Foreword｜Money88
It’s been four years since virtual reality was supposed to take over the world and change gaming as we know it, but so far, the revolutionary platform has failed to make waves in the mainstream. Online casinos are known for taking new technology and using it to enhance the gambling experience, so it’s reasonable to expect that VR will infiltrate the gambling industry at some point. The question is, when will this happen? When can gamers expect VR to become ubiquitous in online casinos?
VR development news has been lukewarm｜Money88
In the early days of VR, when devices like the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive were about to hit the market, developers in the online casino industry seemed to be scrambling to create content for what they saw as a groundbreaking technological shift. Microgaming quickly came up with VR roulette, while NetEnt started working on VR slot machines that would put players face to face with giant reels in a fantasy world. These prototypes have received critical acclaim and even awards, but they have not yet been included in the catalog of online casinos.
Now it seems that these major developers have temporarily diverted their attention, and the news about VR development has become lukewarm. Swedish developer NetEnt has admitted that it is devoting significant resources to improving its live casino offering, mainly because the gaming format has become one of the most popular in recent years. In fact, many of the best online casinos of 2020 are now touting their live casino offerings as the main attraction for players. The level of competition in the industry means that casinos are always trying to stand out in different ways, such as through their offerings, by offering a variety of payment methods that are as convenient as possible, or by using sign-up offers such as free spins and welcome bonuses to name a few.
VR projections show surge in 2023｜Money88
Analysts had to recalibrate their forecasts after incorrectly predicting that VR would be an instant hit when the first devices hit the market. The new consensus is that VR revenue will surge in 2023, with the industry surpassing $4.8 billion in revenue. These forecasts take into account the development of hardware as new generations of products are released, as well as increased investment in software companies.
That year may have been the tipping point for VR to start going mainstream. The evolution of smartphones can provide insight into how VR headsets have become essential household items. As new devices are released, prices for older models drop. This allows more end users to master the technology. The fact that the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X are expected to focus heavily on VR also helps the technology reach more people.
Is 2030 a conservative estimate?｜Money88
Once smartphones became ubiquitous across the globe, online casino developers started creating content for smaller, portable screens. In 2020, almost every online casino has a mobile option, and all of the top games are optimized for handheld devices. However, it will take a long time to reach this ubiquitous stage. In fact, the shift to online casinos offering mobile options is a steady process that has occurred over the past decade.
For this reason, it might be wise to assume that it might take a similar amount of time for VR to break into online casinos and become a must-have. 2030 may seem like a conservative estimate for VR gaming to become a must-have in online casinos, but in reality, it may take that long for the use of the device to become so widespread.
Conclusion｜Money88
It may take longer than previously expected for VR to become a mainstay in online casinos. Before developers put all their chips in the VR basket, the devices need to be available to a wider range of end users. For now, slots and live casinos seem to remain the main areas of focus for developers.
