The head of Owlchemy Labs identified the bulkiness of devices as the main barrier for the VR market
The virtual reality market is still in its developmental stage due to the inconvenient form factor of VR headsets, according to Owlchemy Labs CEO Andrew Eiche. He made this statement in an interview with Game Developer.
Dimensional Double Shift
Eiche acknowledged that VR headsets are gradually improving. Nevertheless, the top executive is convinced that they are still too bulky for everyday use by the masses.
As a criterion for suitability, Eiche proposed conducting the so-called “cafe test” for VR headsets: are people ready to wear them in public places and not feel awkward? In his view, most devices still do not pass such a test, but some—like the XR glasses Xreal Aura—are close to achieving this.
However, it's not only about the technology. According to Eiche, the VR market must go through a stage of "social iteration"—gradual change in social habits and attitudes toward virtual reality. People need time to get used to such devices and stop perceiving them as something unusual.