Adoption For Augmented Reality (AR) Devices May Rise Next Year

The gaming market is seeing technological advancements from graphics to consoles. Technologies like augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are gaining a wider market. 

Data aggregator Statista suggests that 1.7 Billion users will be using AR devices globally. The number of AR users has doubled between 2019 and 2021. Currently, an estimated 1.4 Billion people are using the technology.

Several Games Have Released Their VR Versions Already

Most of these users will likely be accessing it through mobile devices. Additionally, 30 Million AR headsets are likely to be shipped by the end of the year. The technology, alongside virtual reality (VR), mixed reality (MR), and extended reality (XR), is an integral part of accessing the metaverse.

The metaverse has not been assigned an official definition as of now. However, it is envisaged as a digital replica of the real world. It will be a mesh of several interconnected virtual worlds. Many see it as a ‘multiverse’ rather than a sole digital world.

Several people often confuse VR and AR while using the term synonymously. The former technology allows the creation of an entirely different world separate from reality. The latter leverages the real world and infuses digital elements with it. Pokemon Go, a game developed by Niantic and Nintendo, is among the most popular examples of augmented reality.

Popular games like Resident Evil, Sniper Ghost Warrior, Fallout, and more have ventured into virtual reality to provide an immersive experience to gamers. However, there are only a few of them currently. The technology is new and expensive to many. Affordability issues are hindering its adoption as well.

Social media and metaverse company Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook) elevated the popularity of the term metaverse in November 2021. Mark Zuckerberg, the company’s CEO, remarked on the organization’s transition “The next platform will be even more immersive — an embodied internet where you’re in the experience, not just looking at it. We call this the metaverse, and it will touch every product we build.”

Since then, the company has delivered head-mounted displays (HMDs) like Quest 2, Quest Pro, Quest 3, and more. Meta Quest 3 is the latest in their fleet of immersive headsets. Furthermore, the company claims that it is the strongest product on their desk currently.

iPhone maker Apple came up with Vision Pro, a mixed-reality headset, during the World Wide Developers Conference 2023. However, the event made it clear they are not behind the metaverse like Meta Platforms. Instead, they will focus on spatial computing. The product is likely to see a global release in 2024.

Some experts have provided their opinions, stating that the metaverse is dead. However, some believe that it is already here, however, tools to access it properly aren’t made available. A vast majority of individuals are accessing virtual worlds behind flat-screen devices like PCs and smartphones.

Anurag is working as a fundamental writer for The Coin Republic since 2021. He likes to exercise his curious muscles and research deep into a topic. Though he covers various aspects of the crypto industry, he is quite passionate about the Web3, NFTs, Gaming, and Metaverse, and envisions them as the future of the (digital) economy. A reader & writer at heart, he calls himself an “average guitar player” and a fun footballer.