For a long time, going to a movie theater meant sitting with a crowd of people in the only available auditorium to watch the only available film —not exactly a wealth of options. Once multiplexes popped up throughout the country, production companies could finally afford to sink millions of dollars into films with high production values.
The same can be said for virtual reality. Current virtual reality trends forecast moving location-based virtual reality from a handful of isolated locations to “holoplexes” that boast multiple virtual reality arcades.
As gaming trends continue to devote more resources to virtual reality, the industry will undoubtedly grow stronger. Experiences will be more well rounded, virtual reality will be more immersive, and stories will be more epic.
While gaming undoubtedly will affect virtual reality in 2020, many people wonder which gaming trends will make the biggest impact. Here are the top two trends to watch:
1. Increased Character Ownership
When Disney unveiled Mickey Mouse, the company created a character that people wanted to follow. And all of Disney’s growth over the past 90 years can be traced back to that single character.
Thanks to role-playing games, more people have ownership over the characters they inhabit. Virtual reality future trends will depend on how connected people are to the characters they’re embodying.
Because participants use their bodies to navigate virtual reality environments, they need to feel so connected to the characters that they want to continue to invest in them. Whether they’re playing as super soldiers, pirates, or witches, consumers are more likely to come back to the experience if those characters are fully fleshed out.
For virtual reality to survive, users need characters they can love. The best way to create those connections is by giving gamers more stake in the characters they play with and the stories being told.
2. Replayability
Current gaming trends are driving toward replayability. Right now, most video game experiences are one-and-done — unless they’re focused on combat or esports. With location-based virtual reality, however, people want to return to tell the next chapter of an ongoing story.
When consumers eventually manage to beat the “final boss” of a virtual reality experience, it’s important to give them a reason to come back for more — perhaps via a secret key to the next level. The more replayable an experience is, the more participants will want to return to show off their skills. From a franchise owner’s perspective, this will help businesses continue to expand.
Plus, the social nature of location-based virtual reality games means that every session feels different when participants bring new friends, co workers, or family members along for the ride.
Location-based virtual reality is only getting better each year. In 2020, the latest trends in virtual reality will enable consumers to go a little deeper, do a bit more, and feel stronger.
If you’re ready to not only be part of 2020’s reality but also shape virtual reality trends well into the future, learn how to become a franchisee here.