For years, developers have been asking what it would take to catapult VR into the mass market. Optimizing crossplay experiences could be key to breaking out of the gaming space and legitimizing this technology for everyday use.

By crossplay, we mean the ability to access and play VR games through traditional gaming platforms such as PCs and consoles. Though this takes away from VR’s intended immersion by down-sampling it to flat screens, there’s a worthwhile tradeoff in some cases, such as more users, social interaction, network effect, and addressable market for game creators.

To be clear, when we mention PC gaming in this context, we’re talking about more traditional gaming on 2D screens. We’re not referring to PC-based VR, such as Steam VR, which can be accessed on PC VR headsets like Valve Index or standalone and console headsets (e.g., PSVR 2) via adapters.

VR Technology Must Evolve to Meet Demand

The VR market may be slowing, with cost being a key factor. Despite several technological advances, the price of hardware has not decreased. In fact, it has gone up and will likely continue increasing. By 2029, experts predict the average headset will cost around $423, a 1.19% price increase from 2019.

Many people do not have enough disposable income to invest in VR. In 2023, around 29% of U.S. adults reported having unmanageable debt. While the average price of a VR headset is similar to modern consoles and midrange PCs, this technology has historically offered fewer features in return for the investment.

Someone with a gaming PC can access millions of games, many of which are free to play. Many titles offer crossplay experiences so that users can enjoy their favorite games and applications with their friends on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, macOS, and SteamOS. Moreover, consoles and computers double as productivity and entertainment tools. VR needs to catch up.

While VR is breaking into new niches, its main value lies in gaming. In an age where widespread debt and high cost of living limit consumers’ luxury purchases, developers must adapt. By optimizing crossplay experiences, they can expand their audience, increase their revenue, and improve VR’s visibility among nongamers.

Could Crossplay Revitalize the VR Market?

Despite stagnating adoption, industry professionals are optimistic about VR. Estimates place its market value at $52 billion by 2032, up from $13 billion in 2023. However, this increase hinges on developers’ ability to break into other sectors. Today, this technology’s main demographic is hardcore gamers. Therein lies the problem — and the solution.

Generally, VR users can only engage with those who also own headsets. If the adoption rate within their friend group is low, they can either interact with strangers or choose other technologies over VR. When developers offer crossplay, VR users may be less likely to opt for other technologies.

Getting individuals to consistently use headsets is crucial for guiding their value perception. The more often they use this technology, the more likely they are to recommend it, buy games, and invest in upgrades. Cross-platform play facilitates word-of-mouth marketing, effectively supporting the VR market.

“Among Us 3D” is an excellent example. This cross-platform game used to be for HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Valve Index, and Meta Quest users. Now, the developers have removed the headset requirement to pave the way for unified play. This move will undoubtedly increase sales by connecting VR and PC players.

Schell Games has generated almost $500,000 in gross revenue since releasing “Among Us VR” in 2022. While the viral popularity of the original “Among Us” undoubtedly contributed to its success, there is little doubt that the VR version’s headset restriction limited its profit-making potential. Crossplay would change that. 

Optimizing Cross-Platform Play for VR

Optimizing existing games for cross-platform play is typically time-consuming but possible. The cost of applications you develop from the ground up will depend on your project’s scope and your team’s size.

Cross-platform games require real-time data and player action synchronization. This element is particularly important in first-person virtual spaces where lag is more noticeable. You should leverage cloud computing technology and dedicated servers to ensure seamless connectivity and coordination between platforms.

Since VR is so resource-intensive, you should prioritize optimization to ensure your game or application is well-received. Even if the story is great and the gameplay is fun, poor performance can quickly ruin audience reception. To maintain low latency and high frame rates, focus on asset management, multithreaded rendering, and level of detail adjustments.

Consider whether you want to make your game available on computers, consoles, or handhelds. When applicable, leverage hardware-specific application programming interfaces to take advantage of each platform’s unique capabilities. This way, you can optimize performance without sacrificing quality graphics.

The Future of Crossplay for VR Experiences

While making a game function on a flat screen as well as it does on a headset is challenging, gaming is the clear avenue for expanding the VR market. Capitalize on it while interest in this technology is at its peak.

Eleanor Hecks is Editor-in-Chief of Designerly Magazine where she specializes in design, development, and UX topics. Follow Designerly on X @Designerlymag.

 

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