visionOS 26 at WWDC rumored to have a big emphasis on gaming
Apple's main focus at WWDC 25 will be on redesigns and iOS upgrades, but visionOS 26 should see a range of quality-of-life changes and new gaming features for Apple Vision Pro. Here's what the rumor mill expects to see.
visionOS 26 may be packed with features
There have been relatively few rumors around Apple's spatial computing platform for WWDC 2025. Instead, everything is focused on how visionOS will inspire the design of every other operating system.
That said, the 2025 keynote should prove to be an important year for visionOS 26. It's the first full year between releases since visionOS 2 was revealed just four months after visionOS 1 launched.
There are very few rumors about visionOS 26, but since iOS updates usually propagate across the ecosystem, there is some idea of what to expect. Also, Apple Vision Pro users know that there are plenty of quality-of-life changes that can be made based on a year's worth of public feedback.
visionOS 26 could emphasize spatial gaming
Since there isn't going to be a redesign for visionOS, all eyes will be on features and app updates. There has been a tiny trend in rumors recently that could indicate the biggest focus for visionOS 26 outside of UI tweaks -- gaming.
At a minimum, game controller pass through would be nice
Apple has never had a strong grasp of the gaming market, which was emphasized by Apple Vision Pro's initial reveal and launch. Instead of showing off Beat Saber or Superhot, incredibly popular VR games, Apple showed a user playing NBA 2K in iPad compatibility mode with a physical controller.
The gaming strategy hasn't evolved much since. A few VR games launched on Apple Vision Pro that are worth trying, like Crossy Road Castle, Game Room, Job Simulator, or Thrasher, but Apple is still missing some of the biggest games in VR.
There are two reasons for this -- Meta and VR controllers. Apple needs to be doing everything in its power to talk to Meta about getting its popular Meta Quest games on Apple Vision Pro, but that's a situation outside of Apple's control.
The second issue is something rumors have suggested for a while will be coming. Apple is on the verge of revealing compatibility for "spatial controllers."
PSVR 2 controller support could help Apple Vision Pro get more games
That seems to imply support for something like the PSVR 2 controller or third-party VR controllers. That small update would open up VR gaming compatibilities and be a big enhancement to gameplay.
For example, if Beat Saber ever did arrive on Apple Vision Pro, it would be an empty-feeling experience where users flap their arms around without haptics. Controllers let users feel like they are actually gripping the sabers, and they vibrate when they react with the environment.
Apple Vision Pro could be an incredible, if expensive, gaming platform with this simple addition. It's also important for Apple to increase the gaming capabilities and experience for Apple Vision Pro, since that is still the number one selling point for VR headsets.
PlayStation VR and its successor failed because Sony seemingly never did the legwork to bring more than a few popular titles to its platform. There could be a bigger issue with Meta monopolizing studios, but it seems more likely that customers flocked to lower-priced, untethered Meta Quest hardware.
True VR gaming took a backseat in the first year of Apple Vision Pro
Apple positioned Apple Vision Pro as a productivity tool that happens to be able to play games, which is its approach for most of its hardware. However, it may have a leg up on Meta that PSVR didn't.
Apple Vision Pro is much more expensive than Meta Quest, but it has the potential to provide a much more immersive all-in-one gaming experience. The powerful M2 processor and high-resolution displays make it one of the best VR experiences on the market.
So, if Apple does anything at WWDC 2025 with Apple Vision Pro and visionOS 26, it needs to be an emphasis on its gaming prowess. But hardware isn't the only part of the gaming story.
Apple Games
There's a rumor suggesting that Apple will reveal a new app focused on gaming, which we're referring to as Apple Games. It'll give Game Center a home, include social features that rely on FaceTime and iMessage, work as a game store, and it'll launch games.
Apple Games could give a centralized home to VR games in visionOS
It seems the app is at least coming to iPhone, iPad, and Mac at launch, but it needs to come to Apple Vision Pro as well. If the app can work as a hub that helps users discover and launch new VR games, it'll help lift up the platform.
Such a hub would also help emphasize Apple Vision Pro as a capable gaming device. It could also implement things like Personas with game chat and showcase unique gaming situations on the platform.
Apple has been making other moves in the gaming space, like acquiring the two-person game studio behind Sneaky Sasquatch. Let's hope that 2025 is finally the year Apple gets serious about gaming.
iOS 26 features in visionOS 26
Since iOS 26 will have a significant focus on its redesign, there isn't much that will make its way to visionOS. However, users should expect new Apple Intelligence features and other ecosystem tweaks to make their way to Apple Vision Pro.
More Apple Intelligence updates could come to visionOS
Rumors indicate Apple is working to make Siri's backend into an LLM. One of the primary interactions on Apple Vision Pro is Siri, so that could mean a significant impact on the platform.
Like Apple's other significant efforts, the Siri chatbot likely won't launch until after the start of 2026. Whatever form it takes, Apple Vision Pro users should expect it to change how they get things done.
Current iOS features like Apple Sports and Journal could come to visionOS as well. These apps don't work in visionOS yet, but they may get a new version that's either an iPad app or full native visionOS app.
Expect updates to apps like iMessage, Photos, TV, and others run by Apple to propagate to Apple Vision Pro as well. One rumor indicates Messages will get live translation and polls, while Apple Notes will get Markdown export.
visionOS 26 low hanging fruit
We're out of rumors to report, but there are plenty of obvious updates that should be coming to visionOS 26. Our earlier visionOS wish list covered this, but it bears repeating some of the more grounded guesswork.
Lots of tap targets can confuse the eye tracking system in visionOS
Apple Vision Pro users should expect more, if not all, of Apple's apps to become native visionOS apps. It was odd that Apple didn't include more when it announced visionOS 2, and now a year later, that number hasn't increased.
There also needs to be some focus on how users interact with the platform. Eyes aren't always the most precise pointers, so giving users more ability to make granular UI selections would be helpful.
More immersive environments are expected. Also, the Home View may finally get folders for improved organization.
Overall, Apple needs to show a commitment to making visionOS a place where developers want to build. A part of this may be through the ecosystem-wide redesign, thus making all apps easier to port due to visual consistency.
There also needs to be more APIs for developers so more app types can exist. Apple could also do more to help developers convert their iPad and iPhone apps into native visionOS apps.
visionOS 26 and the future
Rumors suggest Apple is working to introduce some kind of smart glasses in 2026. If these glasses are going to have any kind of interface, it'll be visionOS.
visionOS may start showing signs of its future in glasses
There may be signs included in visionOS 26 of Apple designing around other mixed reality devices. The ultimate goal for the mythical Apple Glass is to have a full 3D UI shown in transparent lenses, but that's still a few years away.
Apple's initial smart glasses may be no more complex than Meta Ray-Bans, which are technologically no different than AirPods. However, there's a tiny chance they will include a projected heads up display and cameras for photo or video capture.
There could also be hints in visionOS 26 about Apple's work on a less powerful Apple Vision headset. Different scaling options, lower operating requirements for some functions, or other such changes could indicate Apple is nearing the new product announcement.
Apple Vision Pro 2 and the lower-priced Apple Vision could arrive sometime in 2026. It is unlikely that Apple will reveal either model during WWDC or too far from their launch.
WWDC 25 begins on June 9 with a keynote at 1 p.m. Eastern. Apple will reveal visionOS 26 alongside the other refreshed operating systems via a prerecorded video.
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Games can then be ported to visionOS.