Amid challenges facing the industry, XR (Extended Reality) development appears to be quite steady, as highlighted in the Game Developer Conference (GDC) State of the Game Industry Survey. The survey reveals that 35% of the participating developers are focusing their efforts on XR.
The GDC, nestled in San Francisco, stands as a pivotal gathering for game developers from all walks of life. It serves not just as a platform to showcase the latest in game development, but also as a hub for networking and absorbing insights from some of the leading names and companies in the gaming world.
Although GDC graces us with its presence every March, it gathers survey responses online towards the end of the previous year. This approach ensures that the data we see is truly current. In a first, this year’s State of the Industry Survey posed questions specifically targeting XR content creation, unveiling some thought-provoking trends.
When it comes to preferred platforms, developers showed a marked interest in Meta Quest (63%), followed by SteamVR (45%). Other notable mentions include Apple Vision Pro (26%), PlayStation VR/2 (25%), and Apple’s ARKit used for smartphones (12%). A closer look at these figures can be found in the accompanying image.
While these platforms generate significant interest, they don’t always align perfectly with where development efforts are concentrated. Conference organizers highlight that many developers continue to direct their efforts towards Quest (59%), SteamVR (31%), and PSVR 2 (16%).
Even though 26% of the survey respondents show interest in Apple’s Vision Pro, only a small fraction, around 8%, are actively developing content for this new mixed reality device.
It’s important to note that this survey marked the first instance of this XR-focused question, making direct comparisons with previous years somewhat tricky. Nevertheless, conference organizers suggest that the core number of XR developers, alongside their platform preferences, has remained fairly stable, possibly inferred from less formal surveys.
This steady interest in XR development is a positive note, especially during a time when many games studios face challenges, including closures and layoffs, which have impacted both traditional and XR-focused teams since 2023. The continuity in XR development is particularly heartening given that XR’s audience is smaller than that of conventional gaming, which might otherwise lead studios to prioritize more reliable ventures.
We’re eagerly anticipating further revelations and discussions at this year’s GDC, slated to run from March 17th to 22nd at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California.
