The hype surrounding virtual reality, or VR, was intense and maybe even overkill. After all the big talk, who’s getting a kick out of this technology? Well, the short answer is gamers. Investors are funneling plenty of money and resources into the development of some pretty incredible stuff in the video game world. Innovators in this field are hard at work. Virtual reality-enriched games are blooming as a result. Here’s a fun fact: total worldwide revenue for the VR market will grow from $5.6 billion in 2016 to $162 billion in 2020, according to predictions from the IDC research firm.
It’s About the Experience
What’s driving that? Virtual-reality mobile headsets and gaming consoles. People are looking for something more. Luckily, the forward-thinkers in the gaming industry have their finger on the pulse. They’re responding to the demand accordingly. Big-shot game publishers like Sony and Bethesda have put out popular video games like Doom, Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and Fallout as VR experiences. Other game studios turning some of their focus to VR include Insomniac Games, Ubisoft, CCP, Gunfire games, 4A Games, Carbon Games, Climax, Harmonix, High Voltage Software, Ready at Dawn, Otherworld Interactive, and Square Enix, and Thotwise. This move makes sense; the next logical step for games with open worlds or first-person POVs into a complete realistic experience is the full immersion that VR can provide. Instead of looking at a screen, you’re encased in it! Fundamental elements of VR like freedom of movement, object interaction, and environmental feedback all create a sense of continuity with the real world. It’s like you’re really there.
The Pace of the Game
Although the industry is still young (VR was only announced in 2009!) a lot has already been learned and improved. The first few VR games were simply showing off the 360-degree field of vision, but now VR games are going beyond simply seeking to be “immersive” (a word used in every advertisement campaign for every videogame ever!) The most advanced VR games now utilize AI technology like voice recognition and collaborative features that allow multiplayer modes. An impressive example of this is Sony’s multiplayer shooter game Starblood Arena, which offers both a free-for-all mode and team-based play.
Where Next?
There’s plenty more development and exploration to be done, too — tech experts still haven’t ironed out all the bugs in creating ultra-responsive body movement sensors. And then there’s the issue that some people even get nauseated from VR! For the time being, development needs to stay focused, investors need to stay interested, and video game platforms need to stay up-to-date with hardware. And just watch — we’ll see plenty more cool things like Virtual Room and Polygon VR appear on the gaming landscape. Want to see more for yourself? Check out this long list of VR-compatible games.
Reality is Virtual
Games are escapism in its most playful form. Jumping from one reality to the next is central to any gaming experience, and VR can easily shorten that jump. With VR, some of the legwork the imagination needs to do simply disappears. That means the creative potential of play can unfold seamlessly in a simulated environment — which is an incredible and radical re-working of reality.
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