I’ve been skeptical of VR myself, but Oculus Quest feels like it is going to be a hit.

I don’t have data but the pulse I’m reading is a very high consumer satisfaction and it continues to sell out.

To be fair though, they have a lot of cash for PR to manage people's perception of 'pulse'. That is PR job after all.

Magic leap is AR which consumers and businesses definitely don't want.

VR has nothing to do with Magic Leap or even AR. VR probably has a consumer case (consuming media) but no real business use case until after the consumer case has been made.

I was of the same opinion until I tried the latest Vive headset. I'm ready for VR. GTA 6 with 360 treadmill, VR and Unreal Engine 5 level graphics will be the next level.

I was skeptical too, but Half Life: Alyx sold gangbusters (as was the Valve Index, at a $1,000 price point to boot).

There is clearly demand, but I think we've learned that it's a niche market.

Did you actually play Alyx though? It’s amazing. I think VR will dominate both the consumer and commercial markets as it matures. It will be a defining technology of our lives.

No, but every comment I hear says exactly the same as yours - that it’s phenomenal.

It’s definitely the exception, though. Nothing else comes close, so I’m having difficulty justifying shelling out $1000 on something for a single game, no matter how exceptional.

>I can't believe seemingly smart people still think consumers want vr

If Henry Ford asked you what you wanted in 1890s, it sounds like you would have said "a faster horse"

I don’t know why you’re down voted — until we fully appreciate how the sense of smell triggers stronger memories than spatial representations of place, VR will continue it’s glorious march off the cliff.

Perhaps this is why: https://roadtovrlive-5ea0.kxcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/...

VR is growing slowly and steadily. That's not counting offerings like the Oculus Quest.

Also Magic Leap is AR, not VR.

Thanks for the data. I don’t doubt units will be sold - but when viewed as the search for the next personal computer, these embodiments fall woefully short.

There are very interesting use cases in ‘perspective collaboration’ - as in, ‘do you see what I see?’ Other stellar use cases are how you can prepare for new spaces and new environments. These use cases will sell many units (along with the de facto: gaming).

All this said, I feel the parent comment is correct. The way these companies are approaching the ‘why’ is very ‘it’s like you’re there’ ; ‘look at how connected you are’ ; and some variant.

All is not lost though. There are incredible changes in society if these embodiments (VR, AR, MR, XR) are seen as one of the many user interfaces for the next kind of personal computer. As in, if you change the basic command structure between user and computer - then the next generation PC can take shape.

[Edited: clarity and still terrible]

Honestly, Snap isn’t too far off, but the valley is uncanny.