Strong interest in virtual reality headsets

• 35 per cent of internet users want to play games using virtual reality headsets in future
• Virtual reality is one of the trends featured at this year’s gamescom
• gamescom 2015 opens its doors from 5 to 9 August in Cologne

Berlin, 27 July 2015 – Virtual reality headsets are attracting broad interest in Germany. Although many of these headset models – which allow players to immerse themselves directly in the game world – have not yet hit the market, more than one out of three internet users (35 per cent) in Germany already wants to use these headsets to play games in future. Interest is particularly high among younger internet users: of the 14- to 19-year-olds surveyed, 62 per cent want to use virtual reality headsets for games in future; nearly half of 20- to 29-year-olds feel the same way (46 per cent). However, older users are also curious about this new form of gaming – among 30- to 39-year-old internet users, nearly four out of ten (38 per cent) want to use virtual reality headsets in future, and a similar number (37 per cent) of 40- to 49-year-olds feel the same. Even among internet users aged 50 and older, one out of five (20 per cent) was strongly interested in trying the new devices. These results were reported today by BIU, the German Games Industry Association, based on a representative study of German internet users conducted by GfK.
 
[quotation cite=”Dr. Maximilian Schenk, Managing Director of the BIU”] “We predict that virtual reality headsets will become an established part of the gaming market in the coming years and will drive further growth and the creation of entirely new gaming concepts.[/quotation]‘Virtual reality headsets provide an entirely new gaming experience. The majority of models won’t be launched for another few weeks or months, but there is strong interest among consumers as a result of the many highly positive testimonials from people who already had the chance to try virtual reality headsets,’ says Managing Director of BIU, Dr Maximilian Schenk, explaining the interest. ‘We predict that virtual reality headsets will become an established part of the gaming market in the coming years and will drive further growth and the creation of entirely new gaming concepts.’

Virtual reality is one of the trends featured at this year’s gamescom

Virtual reality is one of the trends featured at this year’s gamescom, the world’s largest event for computer and video games, which takes place from 5 to 9 August this year in Cologne. The theme of this year’s event is ‘Next Level of Entertainment.’ Many well-known models of virtual reality headsets – such as Project Morpheus from Sony, Rift from Oculus VR and Vive from HTC – are on the verge of hitting the market. At this year’s gamescom, visitors will get a preview of the potential that this technology has in store for the computer and video games industry. There are a range of potential applications for virtual reality headsets in other entertainment industries as well. For instance, the technology can be used to create an interactive, 360-degree experience for viewers of movies that were filmed with special cameras – an application that was previously only possible in games. With this technology, users can also experience live events, such as sport matches and concerts, as though they were actually there, no matter the time or place. There are numerous potential applications for this technology within the games industry and beyond.

Note on survey data

Market research institute GfK conducted a representative survey of 1,004 German internet users who are 14 years of age and older regarding their awareness of and interest in using virtual reality headsets.

About the BIU

BIU – Bundesverband Interaktive Unterhaltungssoftware (German Games Industry Association) is the association of the German computer and video games industry. Its 26 members are developers, publishers and providers of digital games, and they represent over 85 per cent of the German market. The BIU is, for example, the sponsor of gamescom. As an expert partner for media and for political and social institutions, the BIU answers all questions on the topic of digital games.

Press contact

Martin Puppe
BIU – Bundesverband Interaktive Unterhaltungssoftware e. V.
Charlottenstrasse 62
10117 Berlin
Germany
Tel.: +49 (0)30 2408779 20
Fax: +49 (0)30 2408779 11
Email: puppe@biu-online.de
Twitter: @game_eV
Facebook.com/BIUeV

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