What happened to VR porn?

If only there was a way to enhance the realism of the porn experience… Oh wait, there is. Once again, it feels like everyone is forgetting about VR porn. VR technology stepped into the porn industry with high expectations, but it didn’t quite live up to them in the first years. What happened to VR porn, and is the situation changing for the better? Let’ find out.

The ultimate porn experience

Or so it’s supposed to be. Virtual reality allows us to experience faraway lands, fantasy settings, adventures, games, and of course porn movies, as realistically as possible. When it comes to porn, it allows us to feel like we are really there. And not just POV-style there; we can see the action from all angles. Just imagine seeing Natalie Mars or Khloe Kay fucking right in front of you, in natural size. It seems as if you can touch their sexy bodies and large cocks and smell the action.

It’s especially immersive when they combine VR and POV. That makes it look like the hot pornstars are doing all the naughty acts on the viewer. So, the viewers basically become the participants. It can still be a fantastic experience even if the video is not in POV style. In that case, the viewers can look at the models and the action from whatever side they want, and it can be great for those who enjoy voyeurism.

What’s the problem with VR porn?

Even though VR porn sounds ingenious, it didn’t rise as much as some people expected. Generally, VR technology is still considered sci-fi. Most people don’t even imagine implementing it in their everyday lives. So, it’s no surprise that its use in porn hasn’t skyrocketed, despite all the investments that the porn industry put into it. What happened to the expected success of VR porn and why?

Expensive equipment

One of the problems is that not everyone has a VR headset. While there are some crafty ways to make your own headset, it just doesn’t have the same effect. And appropriate equipment can be a big expense. Some quality headsets could cost up to $1000. However, things have changed since VR became a thing, and the gear now costs less. Even big tech companies are producing more accessible equipment. There are now great headsets for around $300, but that is still more than some are willing to pay for this kind of pleasure.

There are also simple headsets that cost only $10 to $50. They are basically just a case with a headband, in which you’re supposed to put your phone. This seems like a great solution, but the truth is, it gives only about 20% of the virtual reality experience. Cellphones hardly have enough power to support the full potential of VR.

Usability issues

Another issue with watching VR porn on your phone is the lack of easy access to controls. To skip through the movie, or change the volume, or quickly stop the video if someone unexpectedly bursts into the room, you would have to take the phone out of the case. That takes more time than it would be convenient in these situations.

Unlike makeshift cardboard or smartphone-compatible headsets, more advanced headsets have these functions. That’s why many opt for a standalone wireless device. Still, many companies that produce them sometimes have policies that are not friendly towards porn.

Anti-porn regulations

Some companies, such as Meta (Facebook), have strict regulations regarding explicit and controversial content. This won’t often be a problem with standalone VR devices, except maybe with Oculus headsets. I haven’t tried that one, but it’s produced by Meta. Oculus has excellent functions and is relatively affordable, but Meta’s regulations can possibly ruin the pleasure.

You can have similar issues when watching VR porn on phones as well. That is because you usually have to install special apps for VR, and some brands, like Apple, are pretty hostile towards porn apps.

Large files

I always have a dilemma about streaming or downloading porn. The difference is even bigger when it comes to VR porn. VR video files are massive. Daily download limit on your favorite site, slow internet connection, not enough storage space on your device, and long download time – that can ruin the mood. And streaming is no better because it takes an excellent internet connection to avoid lags.

Moving around and changing positions

The most remarkable feature of VR porn is also one of its flaws. The ability to move around and see every detail of your favorite pornstar from various angles is wonderful. But you need to MOVE. To see everything, you need to physically move around the room occasionally, especially if the characters change positions often and you’re watching a POV video. Moving around and jerking off might not be so fun. If you want to truly experience VR POV, you need to place yourself in the same positions as the characters. And that is not always easy for us regular folks. Walking around the room with a VR headset also means that you need to make sure you don’t bump into some dangerous obstacles or things you can easily break.

The future of VR porn is coming

With all the obstacles, I can understand why it takes time for people to embrace VR porn. It promises an experience more realistic than any other. But it still needs to overstep the things I’ve mentioned in order to become more present in porn lovers’ lives. Still, the situation is getting better as technology improves. There are predictions that the global value of the VR adult content market will rise from more than $700US in 2021 to $19 billion by 2026. 

I don’t know much about economics, but I can see this happening considering all the improvements that the industry makes. With more affordable gear, a bunch of free VR porn movies on Pornhub, and a rising number of pay sites specialized in virtual reality – the prospects look good. You can even order custom VR videos with personalized characters or watch live VR shows where you tell the performers what to do.

The content of virtual reality porn movies is also getting more diverse. While it was mainly focused on straight men initially, there are now movies for everyone. Grooby has entered the VR market with their site GroobyVR. Bailey Jay also launched her own site specialized in virtual reality. Virtual Real Trans and TranzVR are also amazing. Although VR porn hasn’t taken over the adult industry as some anticipated, it’s still not dead. Moreover, it’s slowly becoming more successful and popular.