, Wonder will feature three distinct experiences, with more planned for post-launch updates:
- Ancient Ruins: Watch your familiar surroundings transform into a mystical cave, only to be consumed by a dramatic black hole.
- Jellyfish Bloom: Dive into a breathtaking deep-sea scene where bioluminescent jellyfish illuminate your walls and furniture in a glowing spectacle.
- Parallel Worlds: Step through reality-bending portals that reveal alternate versions of your environment, reimagined in ice, dots, and other surreal styles.
Metanaut is leveraging “clever and advanced rendering techniques” to push the Quest 3’s capabilities, delivering photorealistic visuals through scanned room meshes. Designed as a hand-tracking-only experience, Wonder allows users to ditch controllers for a more intuitive and immersive interaction.
The studio has paired these cutting-edge visuals with a custom-crafted audio experience from Ictus Audio, an award-winning music studio celebrated for accolades like the John Lennon Songwriting Award. The result is a sensory journey that aims to set a new standard for mixed reality.
Peter Kao, founder of Metanaut, shared his vision for Wonder: “The XR industry has shifted toward kid-focused content and free-to-play models, often at the expense of quality. With Wonder, we’re crafting a magical experience for an underserved audience—older users who crave premium, high-fidelity audiovisual spectacles on the latest headsets.”
Wonder is now available for pre-order at an introductory price of $4, exclusively for Quest 3 and Quest 3S. Metanaut notes that the price will increase as additional content is rolled out post-launch. VR enthusiasts can secure their pre-order here and prepare to step into a world of wonder.
For the latest updates on Wonder and other VR innovations, keep swinging by vrcricketguy.com!