According to some experts, virtual reality is not yet quite ready for the general public in esports.
The REAL reason Virtual Reality keeps failing
Virtual reality and augmented reality could allow players and fans to get more deeply involved in the game, proponents say. The release of more capable virtual reality headsets like the Oculus Quest 2 has fueled interest in VR. But VR technology hasn’t had the impact it once expected in esports.
“People expected VR to be more central to entertainment, but it won’t make a quantum leap until there are more titles and the hardware becomes more accessible,” Yaniv Sherman, senior vice president and head of the U.S. at gaming group 888 Holdings, said in an email interview. “Unlike consoles, which are trying to be a one-stop shop for entertainment, I think VR has the potential to be bigger than that. While betting on esports is a complementary experience to watching it, VR should also complement sports, at the intersection of social and virtual.”
Esports are growing rapidly, fueled by increased interest, big money, and people spending more time at home during the pandemic. By one estimate, total esports viewership will grow from 454 million viewers in 2019 to 646 million in 2023.
