Introduction to Virtual Reality
Virtual reality has come a good distance in a short while, and it’s still advancing at a rapid rate. Despite a slowdown in growth in 2018 in comparison with 2017, a brand new report from Futuresource Consulting confirms that the longer term of VR is vibrant. Worldwide, VR market volume is anticipated to achieve 98.4 million sales by 2023, generating an installed base of 168 million units with a worldwide population penetration of two%. Growth is forecast across all regions and countries, with China leading the best way.
The Rise of Standalone Headsets
2019 is already turning out to be a powerful 12 months for VR, providing a solid base for growth. Oculus Quest, Facebook’s standalone headset, is creating quite a lot of interest and momentum. The headset launched in May and sold out across multiple stores per week after launch. Facebook’s VP of AR/VR, Andrew Bosworth, says that in the primary two weeks of Oculus Quest headset sales, there have been $5 million value of content sales. Despite a scarcity of official sales stats, some estimate that Facebook could sell greater than 1 million units in 2019—this could be huge if it happened. The shift from tethered to standalone VR headsets represents a paradigm shift inside the immersive ecosystem. Now, we’ve a really mobile platform that is nice enough to facilitate compelling user experiences.
Progress within the VR Industry
It’s not only the standalone category that’s making good progress. This month, Road to VR reported that the monthly-connected VR headsets on Steam have surpassed 1 million for the primary time. Ben Lang commented, “After correcting for Steam’s changing population, we discover that May 2019 was the primary month on record to see greater than 1 million monthly-connected headsets on the platform. Year over 12 months, monthly-connected headsets on Steam are up 80%.” In March, Sony announced it had sold 4.2 million PlayStation VR (PSVR) headsets. Earlier this month, Playstation lead Jim Ryan told CNet, “The current generation of VR has exceeded our expectations. When you step back and have a look at it—and that is the best way I like to have a look at it – one in 20 of the individuals who found the cash to exit and buy a PlayStation 4, and all of the games and peripherals that they enjoyed with that, have also found the cash to then go buy the PlayStation VR and all of the games and peripherals that go on top of that.” AR Insider commented, “Extrapolating from the nearly 100 million PS4s sold, PSVR is approaching five million units available in the market.”
New Entrants and Success Stories
Major corporations are still jumping into VR. Nintendo entered the race with the Labo: VR kit for Nintendo Switch on April 12 this 12 months. This low-tech, playful VR is for all of the family, and it gives you VR compatibility with two of the Switch’s biggest titles: Super Mario Odyssey and Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. In March, it was announced that a VR title had turn out to be the primary to sell over 1 million copies in under a 12 months—Beat Saber. Meanwhile, corporations like Superhot have announced they’ve made more revenue from their VR than non-VR titles—further validation of the chance for developers.
The Future of Virtual Reality
These successes give a transparent indication that VR is relevant and established. It’s real and it’s here to remain. As I look to the longer term, and the arrival of 5G, my hopes for VR turn out to be even brighter. Some of VR’s outstanding obstacles to growth will probably be overcome. The low latency, super-fast speeds and stable connections that 5G brings will herald in a brand new era of VR. Experiences will probably be more accessible, more reliable and ultimately more immersive.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the virtual reality industry is experiencing significant growth and advancements. With the rise of standalone headsets, progress within the industry, recent entrants, and success stories, VR is becoming more mainstream. The way forward for VR looks vibrant, with the arrival of 5G expected to beat a number of the current obstacles and supply more immersive experiences. As the industry continues to evolve, we are able to expect to see much more revolutionary applications and uses for virtual reality.
