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Virtual reality forecast to reach 10.6 million people by 2016

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VirtualInsanity

Welcome to the future everyone, virtual reality is a, um, reality. According to SuperData’s research, the total market for these new devices will reach 10.6 million consumers by 2016. I can’t imagine that I’ll be one of them considering current pricing models, but who knows what the future may hold.

It’s not just about Facebook’s acquisition of the Oculus Rift; another 18 VR-focused companies received $590 million in investment. According to SuperData’s CEO Joost van Dreunen’s comment in an email that I’m about to copy and paste for your reading pleasure, we should start seeing devices pretty soon:

Facebook has effectively revitalized the decades-old dream of virtual reality and triggered a frenzy of investments. Currently there are over 200 developers working on VR projects and we counted no less than 15 different hardware devices at varying stages of completion. We anticipate a first wave of PC-based devices to launch mid-2015.
[…] Traditional publishers of interactive entertainment simply cannot afford to just jump in at such an early stage of a new platform. It is financially far too risky for them. Small studios and independents, however, have an opportunity to make a name for themselves. The question everyone is looking to answer is “Who will be the Angry Birds for virtual reality devices?”

Full-length video is still a few years away, so all this VR investment is geared towards game studios to provide the actual content that will make the new platform viable. With everyone from Facebook’s Oculus Rift to Sony’s Project Morpheus, as well as Microsoft, Apple and Google jumping on the bandwagon, it’s a race to see who finds the magical use for the device that makes it a must have. Google has even announced a partnership with Mattel in the hopes of making VR a reality for children; that creeps me out no end, but I suppose it’s best to grab the market while they’re young.

10.6 million consumers isn’t really all that much; that’s about the install base of just one of the new generation consoles. Still, as a luxury peripheral, that’s pretty ambitious. Then again, with all the money being thrown at the technology, it makes sense that prices will come down and we’ll see massive uptake. Maybe. I still just don’t see the appeal of VR headsets, but maybe once I strap one to my head and don’t feel sick, I’ll be convinced.

Last Updated: February 20, 2015

34 Comments

  1. Umar

    February 20, 2015 at 09:37

    Jamiroquai….THANK YOU!

    Reply

  2. Blood Emperor Trevor

    February 20, 2015 at 09:39

    Reply

    • CAE9872

      February 20, 2015 at 09:42

      Man I will always love that part in Little Britain. I use it all the times in lectures/discussions.

      Reply

      • Blood Emperor Trevor

        February 20, 2015 at 09:44

        I use this one every so often when grocery shopping…

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          February 20, 2015 at 09:45

          So do I, well the card reader anyways.

          Reply

  3. Captain JJ the crafter

    February 20, 2015 at 09:40

    Ah, that music video is so epic.

    Reply

  4. CAE9872

    February 20, 2015 at 09:44

    For them I hope so I just don’t see it personally. I have never tired it, but those that have say it truly is the next big thing. And that is the thing – with no way of trying it properly why jump?

    Reply

  5. RinceThis

    February 20, 2015 at 09:44

    • CAE9872

      February 20, 2015 at 09:45

      There you are – we were wondering over in the Mortal Kombat thread whatever happened to our pics from our get together back in December? There was LOTS of chat about what you may have done with them which will remain unspoken here. I won’t mention names but Trevor started it…

      Reply

      • Blood Emperor Trevor

        February 20, 2015 at 09:48

        Reply

        • CAE9872

          February 20, 2015 at 09:51

          ..

          Reply

        • CAE9872

          February 20, 2015 at 09:51

          refresh

          Reply

      • RinceThis

        February 20, 2015 at 09:59

        Eh?

        Reply

        • CAE9872

          February 20, 2015 at 10:16

          Go check posts from todays article – but we were wondering what happened to the pics you took when we had get together for Lagz Cape Town…December…Golf Range at Liesbeeck Parkway…about 12 of us…I could continue…

          Reply

  6. Captain JJ the crafter

    February 20, 2015 at 09:45

    I would absolutely get an Oculus if it’s not too expensive.
    The immersion would be incredible. Especially in games like Skyrim and Fallout.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      February 20, 2015 at 09:46

      And Slender, or Outlast.

      Reply

      • Captain JJ the crafter

        February 20, 2015 at 09:46

        No and hell no.
        I choose life.

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          February 20, 2015 at 09:48

          I chose not to choose life, I chose something else

          Reply

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            February 20, 2015 at 09:48

            Taxes?

          • Hammersteyn

            February 20, 2015 at 09:54

            Console gaming

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            February 20, 2015 at 09:54

            That’s what I said! 😉

          • Hammersteyn

            February 20, 2015 at 09:54

            lol okay

          • Captain JJ the crafter

            February 20, 2015 at 09:55

            hehe

          • Captain JJ the crafter

            February 20, 2015 at 09:55

            We’re really on a roll this week.

          • Hammersteyn

            February 20, 2015 at 09:56

            XD

      • Captain JJ the crafter

        February 20, 2015 at 09:49

        On a similar note. I see Damned is on Humble Sale. Co-op hunter horror.

        My only problem is that no one wants to opt in on being locked in a house with me and a monster.
        It doesn’t even sound like they’re afraid of the monster either 😉

        Reply

    • RinceThis

      February 20, 2015 at 10:00

      When they are able to offer it at the size of a pair of normal glasses I think they will be taken seriously.

      Reply

      • Captain JJ the crafter

        February 20, 2015 at 10:06

        In time I’m sure they will. Eventually.

        Reply

  7. Pieter Kruger

    February 20, 2015 at 09:53

    No, they’re just wrong!

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      February 20, 2015 at 09:57

      Agreed, should be 20 000 000

      Reply

  8. Pieter Kruger

    February 20, 2015 at 10:04

    So nobody have given any thought to the social, medical, health and economic consequences of having 10 million plus people puking constantly….?

    Reply

    • Blood Emperor Trevor

      February 20, 2015 at 10:05

      What if I told you all the manufacturers had, and they’ve all invested in paper bags? 😀

      Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      February 20, 2015 at 10:08

      That’s weekends in a nutshell for me.

      Reply

  9. Greg Lanciotti

    February 20, 2015 at 22:48

    i can’t stand “journalist” like this. Very petty. And what in the hell is with everyone being sooo afraid of VR??? I don’t get it. Is it that hard to grasp the implications that a VR device has? Why are soo many people fighting it. It’s awesome, bleeding edge technology. Just let it happen FFS. Perhaps it has to do with the assumption that the VR HMD is shoved against your face simply to immerse you more. And that it’s like a 3d TV on your face. Is that what people really think it is? Are they confusing these times with the motion control craze of yesteryear? Is everyone really that jaded? I’m afraid so…. VR is going to blow the socks off of everyone in the coming years. I’ve come to the conclusion that anyone who thinks otherwise is simply “dumb” OR too jaded to realize they are assuming. Anyway. I couldn’t care less about having to put headgear on when I know that I’ll be in the cockpit of a fighter jet looking over the grand canyon. Or at a beatles concert. I mean seriously, are you people f’n retarded? You have to be VERY stupid to think that shit like that wouldn’t be popular.

    Reply

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