US Virtual Reality Forecast 2023

As Metaverse Hype Ebbs, Where Does That Leave VR?

Report by Yoram Wurmser  | Apr 13, 2023
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Table of Contents
Executive Summary
VR adds new users, but not at the torrid pace of the past few years.
VR headset quality improves, but rising prices cool growth.
Global VR headset shipments will rebound.
Despite troubles, Meta still dominates the VR space.
VR headsets have found their niche in gaming.
We’re in the trough of disillusionment for the metaverse, but don’t give up on it totally.
What does the VR forecast mean for marketers?
Sources
Media Gallery
About This Report
Metaverse hype may have died down, but tech companies are still investing in VR. And a crop of new devices will continue to expand audiences—albeit slowly.
Topics
Augmented & Virtual Reality
US
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
VR adds new users, but not at the torrid pace of the past few years.
VR headset quality improves, but rising prices cool growth.
Global VR headset shipments will rebound.
Despite troubles, Meta still dominates the VR space.
VR headsets have found their niche in gaming.
We’re in the trough of disillusionment for the metaverse, but don’t give up on it totally.
What does the VR forecast mean for marketers?
Sources
Media Gallery

Executive Summary

A year after metaverse hype peaked and then crashed, VR is still gaining users. But the pace of growth has slowed, and the predominant use cases are more limited for VR than for AR.

Key Question: What is the US audience for VR media and advertising, and how are consumers using immersive media?

US AR & VR Users, 2019-2027 (millions)
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KEY STAT: VR will attract nearly 4 million new users in 2023, but that won’t be enough to keep the gap between VR and AR users from growing.

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Table of Contents

  1. Executive Summary
  2. VR adds new users, but not at the torrid pace of the past few years.
  3. VR headset quality improves, but rising prices cool growth.
  4. Global VR headset shipments will rebound.
  1. Despite troubles, Meta still dominates the VR space.
  2. VR headsets have found their niche in gaming.
  3. We’re in the trough of disillusionment for the metaverse, but don’t give up on it totally.
  4. What does the VR forecast mean for marketers?
  1. Sources
  2. Media Gallery

Charts in This Report

US AR & VR Users, 2019-2027 (millions)US VR Users, 2022-2027 (millions, % change, and % of population)
US VR Headset Users, 2022-2027 (millions, % change, and % of VR users)AR and VR Headset Shipments Worldwide, 2022-2027 (millions)
AR/VR Headset Shipment Share Worldwide, by Brand, Q1 2021-Q4 2022 (% of total)Activities Conducted via VR Headset According to US VR Headset Owners, July 2022 (% of respondents)
Interest in VR, AR, and the Metaverse Among US Adults, Feb 2023 (% of respondents)

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authors

Yoram Wurmser

Contributors

Chris Keating
Director, Research
Jessica Lis
Analyst, Technology
Wendy Malloy
Director, Report Editing
Jane Xu
Associate Forecasting Analyst