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[Spyxos]

• Virtual reality hasn’t caught on with American teens, according to a new survey from Piper Sandler released on Tuesday.
• “To us, the lukewarm usage demonstrates that VR remains ‘early days’ and that these devices are less important than smartphones,” Piper Sandler analysts wrote.
• Only 4% of teenage headset owners polled used VR daily, the investment firm found.

Virtual reality hasn’t caught on with American teens, according to a new survey from Piper Sandler released on Tuesday.

While 29% percent of teens polled owned a VR device — versus 87% who own iPhones — only 4% of headset owners used it daily, the investment firm found, and 14% used them weekly.

n addition, teenagers didn’t seem that interested in buying forthcoming VR headsets. Only 7% said they planned to purchase a headset, versus 52% of teens polled who were unsure or uninterested.

The survey results suggest that virtual reality hardware and software has yet to catch on with the public despite billions of dollars in investment in the technology from Big Tech companies and a number of low-cost headsets on the market. Teenagers are often seen as early adopters of new technology and their preferences can provide a preview of where the industry is going.

“To us, the lukewarm usage demonstrates that VR remains ‘early days’ and that these devices are less important than smartphones,” Piper Sandler analysts wrote.

The survey also shows that VR is struggling to gain traction as Apple reportedly prepares to announce its own headset as soon as this year. The survey suggests that it may have an uphill climb to convince potential customers.

Facebook parent Meta is also expected to release new virtual reality headsets later this year. Its Quest 2 headset, which was released in 2020, is by far the leader in the market terms of sales, but shipments declined last year, according to analysts.

Piper Sandler’s teen study surveyed more than 5,600 teens in the U.S. in February.


https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/04/ame...tual-reality-only-4percent-use-it-daily-.html

 

[Agent_Nobody]

There’s not really enough VR content to keep most people playing every single day. I’d figure the 4% that do are mostly playing live service games like NMS.

 

[begotten]

Reminder that VR came 10 years too early and it's apps are just glorified shovelware.

 

[Sethbacca]

It needs smaller form more stylish form factor, and energy efficiency that allows it to be useful for more than 2 hours at a shot. I think more people will be open to it once they can get it in a glasses sized unit rather than having to strap a whole assembly to their face.

 

[MiguelItUp]

Can't say I'm too surprised by this. I feel like we haven't had a revolutionary VR game or anything as of late.

Not only that, but I feel like older generations have always been more excited and into VR than the younger/newer ones. I guess this is the closest thing to "proof" we have.

Even though I'm not super into VR, it is really cool to see the evolution that it's gone through. Improved hardware, VR sets with hardware built in, smaller formfactors, etc.

 

[JCK75]

VR blows my mind and it's one of the greatest leaps in immersion in my lifetime..
but sickness and sweat are two major hurdles that have to be worked out before it's going to be desired by most.

 

[ViolentP]

My nephew loves it. I've used my PSVR2 like 3 times since launch.

 

[FoxMcChief]

4% seems high, to be honest.

 

[NeoIkaruGAF]

NeoGAF VR enthusiasts: “Fuck them kids”

 

[DemonGamerTTT]

Teens? Ok.

But what about kids? They are like 98% of the the users in most vr apps...

 

[Husky]

4% seems like a really high amount, for daily usage.

 

[DeepEnigma]

Eddie, is that you?

 

[Dural]

My 13yo son has had a Quest 2 since Christmas 2021, I'd say he plays it weekly. His most played game is Gorilla Tag.

 

[Irobot82]

My youngest kids use the Quest 2 every day. Playing Gorilla tag with their IRL friends.

 

[Minsc]

Wow, so Android smartphones have it about 3x worse than VR sets? Looks like about 1/3 as many teens own an android smartphone as those that own a VR device. There's the real story, Google and Samsung should throw in the towel.

 

[SmokedMeat]

Make it a TikTok trend and Quest will see an upsurge.

 

[daffyduck]

Not too surprising. How many teens can afford VR, without help from someone else for the purchase?

A phone sounds like an easier sell.

 

[Techies]

Teens? Ok.

But what about kids? They are like 98% of the the users in most vr apps...

Unfortunately true. Seems like the parents get the headset, the teens want access to the Xbox and Playstation then they give the Quest2 to the little brother.

 

[Robb]

Kind of blows my mind there are 4% that use VR daily.

 

[Matt_Fox]

We keep getting told "THIS IS THE YEAR VR GOES MAINSTREAM!!!!".

However Sony's PS VR2, the biggest gaming brand, appears to have sunk like a stone (only 270k sales, ouch).

This poll suggests only one-in-ten teens that have a headset use it weekly? Not looking like VR is hitting the mainstream anytime soon.

 

[Wildebeest]

Seems like a lot of the sticky content relies heavily on telepresence and other users. Probably the 4% of heavy users are mostly ones who know a critical number of other people with the systems. So much for the scare stories that this technology was supposed to turn people into socially isolated introverts who spend all their time living in game worlds (the horror, the horror).

 

[alucard0712_rus]

Because using it was pain in the ass AND quality was shit.
With PSVR2 everything is much better, easier and higher quality.

 

[poppabk]

4% seems like a really high amount, for daily usage.

Yeah the article is a little weird - comparing VR to smart phones? Who really expects VR to be as highly used as smart phones?

 

[DonkeyPunchJr]

VR is the new Kinect. The thing people think they want… until the novelty wears off.

 

[Drizzlehell]

There’s not really enough VR content to keep most people playing every single day. I’d figure the 4% that do are mostly playing live service games like NMS.

More like "there's not enough killer apps". There's actually quite a lot of stuff for VR but hardly any of it is on the same level as Beat Saber of Half-Life Alyx.

 

[tmlDan]

4% seems high, to be honest.

I was gonna say, daily usage for a headset seems extreme and 4% seems high lol

 

[Spyxos]

We keep getting told "THIS IS THE YEAR VR GOES MAINSTREAM!!!!".

However Sony's PS VR2, the biggest gaming brand, appears to have sunk like a stone (only 270k sales, ouch).

This poll suggests only one-in-ten teens that have a headset use it weekly? Not looking like VR is hitting the mainstream anytime soon.

I believe the survey was before Psvr 2 release.

 

[Salty Pickle]

Not enough VR-porn, definately not on PS store. Imagine them haptics..

 

[DavidGzz]

I barely ever use my Quest 2 which is why I'd never buy something more expensive for now. Maybe once the industry takes it more serious.

 

[Matt_Fox]

I believe the survey was before Psvr 2 release.

Yep, but the PS VR2 doesnt look like its going to move the needle.

Launch sales are awful and its being reported that Sony have cut production by 20%. It's not selling.

 

[Griffon]

Younger kids are all over it tho.

Makes multiplayer Quest 2 games practically unplayable for adults (there's only squeakers).

 

[sainraja]

VR is too involved. I am surprised that they all keep pushing it to make it a thing. Just give up already lol.

 

[Spyxos]

Younger kids are all over it tho.

Makes multiplayer Quest 2 games practically unplayable for adults (there's only squeakers).

I tried Vr chat 1-2 times and it was already almost unplayable. The little kids were just screaming around.

 

[The_Mike]

Tbh i am very surprised 4 percent are using it.

I remember how I got slammed in here for saying vr is just a niche gimmick, where people said no it's the new innovative way to play

 

[Mossybrew]

Well I guess I have something in common with the younger generation then.

 

[FBeeEye]

Is it true that Sony only sold 250k units of PSVR2?

 

[Spyxos]

Is it true that Sony only sold 250k units of PSVR2?

It just came out. Wait a few months. As far as I can see it is 270k.

 

[AJUMP23]

There is nothing compelling and no constant stream of content to keep people interested in VR.

 

[Jimmyisback]

There was a story that Sony cut PSVR2 production, then the story was debunked, but now its true again? Confusing. Has sony released any sales figures. They are usually so gungho in releasing these numbers. Where are they?

 

[PanzerCute]

It's always funny to see so many people wanting VR to fail.

Like, why do you care?

VR is never going to be a mass product and a mainstream way of playing video game, and it should realistically stay as a high-end expensive niche for people who want added immersion. Seeing all this negativity on VR threads is ridiculous, as if some people were coming to every HOTAS or expensive Driving Wheels thread to troll people and explain them how this will fail and never be mainstream.

Grow up.

 

[Techies]

There was a story that Sony cut PSVR2 production, then the story was debunked, but now its true again? Confusing. Has sony released any sales figures. They are usually so gungho in releasing these numbers. Where are they?

Bloomberg source not very reliable. It's all there is.

 

[The Stig]

I have an oculus quest 2. Its great but VR is still in its infancy IMO. I dip in to it with steam now and then to let off some steam at the range in hot dogs horse shoes and hand grenades or star wars squadrons and a few other games but yeah it constitutes maybe 15% of my gaming time.

 

[ShadyAcshuns]

Guess only boomers are into VR.

 

[Mung]

4 percent daily? Thats a lot more than I would expect. I'm very much into VR and only play 2 or 3 days a week. And didn't think that high a percentage would have a headset either.

 

[Imtjnotu]

What teens have $399-499 to get into it?

 

[Salty Popsicle]

VR has been introduced to consumers in one way or another for decades now and the excuse that keeps brought up each time the fad passes is that the technology is still is early stages LMAO. When will these companies learn that the average consumer does not want to be encumbered and completely oblivious from the real world when enjoying a pass time?

 

[Salty Popsicle]

VR is the new Kinect. The thing people think they want… until the novelty wears off.

Kinect was a runaway success compared to pretty much any VR headset that has been on the market in the past 10 years.

 

[MALpractice311]

I was coming here to say 4% is higher than I would have expected, but it looks like I've been beaten several times over. Mildly tepid take, but (a) the hardware just isn't at a point where mainstream audiences are going to be interested and (b) there's a lack of "must play" software for hardcore gaming audiences.

 

[FullMetalx117]

4% seems kind of high

 

[IntentionalPun]

It's actually 4% of the 29% who have a VR headset (AKA their family owns at least 1) who play it daily.

So like.. just over 1%.

How anyone working at a major website just completely fucks up a title of an article like that is beyond me.