26 Virtual Reality Statistics, Facts, and Trends [2024]

Virtual reality provides a simulated experience that can be used to either mimic the real world or go beyond it.

VR technology is being constantly implemented, particularly in video games. This innovative way of experimenting with media can usually be enjoyed through a VR headset.

With this exciting field set to keep growing in the following years, let’s take a look at the most interesting VR statistics.

Vr Stats Highlights

• Around 10,000 Meta (previously known as Facebook) employees are working on VR development.
• Apple doesn’t have a VR headset yet, but 33% of US consumers would rather have a VR/AR device from them.
• Many don’t know what the metaverse is, including a third of UK consumers.
• By 2030, 23 million job openings will be in the VR sector.
• American consumers report an increase (78%) in some familiarity with VR, but many (55%) are put off by the costs
• Over 11 million VR headset units were shipped in 2021.

Vr Market and Sales Statistics

The way VR has started to affect the world market is turning it into a significant presence that is expected to grow. Let’s see what the market has in store for VR.

The vr Market Is Projected to Experience Significant Growth

(Source: ARtillery Intelligence)

In 2022, the VR market is projected to reach 6.71 billion USD in revenue. This is already a spike from previous years, and this growing trend is expected to grow further. Estimates show that in 2023, VR will get 9.18 billion USD, followed by 12.14 billion USD in 2024.

This shows that the VR market size is going to steadily increase at a faster pace.

Consumer Virtual Reality Market Revenue Is Increasing

(Source: Statista)

Consumer virtual reality hardware and software market revenue is steadily increasing. By the end of 2022, it is expected to produce 4.6 billion USD in revenue. In 2023, projections estimate revenue of 5.1 billion USD. This area of the VR market is also expected to keep increasing in the following years.

The AR/Vr/Mr Market Size Will Become Huge

(Source: Statista)

In 2021, the global augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality market produced almost 28 billion USD. By 2028, this sector is set to reach an incredible figure of 252.16 billion USD.

This highlights the immense growth that is projected for this tech field.

Virtual Reality Gaming Revenue Is Increasing

(Source: Statista)

VR is a new industry sector, but it is finding huge growth within gaming. Global revenue for the VR gaming industry is increasing at a steady pace. In 2017, it reached 0.4 billion USD in worldwide revenue.

By 2024, VR gaming is expected to reach 2.4 billion USD in revenue. This figure offers supporting proof to the success of the partnership between gaming and VR tech.

Vr Headset Unit Sales Are Rising

(Source: Statista)

In 2022, VR headset unit sales reached 8.52 million annual unit sales. By 2024, it is projected to reach 14.31 million annual unit sales. That same year, the cumulative installed base of worldwide VR headsets is expected to reach 34 million.

Market Experts Are Confident vr Will Soon Become Mainstream

(Source: XR Industry)

VR has had a bit of a rockier start than expected. Lack of resources and understanding of the concept have been affecting buyer response to this. Despite this, the current growth that VR is experiencing on the market has placed it back on track.

83% of manufacturers expect VR to become mainstream within four years.

Vr Is Expected To Become the Fastest-growing Content Segment

(Source: PwC)

VR is the current and projected leader among all traditional and digital content segments. Projections estimate that it will continue growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30% , which places it right above cinema at 29%.

Most traditional content like newspapers and TV is expected to have a slight decrease.

Most Global AR/vr Headset Shipments Are Standalone

(Source: IDC)

In 2021, 89.8% of the global headset shipment market was made from standalone headsets. Global shipments that year grew by 348.4%, and standalone headsets took the lead. Shipments are projected to reach 15 million by the end of 2022.

Vr Usage Statistics

VR usage numbers are changing every day, but there is already plenty to glean from the available data.

The Majority of American Consumers Are Familiar With the Concept

(Source: Greenlight Insights)

78% of American consumers reported that they have some knowledge of VR. This figure has increased since 2018 when only 45% of American consumers said they were aware of this new technology.

Almost 200 Million People Are Currently Using vr Technology

(Source: IDC)

Currently, around 171 million people around the world are using some form of VR technology. This figure is growing every year, but it has already leaped from the data reported in the early years of VR products.

One in Five Us Adults Has Experienced Vr

(Source: ARtillery Intelligence)

While it has not yet become mainstream, VR technology has become part of many households. In the US, data shows that one in five adults has had some sort of brush with testing VR products.

Less Than a Third of Gamers Have vr Products

(Source: Findly)

Despite VR technology being constantly implemented in gaming, not even 30% of gamers currently own VR products. The price of a full VR setup can be daunting to many and, for now, may not seem like the most cost-effective option.

This is certainly something that will change in the near future as VR becomes more mainstream and more accessible.

People Love vr for Gaming

(Source: IDC)

While VR is proving to be an immensely helpful technology in many sectors, including medicine and HR, 64% of people believe its full potential is best seen in gaming. 52% say that they love exploring its power in TV and movies, while 42% enjoy it in sports.

Most vr Users Don’t Deploy It Daily

(Source: Forbes)

Of those who do own VR technology at home, 39% have stated that they use it weekly. 19% of users indulge in VR only once a month. This shows that even those who invest in VR don’t see it as an everyday activity as of yet.

Millennials Are Currently the Generation Most Invested in Vr

(Source: Statista)

VR is most popular in the 25 to 34-year-old age range, with 27% of respondents stating they are considering buying a VR headset. This is the current age range showing a great deal of interest in this sector.

Users Are Planning on Increasing Their vr Time

(Source: Forbes)

Only 7% of users have stated they are planning on spending less time with their VR devices. 70% have said that they are, in fact, expecting to increase their VR time in the immediate future. This figure will also increase as more users get more used to the technology.

Vr Headset & Gaming Statistics

VR headsets are one of the most popular ways to enjoy this innovative way of experiencing media. Here’s how the trendiest ones are performing, especially in their partnership with the gaming industry.

Steam Users Prefer the Oculus Quest 2

(Source: Statista)

As of January 2022, Meta’s Oculus Quest 2 is vastly preferred by Steam users. Over 46% of VR headset owners who play on Steam have an Oculus Quest 2, which is the top choice among Oculus products.

The Quest 2 is far ahead of its competitors when it comes to Steam preferences. It is followed by the Valve Index HMD with 14.36%, the Oculus Rift with 13.1%, and the HTC Vive with 7.31%.

In Q4 2020, the Oculus Quest 2 Became the Most Sold Worldwide

(Source: Statista)

In Q4 of FY2020, the Oculus Quest 2 sold over 1,000 units around the world. It was followed by the PlayStation VR with 125 units sold, by Valve Index with 61, and the Oculus Rift with 55. In Q4 of FY 2019, the PlayStation VR was the leader, with 338 units sold. The original Oculus Quest only sold 317 units in that same timeframe.

Game Developers Are Focusing on the Oculus Quest

(Source: Statista)

In 2022, the largest share of game developers (27%) stated they are working on titles for the Oculus Quest. 13% are working on the Oculus Rift, while 12% are working on the HTC Vive. Smaller percentages of game developers are working on games for the Valve Index, iOS through ARKit, PlayStation VR, and PlayStation VR2.

Some Players Want More Immersion

(Source: Perkins Coie)

While VR gaming has opened new levels of interaction and immersion, 22% of users continue to believe that more can be done with the field. With innovative haptic technology and increased locomotion, VR can offer even deeper and richer interaction to gamers around the world.

Beat Saber Was the Highest-grossing vr Game in 2020

(Source: S&P Global)

With over 70 million USD in sales revenue, Beat Saber is a popular introduction to the VR world. Inspired by the Star Wars universe, this rhythm game allowed new VR users to experience this new world in a fun way.

Half-life: Alyx Became the Fastest-selling vr Game

(Source: S&P Global)

This popular survival game was developed by Valve and released in early 2020. It made almost 65 million USD in revenue in its first six months.

Since then, it has remained at the top of the best-selling VR titles, especially on Steam. Recently, horror indie darling Phasmophobia has been catching up to it.

Kat Walk C Is the Most Funded vr Accessory

(Source: Kickstarter)

VR users are looking to enhance their experience with extra accessories. Kat Walk C has been funded with over 1.7 million USD on the popular crowdfunding platform Kickstarter.

This gadget is the first Omni-directional gaming treadmill and is set to break many more records.

Vr Gaming Has Been Triumphing on Twitch

(Source: Esports Charts)

In 2020, Twitch users watched plenty of VR gaming content. This surpassed more than 17.3 million hours in content watched. In turn, the popularity of VR gaming on Twitch allowed prospective players to see what could be done with this progressive technology and attracted many new users.

Pokémon Go Is the AR Market Leader

(Source: ARtillery Intelligence)

Released in 2016, Pokémon Go became an AR trendsetter. Its lifetime revenue is an amazing 4.2 billion USD, which is only set to increase thanks to its loyal user base. It earned 1.2 billion USD in revenue just in 2020, after increasing its market size by 33%.

There Are Over 200 vr Titles on Steam

(Source: Steam)

With VR’s popularity constantly increasing, it is no surprise that Steam VR titles have more than tripled since January 2021, when there were only 61 titles available. There are currently 241 VR-ready games available on Steam.

FAQs

What Is the Metaverse?

The metaverse is a network of interconnected 3D worlds. With an emphasis on the social connection between users, the metaverse requires VR or AR gadgets to be accessed.

The VR social metaverse has been developed by Meta, once known as Facebook, which highlights the social media aspect it has.

Horizon Worlds and Horizon Venues are the most popular collaborative platforms in the metaverse, with an accumulated number of over 300,000 registered users.

What Are the Most Popular vr Headsets?

The top-rated VR headsets in 2022 are the Meta-developed Oculus Quest 2, the Sony PlayStation VR, the Valve Index VR Kit, and the HTC Vive Pro 2. The huge names and developers behind these headsets show that there is a significant demand for them, especially in the gaming world.

Final Thoughts

VR is changing the way we can interact with the world, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in new environments. This level of layered interaction is perfect for VR gaming, where new worlds can be explored and new experiences are waiting to be discovered by players around the world.