For some years now, virtual reality has been all the buzz in the tech circles. The tech that once could not be dreamed of is now very much a reality, although it has not yet reached the full potential that it has. Of all the industries in which VR has been applied so far, gaming is certainly the one where it has come the farthest.
Today, we talk to Lucas Mollberg, a gaming industry expert and author at Casinoble, the iGaming expert site. We asked about the current state of the VR tech in the gaming industry, as well as where he believes this trend will go in the upcoming years.
Hello Lucas and thank you for joining us. Can you please tell us a bit about your experience in the gaming world and what makes you the person to talk to about this topic to start with?
Hello and thank you for having me. When it comes to gaming, and iGaming in particular, I have been around the industry for decades now. I was involved at every level from being an author at reputable expert sites to helping with game and tech development, and I know the ins and outs of the gaming industry by this point.
Speaking of VR specifically, I remember the time when it was just a concept and no one really used it or took it too seriously. Then the Oculus Rift came around and people finally got it in their heads that VR may actually become something that’s a part of our everyday experience.
So where does the VR stand today in relation to gaming? We know that VR games are out there, but are they really something that people are playing? What are the main obstacles?
At this time, the VR market is relatively small, but growing every years. It is expected that by 2025, the American VR market will be worth close to $20 Billion, and that’s quite significant. Yet, there are plenty of obstacles in the way, and I think the hardware is the biggest one.
If you have ever seen a VR set, you can appreciate that they are simply big and cumbersome, not something you would want to carry around with you. Since we live in a world of mobile technology, the current VR hardware really doesn’t fit with what we are used to on a daily basis.
I think that as the VR hardware becomes more compact and mobile, we should get to a point where the technology gets more accepted by the general public. The prices are not really an issue as the VR headsets are not too pricey in my opinion, and they will only get cheaper with time.
Looking ahead, can you see the VR replacing the more traditional consoles and computers that are currently used for gaming on the regular?
It is really hard to say if the VR can replace traditional gaming consoles altogether, but it can definitely make a dent and take a certain number of people away from traditional gaming. How far it’s going to go will depend on how fast the tech advances and how much people are willing to invest in it.
Like most technologies, I don’t see VR stopping in its tracks and I think this technology will progress with years. I expect in a decade from now the VR sets will be very compact and you will be able to play games on the go with them, which is quite an exciting concept in my opinion.Â
