virtual reality is a booming field of technology that gets investors excited and on the edge of their seats. It wasn't all that well received by the everyday folk when it was first announced that VR step into the gaming industry. In 2016, as an article on Forbes pointed out, analysts and journalists declared it was the end of virtual reality just as PlayStation was in the middle of the launch of its new VR headset.
At E3 of 2016, as the video game website Polygon brought up in one of their articles, multiple companies saw VR crashing and losing people's interest as the conference demonstrated the worst of the technology.
The state of VR
The initial feedback from users did not discourage developers from making progress in the field. Companies started working on the software to optimize user experience while putting VR hardware on the sideline. The number of VR exhibitors doubled at E3 2017.Oculus, a leading company in the technology of VR, announced that it is striving toward making VR a more accessible luxury so that more people can truly appreciate it.
This means cutting down costs and integrating different platforms for compatibility. Oculus is allowing game makers to use their hardware for the purpose of delivering beautiful gaming experiences.
Why people don't have many VR headsets
It's true, VR is new. People still need to find a place in their heart for new innovative products. This also includes smartphone developers. Most smartphones are still not designed to make good use of this technology and there are more smartphone owners than there are of consoles.
Smartphones focus more on web browsing and battery life as opposed to accommodating the graphic intensive VR action that stresses system-on-chip in the handset. Most smartphones will heat up or drain the battery while running VR.
The same problems extend to PCs. In order to run PC tethered VR, a high-performance system is required which can get really expensive. Oculus Rift and HTC Vive require a lot of horse power to run smoothly.
Users of VR, although they enjoy the immersive experience, don't feel compelled to continue using their units. This is despite the fact that they were able to afford it. There are no dedicated apps for VR that make the migration from a simple 2D screen any compelling or easy. It's just so much easier to not have to go through the tedious process of setting everything up only to play a game that's mediocre. But investors and developers stay optimistic and continue to make VR more universal.
It's being applied to more industries other than gaming and will provide people with unprecedented experiences that are exclusive as well. VR definitely has the potential to grow into something beyond everything we have now. And this is what keeps investors and enthusiasts on the edge of their seats. For the purpose of growth.