Global unit shipments of virtual reality head-mounted displays 2017-2019, 2022

Shipments of virtual reality head-mounted displays are expected to increase by 22 percent to 34.83 million units from 2018 to 2019. This figure is forecast to exceed 80 million in 2022 and will account for around 17 percent of all wearable devices shipped worldwide.

Gamers use their headsets

Virtual reality head-mounted displays are being used in many different sectors, but it is the gaming industry that has brought their use into the mainstream. Gamers have been quick to adopt the hardware to improve their gaming experience: devices allow users to become fully immersed in a virtual reality world. In 2019, the virtual reality hardware market is valued at 4.4 billion U.S. dollars and forecast to reach ten billion U.S. dollars by 2022. Top manufacturers of virtual reality headsets worldwide include Sony, Oculus, and HTC – their joint share accounted for 77 percent of the overall market in 2018.

Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?

A head-mounted display (HMD) is attached to the head of the user, presenting visuals directly into their eyes and blocking out all other distractions. They are mainly used for viewing virtual reality and augmented reality. Virtual reality (VR) offers a simulated, fully artificial environment that for the most part is different from the real world, whereas augmented reality (AR) provides the user with elements that are both real and virtual, blending them together to make one experience. Shipments of VR and AR headsets are expected to increase in coming years with each device forecast to sell over 30 million units in 2023.