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VR Isn't Dead, It's Just for Kids Now
11 Dec
Summary
- Meta Quest 3 outsold major consoles on Amazon in November.
- Gorilla Tag VR game exceeded one million daily active users.
- Teenagers are now the most active customer cohort in VR.
Recent reports of Meta slashing its Reality Labs budget and delaying future headsets have sparked claims that the metaverse and VR are dead. However, data indicates a vibrant VR market, with Meta's Quest headsets outselling major game consoles on Amazon in November, even at full price. Popular free-to-play VR games like Gorilla Tag have attracted over a million daily active users, generating significant revenue.
The primary drivers of this VR boom are not the young professionals or affluent early adopters once envisioned, but rather teenagers. Data from Meta and industry insiders confirms that individuals aged 15 and younger now constitute the most active user base. This demographic shift became evident when Quest 3 activations surged significantly after Christmas, indicating that many devices were gifted to younger users.
While high-end XR devices targeting professionals face challenges, the mass market is embracing VR through accessible games and affordable headsets. Titles like Animal Company have seen rapid growth by targeting this younger audience, with some fitness apps also maintaining popularity among adults. The significant momentum in VR clearly lies with young users, and companies ignoring this demographic trend do so at their own risk.
