SuperData XR Dimensions market intelligence platform introduced: claims VR isn't dying

The SuperData XR Dimensions market intelligence platform was recently introduced by SuperData, a Nielsen company that focuses on market research in the video game industry. SuperData described XR Dimensions as "the first-ever XR market intelligence platform." It aims to leverage XR Dimensions to give VR and AR stakeholders a better understanding of current trends in the VR and AR markets.

Along with the announcement, SuperData offered some interesting data points from XR Dimensions that seem to run counter to the prevailing narrative about VR and AR. For starters, XR Dimensions data indicates that VR--widely panned as a failure--is not only doing well, but thriving. VR hardware revenues are predicted to hit $2.1 billion by the end of 2019. This represents a 31 percent increase in revenue over 2018, primarily driven by the success of Oculus Quest and increased enterprise adoption of VR solutions.

AR, in its mobile form at least, is described by XR Dimensions as a "mainstream" platform now, with over 2 billion users having experienced mobile AR. The majority of AR consumer experiences are facilitated by social media apps like SnapChat and TikTok, as well as AR games like Pokemon Go.

Stephanie Llamas, SuperData's Head of XR, was very optimistic, stating that VR and AR together are set to become "an $8.5 billion industry next year." While commercial VR/AR sales haven't been exactly spectacular, the vast amount of commercial investment in the industry by market giants like Microsoft, Facebook, and Valve means that VR experiences are getting out there to the wider gaming audience. The next few years will likely determine if it's a passing fad or the mega-industry SuperData envisions.