Even though virtual reality can easily become a social experience, that is still not the case right now. Even so, there is a growing focus on shared VR experiences. This particular business model is a very different take on virtual reality technology as a whole, and aims to get more people engaged in groups, rather than by their own.
Shared VR Experiences Become More Popular
Over the past few months, there has been an increasing focus on making VR experiences more social. That is much easier said than done, as the technology is primarily designed to enhance the individual experience. It is also one of the reasons why avaddiction is such a valid concern these days. Thankfully, there may be some positive changes on the horizon in this regard.
Putting different individuals in the same VR experience will help make this technology a lot more social. This is easy to accomplish in VR gaming experiences. Whether it is played with friends or complete strangers, every user will feel empowered and part of the ongoing experience. Combined with some options to socialize with others, these types of gaming experiences can quickly become increasingly popular as more time progresses.
One of the big challenges is ensuring everyone feels equally important within the VR gaming experience. Squad-based games are the right way to go in this regard, albeit other options will be explored in the years to come. Additionally, developers need to allow for personal sub-context creation as well. Outside of gaming, however, social VR is still in the very early stages of development, and a lot of things will need to change accordingly.
Bridging the gap between at-home VR and social experiences will remain challenging. A lot of people dislike the idea of going to a physical space with others just to immerse in virtual reality. Even so, it is a business model that works quite well for those who genuinely believe this concept is “fun”. Additionally, the increasing popularity of location-based VR seems to confirm there is a genuine market for this particular business model.
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