The State of VR in 2023: A Special Report

The competitive field for VR headsets has just gotten a little more crowded. Now, with the arrival of Apple among VR headset makers with its recently launched Vision Pro, it’s possible we could finally see a clarifying and redefining moment for VR.

Honing in on the outlook for virtual reality is the central effort of the Variety Intelligence Platform special report “Getting Real About VR,” a comprehensive data-filled examination of the technology and why Apple’s new mixed reality headset will be what’s needed to push immersive content into its next phase of evolution.

But just what is the market Apple is entering? Virtual reality and immersive entertainment have long been an enigma over the years, with critics and proponents having varyingly argued insane growth or death-on-arrival for the hardware.

The reality is that VR adoption is still niche, but at the same time, headset shipments and VR apps and games sales have continued to tick up over the years.

At this point, VR headset users mostly use the gadgets for gaming, though that’s not the only activity available. The format also spans apps and experiences devoted to social interaction (which could get us closer to the strictest definition of the metaverse), fitness, mindfulness, movies and immersive storytelling.

It’s still early days for VR, but the tech is advancing rapidly, as each new headset generation represents a massive step-up from its predecessors. And as the technology improves, so could content. For Hollywood and other creative industries, it’s high time to do away with early misconceptions about VR and pay attention to this technology now.

In this report, you’ll get detailed analysis of the competitive field in VR headsets, categories of content and where the industry is headed next, including how generative AI might help to supercharge the creation of VR content.