The annual Game Developer Conference (GDC) State of the Game Industry Survey recently revealed that despite challenging times in the gaming industry, XR development remains steady. About 35% of the surveyed developers are currently working on projects for XR, indicating a consistent interest in this burgeoning field.
Held in San Francisco, GDC is a major event that gathers game developers from all over the world. It’s not just a stage for showcasing new games; it’s a prime opportunity for networking and gaining insights from leading companies and platforms in the gaming world.
Although the conference is traditionally held in March, the surveys are conducted online late in the year. This means the results we see now are pretty current. For the first time, this year’s survey specifically asked about XR content creation, bringing some intriguing data to light.
Developers showed the most interest in Meta Quest, with a notable 63% considering it as a platform. Following closely are SteamVR at 45%, Apple Vision Pro at 26%, PlayStation VR/2 at 25%, and ARKit for Apple smartphones at 12%.
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Interestingly, there’s a difference between interest and action. While many show interest in these platforms, the actual development is focused primarily on Quest (59%), SteamVR (31%), and PSVR 2 (16%).
Even though 26% of developers expressed interest in the Vision Pro, only about 8% are actively developing content for Apple’s mixed reality device. This discrepancy highlights how interest doesn’t always translate into immediate development, likely influenced by various technical and financial considerations.
It’s important to note that GDC can’t directly compare these numbers to past years because this was the inaugural year for such specific questioning. Nonetheless, organizers suggest that the number of XR developers has remained steady, as have their platform preferences.
This steady pace in XR development is welcome news, especially given the recent hurdles faced by the games industry, including studio closures and layoffs impacting both traditional and XR-focused studios since 2023.
The fact that XR development holds its ground is promising. With a smaller install base compared to traditional platforms, there’s a risk that studios might shy away from XR. Yet the consistent interest suggests a resilient sector that’s ready to expand.
Looking ahead, we anticipate more valuable insights at this year’s GDC, set for March 17th-22nd at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. Stay tuned!
