Ever wondered just how much virtual reality is reshaping our digital interactions?
You might be amazed by its reach.
I’ve been on a deep dive into the VR world, collecting a bunch of cool stats to show you what’s up.
I’m keeping it straightforward and to the point – you’ll get the lowdown on VR through clear, punchy facts and trends that are super easy to follow.
Curious to peek into what’s next in the virtual world?
Come on, let’s dive into these awesome stats together!
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Top Virtual Reality Statistics
Virtual reality has 171 million users worldwide, with 57.4 million users in the US alone.
The number of VR users worldwide is expected to grow to 216 million by 2025.
In 2024, the spending on VR Technology worldwide will reach $72.8 billion.
By 2030, the global GDP of VR is projected to be $1.5 trillion
An estimated 64 million Americans used virtual reality in 2022.
13% of US households have at least one VR headset.
- VR in healthcare is projected to grow at an average CAGR of 38.7% to reach $6.2 billion by 2029.
Virtual Reality Active Users
There are over 171 million active virtual reality (VR) users worldwide, and over 80% of VR users are between 18 and 34. (Statista)
And this number is projected to grow to 216 million by 2025.
VR is most popular among people aged 18-34, with the gaming and entertainment industries being the driving forces behind its adoption. (Statista)
Virtual Reality in Gaming
The virtual reality game market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 24.2% and reach USD 29.24 billion by 2028, up from USD 6.27 billion in 2021. (Business Research insights)
Steam has established itself as the premier platform for VR, boasting the most extensive library of virtual reality content available.
How Many VR Games Are There?
There are currently 673 titles on PlayStation, and over 6,000 VR games were released on Steam from 2015 to 2023. (Wikipedia) (SteamDB)
Over 40 VR game genres, including shooters, racing, horror, adventure, city building, casino games, poker, and social simulations, are available. (VR Fitness Insider)
These are the top-grossing VR games (VR only) on Steam in 2023, based on their total revenue earned from sales. (Steampowered)
Boneworks (2019)
Vtol VR (2017)
Blade & Sorcery (2018)
Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted 2 (2023)
Ghosts of Tabor (2023)
Into Radius (2020)
Half-life Alyx (2020)
Pavlov (2017)
Beat Saber (2019)
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR (2018)
Gorilla tag (2023)
Bonelab (2022)
As of 18 January 2024, there are 5,278 VR games available on Steam. This number has been growing steadily in recent years as the popularity of VR has increased. (Steam Powered)
Here is a breakdown of the number of VR games on Steam by genre:
- Action/Adventure: 1,063
- Simulation: 615
- Puzzle: 426
- Racing: 384
- RPG: 353
- Strategy: 285
- Horror: 271
- Indie: 233
- Casual: 232
Disclaimer: The data was collected using the Steam Web API with games supporting VR.
Takeaway
The world of VR gaming is rapidly expanding, fueled by platforms such as Steam.
With a wide array of genres, from action-packed shooters to spine-chilling horror, there’s a VR game for every player.
A glance at 2023’s highest-earning VR games on Steam showcases the rich variety in VR gaming. Looking ahead, the future of VR gaming shines bright, driven by continuous innovation and a growing base of enthusiastic gamers.
How Many People Own VR Headsets?
As of 2023, over 25 million VR headsets are in use worldwide, expected to reach $43.1 billion by 2027.
(Source: Statista)
The Meta Quest 2 is the best-selling device, with sales figures of around 17-18 million units.(Source:techwireasia.com)
According to Statista, only 2% of all Steam users have a VR headset.
Virtual Reality Adoption Statistics
Global VR Market Size and Growth Trends
The VR market is estimated to be worth USD 67.66 billion in 2024, with a projected growth rate of 204.35 billion by 2029. (Mordorintelligence)
The growth of virtual reality (VR) is driven by its increasing adoption in various industries, including gaming, entertainment, healthcare, and education.
The continuous technological innovations and the development of more immersive and interactive VR experiences also contribute to its market expansion. In addition, new headsets like Meta’s Quest 3 and Apple’s Vision Pro are expected to impact this industry’s future significantly.
VR market revenue is projected to reach USD 43.1 billion by 2027, driven by the adoption of virtual reality growth and increasing gaming, entertainment, and enterprise applications. (Statista)
Factors Impacting VR Adoption
VR adoption is gaining traction across various industries, including gaming, gaming and entertainment sectors, healthcare, education, and training. (ResearchandMarkets)
Gaming remains the largest VR application market, accounting for over 50% of VR spending 2024. (IDC)
Entertainment applications, such as virtual theme parks and concerts, are expected to experience significant growth in the coming years. (Statista)
Hardware Innovations
Standalone VR headsets, such as the Meta Quest 2, are gaining popularity due to their affordability and ease of use. (IDC) The Meta Quest 3 is expected to strengthen Meta’s dominance in the VR headset market further.
Advancements in VR headsets are focused on improving resolution, field of view, and tracking accuracy. (TechCrunch)
Haptic feedback and eye-tracking technologies are promising advancements for enhancing VR immersion. (New Atlas)
Software Developments
The VR software market is growing rapidly, with new VR games, experiences, and applications being released monthly. (SteamDB)
Developers are experimenting with new genres and experiences, such as social VR, immersive storytelling, and educational simulations. (VentureBeat)
The rise of cross-platform VR development tools is making it easier for developers to create VR experiences for multiple platforms. (Gamasutra)
Takeaway
Alright, let’s talk dollars and cents without getting too number-heavy.
The VR market is on a roll!
Industries like gaming, entertainment, healthcare, and education are hopping on the VR bandwagon and driving this growth. Plus, tech advancements are making VR experiences more immersive and interactive, a big win for everyone.
The future’s looking bright, with new headsets like Meta’s Quest 3 and Apple’s Vision Pro ready to shake things up.
The Future of Virtual Reality
In 2024, the spending on VR Technology worldwide will reach $72.8 billion. By 2030, the global GDP of VR is projected to be $1.5 trillion, highlighting its significant potential economic impact. (PWCCN)
The future of virtual reality seems to be quite promising.
Emerging VR Applications
Virtual Reality (VR) has found its use in the healthcare sector, where it is being used for surgical planning, work, training, and classrooms. (Forbes)
New use cases for VR technology are being discovered constantly.
From creating immersive training environments in industries such as healthcare and aviation to offering virtual tours for real estate and tourism, VR is challenging the limits of reality.
VR is used for entertainment, mental health therapies, and remote learning. With the advancement of technology, we can expect more innovative VR applications.
For instance, VR in healthcare is projected to grow at an average CAGR of 38.7% to reach $6.2 billion by 2029. (ScnSoft)
In addition, VR is also being used in retail and e-commerce for virtual storefronts, product demonstrations, and customer experiences.
It is increasingly used in educational settings to create more interactive, immersive, and enjoyable learning experiences.
Challenges and Opportunities
Despite challenges like high costs, technical requirements, ethical considerations, latency issues, and market fragmentation, the VR industry still offers many opportunities for growth and innovation.
Companies are working on making virtual reality VR technology more affordable and enhancing the user experience with virtual and augmented reality headsets, contributing to the growth of the virtual reality market.
VR and AR: A Comparison
The projected economic impact of VR is $138 bn, and AR is $338.1bn in 2025. (PWCCN)
Though often grouped, VR and AR are separate technologies with unique features, applications, and market dynamics.
The global market size for VR is predicted to reach USD 53.44 billion by 2028, while AR’s market size is expected to remain at USD 10.1 billion.
By 2028, 2.1% of the global population will be VR users, while 2.5% will be AR users.
(Statista)
Top VR Companies and Their Contributions
Meta, Sony, Apple, and HTC dominate the VR market and have contributed significantly to its growth.
Meta
Meta, formerly known as Facebook, is a key player in the VR market.
Their Oculus brand offers popular devices such as the Meta Quest 2 and Meta Quest 3, which we discussed dominate the VR headset market. The company’s heavy investment in VR, including a $10 billion injection, demonstrates its commitment to this technology.
Sony
Sony’s PlayStation VR is a leading VR headset in the gaming industry, with a dedicated user base and a strong market share.
Furthermore, the company has invested in VR technology to enhance the creation and design of 3D objects in real-world spaces.
Additionally, they are exploring NFTs to enable cross-game asset ownership.
Apple
Speculations about Apple’s entry into the VR market have created a buzz in the industry. The company, realizing its Apple Vision Pro VR headset, is expected to disrupt the industry with its innovative technology.
The headset offers a mixed-reality experience, combining virtual reality to forecast the best of VR and AR.
HTC
HTC’s Vive series offers VR headsets for both consumer and enterprise markets.
The company used its smartphone experience to enter the VR industry and, in collaboration with Valve Corporation, released the HTC Vive in 2016.
Known for their superior visual quality and slightly higher price points, HTC’s VR headsets have gained a reputation in the industry.
Other Notable Players
Several other companies have also notably contributed to the VR industry.
NVIDIA, for instance, has developed Cloud XR, which streams VR content from remote servers, and the Nvidia Omniverse platform for working in an industrial metaverse.
On the other hand, Samsung has significantly impacted the VR industry with its Gear VR headset, one of the most popular VR devices, which sold 4.3 million units in just one year.
Final Thoughts
That’s all for now!
The stats speak for themselves, and VR technology is no longer a thing of sci-fi novels and futuristic movies.
It’s real, it’s here, and it’s transforming our lives in unprecedented ways.
As we move forward, it’s clear that VR is not just a fad.
Its growing adoption, continuous innovations, and expanding applications promise an interesting future. While challenges exist, the opportunities are immense, and the journey ahead for VR is certainly exciting.
If you have any questions or feedback about the statistics presented here, please let me know so I can continue to improve them.
So, gear up for a future where virtual reality will have a bigger influence and presence.
It’s not just about gaming or entertainment anymore.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is VR in 2023?
In 2023, VR has become quite popular, with approximately 57.4 million users in the U.S. and 171 million users globally. The VR gaming market size reached $12.13 billion in 2022.
What percentage of Americans own VR?
According to a recent survey, around 18% of U.S. adults reported owning a VR headset in 2022. However, most respondents stated they did not own a VR headset.
What are the statistics for VR training?
The global VR training market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of over 30% in the coming years, driven by advancements in VR technology and the demand for remote training solutions during the COVID-19 pandemic. This shows a significant increase in the VR training market.
Which are the most played VR games?
The most played VR games are Beat Saber, I Expect You to Die 2, Puzzling Places, and Until You Fall. Give them a try!
What are the main challenges in the VR industry?
The VR industry faces challenges like latency issues, high content development costs, market fragmentation, and health concerns. It’s not easy, but addressing these challenges will be key to its success.
