10 Virtual Reality Statistics: How Close Are We To a 3D, Immersive Future?

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Andrea Mercado

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Virtual Reality (VR) might not be a new concept to you, especially if you're a gamer. However, brace yourself because this technology is on the verge of a significant transformation.

In the coming years, VR will make today's cutting-edge experiences seem like a relic of the past. While gaming is a big part of it, the impact will stretch further, influencing how we work, learn, and interact.

If you are interested in the VR market and want to know how much of an impact it had in 2023 and the companies at the forefront, stay a while as we look at 10 Virtual Reality statistics to understand how close we are to an inverse, 3D future.

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What Exactly is “Virtual Reality”?

Imagine virtual scenarios that are rich, convincing, and offer a life with societies, jobs, and personal goals. As virtual experiences evolve, many aspects that make life meaningful find their place in these digital simulations.

Virtual Reality (VR), once synonymous with strapping large headsets and waving around in your living room, is poised for a remarkable transformation.

Today, a range of VR headsets is accessible to consumers, and their applications extend far beyond gaming, venturing into various media forms. They transport users to immersive worlds, making them wonder what's next for VR in the following years.

However, with corporations like Meta striving to dominate the "metaverse," there's growing concern about intrusive surveillance and data collection.

The risk of psychological repercussions is also a pressing issue. As we enjoy the virtual world's perks, we must also ask how these experiences may impact us when we return to the physical world.

So, let's dive into the landscape of VR and explore the challenges it brings.

Current overview of the VR market

1. The worldwide market for VR headsets reached a total worth of $4.1 billion

Virtual Reality is like diving into a digital realm where you can see and hear things that don't exist in the real world, and VR headsets are the gateway to these immersive experiences.

The global VR headset market's value, a staggering $4.1 billion in 2022, speaks volumes about its potential.

And it doesn't stop there; experts believe it could grow to $5.88 billion by 2030, with a steady annual growth rate of 5.3% between 2023 and 2030.

These headsets are not just for gaming; they're seeping into various sectors, from manufacturing to education. Picture using VR to train doctors, design new products, or even take a virtual field trip from a classroom.

2. Meta's devices comprised nearly 80% of the 8.8 million virtual reality headsets sold in 2022

According to Reuters, in 2022, Meta's devices, like the Quest 2 and Quest Pro, dominated the VR headset market, accounting for nearly 80% of the 8.8 million headsets sold.

These headsets offer an immersive experience and are the most popular among users. The Quest 2, in particular, has received several hardware updates over the years, making it even more appealing.

In second place, with a 10% market share, was the Pico device by ByteDance, the Chinese company known for TikTok.

Photo by Vinicius "amnx" Amano on Unsplash

3. In the first quarter of 2023, headset sales were down 54.4% compared to 2022's Q1

VR headset sales are experiencing ups and downs in the tech world. In 2023, the pandemic is already gone, and the first quarter of the year saw headset sales drop by a significant 54.4% compared to the same period in 2022.

Meta, previously known as Facebook, has been at the forefront of VR technology, but even with its efforts, VR has yet to capture the broader market beyond gaming.

4. Meta held 50.2% of the VR headset market

According to TechCrunch, in Q2 of 2023, Meta held 50.2% of the VR headset market, but this number has decreased compared to the previous year.

While they once dominated the segment with 84.6% in 2022, their market share has dropped due to competition, particularly from Sony's PSVR 2, which now ranks second with 27.2%.

Meta's Quest 2 has been around for a while, and the arrival of Quest 3 may help them regain more market share in this year.

5. Horizon Worlds has approximately 200,000 monthly users

Horizon Worlds, the central social VR app from Meta, is seeing a decrease in its user base.

Originally aiming for 500,000 users by the end of 2022, their expectations had to be adjusted. In Q3 of 2022, the app had approximately 200,000 monthly users, down from the 300,000 reported in February 2022.

Even though it was considered one of the top metaverse platforms in 2023, Horizon Worlds may have less than 200,000 monthly users now.

To put this in perspective, a YouTuber spent a week in the app and found that only around 900 people were online daily.

6. By 2025, the VR gaming industry might reach $6.9 billion

The VR gaming content industry is on an exciting trajectory, offering a glimpse into a future filled with immersive digital experiences. In 2020, it generated a revenue of 1.8 billion U.S. dollars, while predictions from Statista say it will surge to $6.9 billion by 2025.

This remarkable growth is driven mainly by the gaming community's appetite for groundbreaking and captivating entertainment within the VR realm.

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Other non-gaming uses for VR

7. 51% of companies in the U.S. were in the process of integrating VR into strategy

In 2022, a significant change was happening. Around 51% of companies in the U.S. were starting to use VR in their plans. These companies either began using VR for training or already had it for a specific part of their business.

Out of these companies, about 34% saw that using VR could make their employees learn necessary skills better. They found it more effective than the usual methods.

8. Employees learn 4x faster when trained in VR than in a traditional classroom

Beyond gaming, VR technology is revolutionizing learning and training. Whether it's in the classroom or the workplace, VR is proving to be a powerful tool.

Studies show that employees learn four times faster when trained in VR than in traditional classroom methods, making it a valuable asset for workplace training.

Moreover, it's not just about speed; VR also boosts focus, with employees being 1.5 times more attentive during VR classes. This technology is shaping education and professional development in exciting ways.

9. V-learners felt 3.75 times more emotionally connected to the content than those in traditional classrooms

Learning through VR offers advantages like creating meaningful experiences that are tough to replicate in regular classrooms or online.

According to a study by PwC's 2022 Metaverse Survey, people learning through VR felt 3.75 times more emotionally connected to the content than those in traditional classrooms and 2.3 times more than online learners.

That means when emotions are involved, people learn and remember better.

10. By 2025, about 70% of employee training will include VR somehow

By 2025, around 70% of employee training will involve VR elements. That is because studies show that VR can be a cost-effective tool for workforce training.

According to the PwC study, VR results in a corporate class of 3,000 learners are 52% more cost-effective than traditional classroom methods.

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Summary: Virtual Reality Statistics

1. In 2022, the worldwide market for VR headsets reached a total worth of $4.1 billion.

2. Meta's devices comprised nearly 80% of the 8.8 million virtual reality headsets sold in 2022.

3. In the first quarter of 2023, headset sales were down 54.4% compared to 2022's Q1.

4. In Q2 of 2023, Meta held 50.2% of the VR headset market.

5. Horizon Worlds has approximately 200,000 monthly users.

6. By 2025, the VR gaming industry might reach $6.9 billion.

7. In 2022, 51% of companies in the U.S. were in the process of integrating VR into strategy.

8. Employees learn 4x faster when trained in VR than in a traditional classroom.

9. V-learners felt 3.75 times more emotionally connected to the content than those in traditional classrooms.

10. By 2025, about 70% of employee training will include VR somehow.

FAQ

How do VR headsets work?

A VR headset is a top-notch screen you wear on your face. The game processing happens on a PC or game console if it's wired.

Wireless ones like the Meta Quest 2 do the processing on the headset itself. They use sensors to map your surroundings, either built-in or external.

While you can use a regular gamepad or keyboard and mouse in VR, they usually use motion-tracking controllers to make you feel part of their 3D worlds.

Is VR adoption mainstream?

VR is still a niche but is slowly expanding from just gaming.

It also offers a variety of other activities like social interaction, fitness, mindfulness, healthcare, movies, and storytelling.

How is VR being used in healthcare?

The medical industry is moving towards more online solutions to the point the VR market in healthcare was valued at around $1.9 billion by 2020.

This technology is finding many uses in healthcare. For example, it's being tested to help treat anxiety and to create training spaces for surgeons.

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Final Thoughts

VR had a strong year in 2022, reaching a market value of $4.1 billion, primarily thanks to Meta's Quest Pro devices. Even though early 2023 brought a setback with a 54.4% decline in headset sales, the company maintained a substantial 50.2% market share in Q2 2023.

The future looks bright, especially in gaming and corporate training, as more than half of U.S. companies are adopting VR.

This technology's strength lies in its ability to provide engaging learning experiences, making it a continuously evolving technology with vast potential across various aspects of our lives.