Virtual reality gaming experienced both highs and lows throughout the year 2023, offering many exciting new releases but also leaving players disappointed at times. The year started off promisingly with the release of PSVR2, Sony’s new VR headset designed specifically for the powerful PS5. This innovative design delivered exclusive games like “Horizon: Call of the Mountain” and “Resident Evil: Village,” leaving PCVR players behind. Similarly, Quest headphones from Meta dominated the market with their exclusive titles, but delays in releases and disappointing sequels left some players wanting more.
One notable trend of the year is the growing divide between various VR platforms. Previously, all you needed was a headset and a computer to access a wide selection of VR games. Today, however, you require specific hardware for certain games, potentially impacting the future of PCVR. The vision of Meta’s platform called Horizon Worlds, which aimed to create a metaverse (a virtual reality social community), has been debunked by AI-based initiatives, raising questions about the future of a connected virtual world.
Nevertheless, Meta continues to lead in the design of VR headsets. The release of Meta Quest 3 in October brought significant hardware improvements and an impressive lineup of games, including titles like “Assassin’s Creed Nexus” and “Lego Bricktales.” PCVR has also experienced a resurgence in the past three months, thanks to releases such as “Arizona Sunshine 2” and a remastered version of “The 7th Guest.”
An important question that arises is how these evolving VR platforms will continue their evolution and whether they will further distance themselves from each other. Meta’s pursuit of establishing Quest as its own platform raises concerns about its separation from PCVR. Although such an event may occur in the future, it is unlikely to happen anytime soon due to the large user base of Quest on platforms like Steam.
In summary, the year 2023 has been filled with highs and lows for virtual reality in the gaming world. The release of new headsets and exciting titles balanced with delays and disappointing releases. Virtual reality is constantly evolving, and its future remains uncertain as different platforms compete for dominance. Whether the divide between headsets will deepen or a more unified approach will emerge depends on us, the players, and how the future shapes up for VR gaming.