For over two decades we’ve been hearing whispers about VR, or Virtual Reality, and how it will be the future of gaming. And when you consider that there is little that could beat actually being inside a game, it no wonder so many people love the idea of it.

But that seems to be where it has largely stayed. VR certainly hasn’t taken over gaming or online Bingo in Sweden, and although there are several headsets on the market, it certainly isn’t being implemented on a broader scale.

Where We Are Now

Currently, the VR industry seems to be in a bit of a race to see who can release the best headset, at the most competitive price.

The Magic Leap, HTC Vive Pro, Sony PlayStation VR and Oculus Rift have all been vying for market share, but it seems that that although they do have their fans, gamers are not quite falling over each other to buy in to the idea.

A Costly Issue

Price does seem to be a major stumbling point for many, as the cost of these headsets, although somewhat reduced by now, is still exorbitant. To buy a high-end unit costs anywhere between $200 and $600, and for many this is not within reach.

With demand prices have dropped a bit and as demand grows, they’ll continue to drop, but there has to be the demand to fuel this drop, and that could be part of the problem.

A User Experience Issue

Many users have complained that the VR experience isn’t all that it’s touted to be, and that it is not as responsive as you’d imagine, has glitches or simply doesn’t offer the immersive and seamless experience that it is supposed to.

Bulk and Discomfort

Also coming in to play is the size and wright of headsets required to enjoy VR games on. They are big and bulky, and really not that comfortable at all.

While they may be fine for short gaming sessions, they are certainly not the ideal option for longer gaming sessions, and this, for many, is the point of playing in the first place.

Unexpected Reactions

Epilepsy. Seasickness. Nausea. Migraines. These are just some of the conditions VR adoptees have complained of suffering from. The reactions to entering a VR world are not always pleasant, and for any player, feeling ill from gaming is really not the desired result!

It is also not completely out of the realm of possibility that VR could even trigger PTSD, and this is something that developers are considering when creating their more violent games.

While VR differs somewhat to AR, Pokémon Go has been one of the games that have changed many players’ perceptions of enjoying gaming in a real/virtual world.

The reactions to this game have been interesting to watch, as many believe that AR is a forerunner of VR, and seeing how the game performed- or didn’t – was an interesting case study for the future of gaming and how entering virtual technologically-driven worlds may not be the best option!