Despite facing challenges, the XR development sector has mostly held its ground, as shown in the yearly Game Developer Conference (GDC) State of the Game Industry Survey. Apparently, 35% of developer respondents are actively working on XR projects.
The San Francisco-hosted event is a must-visit haven for game developers, offering a platform not just for showcasing new innovations but also for creating community connections and absorbing fresh, cutting-edge insights from leading platform holders and game companies.
Typically held in March, GDC conducts its surveys in the latter part of the year, so the results we see today are fairly recent. Interestingly, this year marked the debut of a dedicated segment in the State of the Industry Survey, questioning whether participants were involved in XR content creation, which unveiled some intriguing statistics.
Developers showed most interest in platforms like Meta Quest (63%), SteamVR (45%), Apple Vision Pro (26%), PlayStation VR/2 (25%), and Apple’s ARKit (12%). You can take a closer look at the detailed image included below.
However, it’s important to note that these interests don’t necessarily mean that’s where the actual development is happening. According to the conference organizers, developers are primarily creating games for Quest (59%), SteamVR (31%), and PSVR 2 (16%).
Even though 26% of developers expressed interest in Vision Pro, only about 8% are actually working on Apple’s mixed reality ‘spatial computer’ projects, according to the survey findings.
GDC organizers clarified that this is the inaugural year for such specific data collection, making a direct comparison with past years tricky. Nonetheless, it seems the XR development community and platform preferences have remained stable, drawing likely conclusions from more informal feedback methods.
This revelation comes amid turbulent times for the gaming industry, with studio closures and layoffs impacting both traditional and XR-focused studios since 2023.
But hearing that XR development hasn’t faltered is uplifting news, especially considering the XR user base is notably smaller than that of traditional gaming platforms, a factor that might otherwise deter studios from exploring XR projects in favor of more promising opportunities.
We eagerly anticipate gaining further insights at this year’s GDC event, scheduled for March 17th – 22nd at San Francisco’s Moscone Center.
