VR Headset Shipments To Grow from 3 Million in 2016 to 30 Million by 2020, Says Juniper

Virtual reality (VR) HMD (head-mounted display) headset shipments will jump from just over 3 million shipments in 2016 to nearly 30 million globally by 2020, said Juniper Research last week. VR is in a position to “finally take off,” due to low latency advancements, smarter graphics and corresponding growth from major players including HTC, Oculus and Sony, which are expected to launch key VR products over the next 12 months, said Juniper. The research firm, pegging 2016 as a “watershed year” for VR, expects “significant VR uptake” through 2020 on a combination of improved technology in immersive applications and lower prices. Developments in user interaction with the virtual environment will play a major role the VR’s success, said Juniper. Current systems use a stereophonic headset and a variety of controllers that mimic gaming controllers, it said. Improving the immersive aspects of the VR experience “will remain a challenge,” it said. VR headset revenue is forecast to exceed $4 billion by 2020.