Meta has announced its Ray-Ban Display smart glasses are getting their first games: GOAT and 2048. The games use the EMG Neural Band to track muscle movements and hand gestures, eliminating the need for traditional controllers. Users can play by flicking their thumb or making other gestures, creating an intuitive, controller-free experience.

These games represent a significant step for Meta's wearable technology, transforming the glasses from a passive device into an interactive gaming platform. GOAT challenges players to guide a cute animal through floating platforms, while 2048 requires combining numbered blocks to reach the target number. The EMG band, which debuted alongside the glasses last November with an 18-hour battery life and IPX7 water resistance, detects muscle movements to control on-screen actions.

The addition of games addresses a key question about controlling smart glasses without the handheld controllers typical of VR headsets. While the technology sounds futuristic and appealing to gamers, practical concerns remain about using the glasses and performing gestures in public settings. This move follows Meta's established gaming presence with its Quest VR headsets and signals the company's strategy to bring interactive entertainment to its lightweight wearable products.