The consumer virtual reality market, divided into hardware and software segments, is forecast to reach 16.3 billion U.S. dollars in size in 2022 worldwide. The hardware market is projected to have a bigger share of the pie, with revenue amounting to ten billion U.S. dollars in 2022.

Virtual reality

Virtual reality (VR) technology makes use of sensory devices to immerse users in a simulated environment. Specially designed headsets and glasses can be used for visual immersion, while handhelds and wearables offer tactile immersion. Optical devices such Facebook’s Oculus Rift and Sony’s PlayStation Virtual Reality have shipped millions of units as consumers look to explore the possibilities offered by virtual environments. The element of complete immersion means that VR devices can be used as tools for education, tourism, entertainment, and even professional tasks such as architecture design.

Augmented reality

Augmented reality (AR) is a technology closely related to VR that uses devices to change the visual environment of users. Rather than completely immerse the user in a simulated environment like VR, AR superimposes computer generated elements on top of the user’s real-world environment, allowing for applications such as head-up displays and first-person GPS navigation. Forecasts suggest that the AR market alone could reach revenues in the hundreds of billions of U.S. dollars by 2025.