What are Some of the Most Amazing Advances in VR Expected Over the Next Decade?

Virtual reality is expected to be the next major platform, and it could eventually overtake the smartphone industry. There are set to be countless developments over the next decade, and projections put the industry at a valuation of $441.84 billion by 2030.

VR was once the dream of works of science fiction, but it’s here and it already offers some incredible experiences. As the technology progresses and converges with other innovations such as artificial intelligence, it will achieve some amazing feats.

Virtual Worlds for Slot Games

If the VR market is to reach its expected valuation by 2030, it will need the backing of some of the biggest online industries. The online casino sector played a huge part in pushing the smartphone market throughout the 2010s, and it is likely to do the same for VR. Some developers have already experimented with VR for slot games, showing that they are ready to innovate and offer VR versions of these games when the technology starts to take off more.

Slot games have come a long way in their history, and developers are always trying to push their evolution forward. Looking at some of the latest games, it’s clear that there’s a heavy focus on upping the immersion levels. For example, you can play Wanted Dead or a Wild slot and get a sense that you have been transported to the old West. The game uses high-quality graphics and features a lot of Western imagery. There are loads of other games like this as well, each with their own worlds that reflect the theme of the slot.

The next stage for these titles is for them to take place in VR. Players can jump onto VR worlds, explore them, and then play giant spinning reels within these settings.

Hyper Realistic VR Experiences

Along with these fantasy-focused VR offerings, there are likely to be more realistic VR experiences soon. Indeed, as the technology progresses, it will become increasingly difficult to distinguish it from real life. This has already been seen in the console industry, where game graphics have progressed immensely over the last 30 years. In the early days, the pixelated offerings were rudimentary. Now, though, models like the Unreal Engine 5 have brought almost perfect detail to games.

There are various uses of VR that call for hyper-realism. For instance, people who want to get a taste of skydiving or bungee jumping without any of the risks involved would want to do so in a realistic VR scenario. Other hobbies like fishing and bowling could be much better VR settings that are as true to life as possible.

The other advantage of hyper-realistic VR situations is that they can be used for training. Pilots already use flight simulators to learn some of the key skills, and advanced VR could make the lessons even more like the real thing. Likewise, surgeons could practice safely using VR before they ever have to use their skills on a real patient.

VR Historical Adventures

People have always had a fascination with history, and countless periods from the past have been represented in various ways over the years. Along with documentaries, television series, and films based on bygone eras, there have been numerous games that have given players a taste of the past. While these offerings are getting more realistic as technology moves forward, none have truly managed to take people back to past times. VR could change this and could give people the chance to feel as though they are living in ancient periods.

There could soon be VR simulations of historical periods, such as ancient Egyptian times or the Roman Empire. People can put on their VR headset and get transported back to these times, where they can experience what it would have been like to live then. This could involve normal day to day routines, along with fully simulated battles and wars.

Games like Civilization have provided players with a way to experience the early days of humanity, and VR could be an excellent step forward in the evolution of these titles. Along with experiencing real history, players may be able to rewrite the past and find out whether small changes would have an impact on the timeline.

Convergence of VR and Artificial Intelligence

For all of these things to happen, there will need to be some huge leaps forward in the technology used for VR. The platform is still in its embryonic phases and could be compared to early consoles like the Nintendo Entertainment System in its current state. There is likely to be exponential growth over the next few years, though, as some of the world’s biggest companies are competing to be industry leaders.

Now that artificial intelligence is advancing at a lightning pace, it won’t be long before it’s integrated with VR. At this point, the evolution of VR could speed up massively, as AI could be used to generate VR worlds faster than human developers would be able to. AI could also be used to create characters that live within VR settings, advancing on the concept of NPCs that have lived within game worlds for years. AI characters would be able to react in realistic ways, adding more authenticity to VR settings.

AI will also be used to analyse user behaviour in VR environments, providing insights that can then be used to enhance the experience. For instance, in gaming, the technology could be used to create dynamic challenges that adapt to different players and keep them engaged.

There’s no doubt that the next decade will be a transformative period for VR. There will be huge advancements as it integrates with AI, leading to hyper realistic and bespoke experiences in digital settings. These are truly exciting times.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes.