We are one month into 2026, and the "spatial computing" revolution is hitting its stride. In Episode 9 of Reality Bytes, we take a bird's-eye view of the VR landscape before zooming in on the game that has consumed our lives for the last 200+ hours.

• The State of VR 2026: From the "Android moment" of the Google/Samsung XR collaboration to Meta’s dominant 74% market share, we discuss why this year feels like the definitive turning point for mass-market adoption.

• Arc Raiders: 230 Hours Later: Embark Studios’ extraction shooter was a breakout star at launch, but how does it hold up after the honeymoon phase? We discuss the "social experiment" of proximity chat, the brutal AI uprising, and whether the gameplay loop still feels fresh after hundreds of drops into Speranza.

• Staying Power or Seasonal Fad?: With a recent wave of DDoS attacks and the "three-strike" ban system rollout, we look at the health of the Arc Raiders community. Can it survive the competition from GTA VI and upcoming VR titans like Aces of Thunder?

• Looking Ahead: A quick preview of the February VR slate, including why you might want to keep an eye on Orcs Must Die! By The Blade.

Is Arc Raiders the "forever game" we’ve been waiting for, or is the magic starting to fade? Let's look at the data.