So VR is only a niche uh?
- Thread starter VR SenseiMatty
- Start date
It was estimated that by the end of 2017 there have been 1.22 billion PC gamers worldwide, and this number is expected to further grow to 1.4 billion by 2021.
It's only a niche and it will stay only a niche for the next few years.
It's only a niche and it will stay only a niche for the next few years.
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Yep Matty, VR is still super niche. It may burn, but it's true.
Only about 1% of steam players are headset owners.
(It's worth noting there that 3.6% of steam users have OSX, and that FDev dropped Mac support when there were parity issues with expansions. I don't think that'll happen with ED & VR, because it's a growing market, and they've supported it even while its niche. But it's still worth noting
)
It was encouraging to hear that 25% of HMD owners also own NMS though for sure. ED most likely has even broader ownership amongst VR heads, given it's actually up and running.
Would be interesting to know how many of the approx 3 mil core unit sales for ED were to HMD owners, for sure.
(And to know whether 2020 will bring VR variants of the new consoles etc)
Only about 1% of steam players are headset owners.
(It's worth noting there that 3.6% of steam users have OSX, and that FDev dropped Mac support when there were parity issues with expansions. I don't think that'll happen with ED & VR, because it's a growing market, and they've supported it even while its niche. But it's still worth noting
)It was encouraging to hear that 25% of HMD owners also own NMS though for sure. ED most likely has even broader ownership amongst VR heads, given it's actually up and running.
Would be interesting to know how many of the approx 3 mil core unit sales for ED were to HMD owners, for sure.
(And to know whether 2020 will bring VR variants of the new consoles etc)
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Yup.
Why... are you in the VR sub forum then?
I haven't played a flat game since I got mine 2yrs+ ago. We'll have to disagree on how cool it is
The numbers are relevant in terms of how likely FDev are to plug concerted VR dev into the 2020 DLC. Not of great interest to you, with your charming lemming comparisons. Of interest to us who'd like ED to remain a great VR experience though
I tend to stumble into every next niche
(could have thought that this is a closed society, as that's symptomatic for all 'niches')
Do you march onto dog adoption sites shouting: 'The damn things smell, basically ugly cats, don't you realise they have worms? NOT FOR ME!'
It's fairly perverse behaviour. Why should I care that you're not interested in VR? And how do you expect people to react to being called a lemming for having bought one? With flowers and kisses?
It just kinda invites opinions to be shared in return that the forum filter isn't particularly fond of. Guess I'll just settle for calling you a stubborn old mule then
. Hasn't this all been enlightening.
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I'm perfectly fine with your opinion of not liking VR or seeing a future in it, as it goes.
I was objecting to you suggesting any one who is interested is essentially a mindless idiot. (The lemming bit).
The fact that you dismissed the whole thrust of the thread with a ridiculously hyperbolic standpoint (VR will be niche even if it were to become really popular) meant there wasn't really much content in the post other than the slur.
It's not 'religious' to object to needless insults.
![[VR] Frank_G](https://forums-cdn.zaonce.net/data/avatars/m/59/59394.jpg?1553527111){kind=avatar}
Sadly to hot for VR at the moment... i am out having some iced coffee, waiting for the temperature to drop, so i can rejoin my most favorite niche - the problem with VR at the moment are intense investments and somewhat lowered visual quality. But we already see mid range hardware doing a great job, concerning VR, which has already opened the market. I guess with the next iteration of hardware, we see even better consumer priced hardware on both VR and PC end, while the high end systems start to deliver more perfect experiences. The niche industry "only" has to endure.
- the problem with VR at the moment are intense investments and somewhat lowered visual quality. But we already see mid range hardware doing a great job, concerning VR, which has already opened the market. I guess with the next iteration of hardware, we see even better consumer priced hardware on both VR and PC end, while the high end systems start to deliver more perfect experiences. The niche industry "only" has to endure.
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Sorry, but that's just either ill informed or you were unable to adapt and overcome the minor hurdle you get with VR.
I can fully operate the A-10C in DCS. That's a very complicated aircraft to deploy but VR coursed no problem. ED is a complete doddle in VR too.
Racing sims come alive in VR and close quarters racing is much easier.
Religion is niche for me too. Do you see what I did there? In case you didn't, I'm highling the fallacy of your argument.
I don't know where you get this info from, but the only issue with the FSS in VR is the missing moons orbital lines.
https://issues.frontierstore.net/issue-detail/204
FWIW When I got my HMD I stopped playing the game on Steam and moved to Oculus library. And since I'm (apparently) niche, I can hardly get excited about any flat game again. I've entered another world and I don't see going back as an option. So steam hasn't even been turned on in months.Yep Matty, VR is still super niche. It may burn, but it's true.
Only about 1% of steam players are headset owners.
(It's worth noting there that 3.6% of steam users have OSX, and that FDev dropped Mac support when there were parity issues with expansions. I don't think that'll happen with ED & VR, because it's a growing market, and they've supported it even while its niche. But it's still worth noting
It was encouraging to hear that 25% of HMD owners also own NMS though for sure. ED most likely has even broader ownership amongst VR heads, given it's actually up and running.
Would be interesting to know how many of the approx 3 mil core unit sales for ED were to HMD owners, for sure.
(And to know whether 2020 will bring VR variants of the new consoles etc)
If you ask me, the only thing keeping VR niche is the extreme hardware requirements. And as content is created that requires less hardware, and computers age and advance, that's all going to fall.
Sure, but Steam is still a decent bellwether. In lieu of more explicit sales stats and usage figures it's probably the best we've got for PC.
It's not like it's all bad news though. Lots of big players are looking to lay down a marker etc, and the user uptake is decent:
- AR/VR spending to jump 69% in 2019 - IDC
- Number of Steam users with VR headsets almost doubled in 2018
Price is definitely the main barrier at the moment, with ease of use a close second. And the pricey-yet-limited software ecosystem jumping around in the background going 'Don't forget about me'
All I know is that everyone who tries out my kit drops their jaw. Without fail. The appeal is real. Hopefully that's enough for it to persist long enough for the above to improve
If that's a minor issue to you, then all power to you. Orbital lines are pretty essential to me in the FSS screen, without that it's wild picking - and that is fun?
Most complains about the FSS are coming from people using VR (hey, it's that popular that it's easy to assume), especially the complains about an 'out of cockpit experience' is something I absolutely can't confirm on a flat screen.
I'm not sure YOU know what you did there. LOL
I see it has a lot more in common with a religion than I initially thought myself. I'm fairly shocked now. Get me outta here!
But no matter how hard you're trying to proselytize me, you'll never see me putting a rubber box on my head when room temperature is 40°C!
VR devices exist, they get used, are greatly enjoyed but they aren't worshipped. The idea that something you don't like is a niche, just because you don't like it, is totally laughable.
Anyway, I have aircon, so the man cave never goes above 24.
It's not a minor issue, I created that bug report and I'm still fighting to get it fixed
This issue is not related to VR itself anyway. It's a missing feature that FDEV forgot to implement. It would be an issue if it would make people sick of motion sickness for example.
Well, I don't think we should consider these percentages so much. The articles says that 0.37% steam users has an oculus but most people that has an oculus don't use Steam and they use oculus software instead (me for example).
Sure the percentages will not jump from 0.37% to 10% anyway.
This is the year of Linux, and VR!
Well like you say, although Steam is doubtless an imperfect measure of PCVR numbers, it's still unlikely to be out to a massive degree. IE to the extent that would suddenly make PCVR look mainstream.
FWIW, I'm an Oculus owner but still use Steam due to sales etc. We don't really have a way to estimate how many Oculus users use Steam, AFAIK.
We can cut out Steam entirely though, and the numbers still point to 'niche'...
As Midian mentioned at the start, the global estimate for gamers worldwide is approx 2.5 billion.
Estimates for console-alone come back with numbers like:
- Number of console units sold in 2017: Approx 47 million
- Number of consoles players globally in 2018: Approx 644 million.
The info you're citing has the PS4 VR numbers at around 4 million...
Niche
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It's all cool though. This is all still future possible...
Too many people get motion sickness from VR (not me, but my kids do). The Gen1 and Gen2 headsets are too bulky, too hot, too low resolution. If VR is to become mainstream, the headsets need to be wireless, smaller, lighter, cooler (temperature), cooler (not so nerdy), much better resolution, and lower hardware demands. Currently the technology is half baked.
It's just not practical for me. The graphics are poor compared to my mid-tier monitor, too hot to wear for any period of time, too heavy and hurts my face after about an hour, steams up, lenses are too close to my eyes. My eyelashes always muck up the lenses and it's horribly annoying to have your eyelashes constantly brushing against something. I can't move lenses farther away as there is no adjustment for that. When I rigged it to be farther away, it falls out of focus. No, I am not going to trim my eyelashes.
After the wow factor of being in the game wears off (and it does) there is really no compelling reason for me to put that monstrosity on my head unless I am doing combat. I admit, for that one case, VR is supremely superior and much more enjoyable. High risk, fast paced danger overrides my ability to notice the annoyances for a while.
I have a rift that I bought in 2017 and use it for less than 5% of my play in Elite. I don't play ANY other VR games. None. They are all gimmicky or poorly executed. "Look at our sucky, non-compelling game, but VR!"
That is a sample of one, but for me it is still definitely niche.
It's just not practical for me. The graphics are poor compared to my mid-tier monitor, too hot to wear for any period of time, too heavy and hurts my face after about an hour, steams up, lenses are too close to my eyes. My eyelashes always muck up the lenses and it's horribly annoying to have your eyelashes constantly brushing against something. I can't move lenses farther away as there is no adjustment for that. When I rigged it to be farther away, it falls out of focus. No, I am not going to trim my eyelashes.
After the wow factor of being in the game wears off (and it does) there is really no compelling reason for me to put that monstrosity on my head unless I am doing combat. I admit, for that one case, VR is supremely superior and much more enjoyable. High risk, fast paced danger overrides my ability to notice the annoyances for a while.
I have a rift that I bought in 2017 and use it for less than 5% of my play in Elite. I don't play ANY other VR games. None. They are all gimmicky or poorly executed. "Look at our sucky, non-compelling game, but VR!"
That is a sample of one, but for me it is still definitely niche.
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You never thought of pointing a small desk fan at your face? Heat problem solved. You never tried racing sims or flight sims in VR?