Even though the gaming industry has faced its share of challenges, XR development remains steady, as revealed by the GDC State of the Game Industry Survey. About 35% of the developers surveyed are currently working on XR projects, highlighting a strong commitment to this emerging field.
The Game Developer Conference in San Francisco is a hub for those in the gaming industry. It’s a place where studios showcase their work and engage with the community, offering a chance to learn from leading platform holders and game companies.
Typically held every March, the GDC conducts its surveys late in the preceding year, ensuring the data is fresh and relevant. This year, their State of the Industry Survey included questions on XR content development for the first time, revealing some intriguing insights.
Among the platforms fascinating developers the most, Meta Quest leads at 63%, followed by SteamVR at 45%. Apple’s Vision Pro (26%), PlayStation VR/2 (25%), and ARKit (12%) also captured significant interest. For a visual breakdown, you can enlarge the accompanying image.
However, interest doesn’t always translate to action. Developers are primarily creating for platforms like Quest (59%), SteamVR (31%), and PSVR 2 (16%). Even though 26% are curious about Vision Pro, only about 8% are actively developing for Apple’s mixed reality device.
The GDC clarified that it’s challenging to compare these findings to previous years since this is the first year XR-specific questions were included. Nevertheless, informal methods suggest XR development is holding steady, both in numbers and platform choices.
This steadiness comes during turbulent times for the industry, marked by studio closures and layoffs since 2023, affecting both traditional and XR-focused companies.
Hearing that XR development is unchanged is heartening, especially given XR’s smaller market compared to traditional gaming platforms. This situation might have pushed studios towards more guaranteed investments, yet the commitment to XR persists.
We’re eager to learn more at GDC this March 17th-22nd, set in the Moscone Center, San Francisco. This event promises to deliver more valuable insights into the industry’s direction.
