Now we moved into 2017 it is time to figure out what 2017 will bring us in terms of VR. In 2016 only 11% of the worldwide population tried VR. This doesn’t mean 2016 wasn’t a successful year for VR. So let’s make up the balance, what exactly happened in 2016.

# Overview of 2016
![](https://www.developer-tech.com/media/img/news/xiStock_virtualrealityvr2356.jpg.800x600_q96.png.pagespeed.ic.s09FKbZRBd.jpg)

In 2016 we had the release of HTC Vice, Oculus, Playstation VR, Google Daydream and there was the Samsung Gear VR. Till the moment there isn’t a clear winner. All those different options have different features but also different ways of input. And besides that there aren’t many companies in this market that are making profit out of VR.

The main change that happened last year is the question about VR. The question in 2016 was: “Will VR be a success?” However that question has been changed to: “When will VR be a success?”

# What will happen in 2017?

Don’t expect much of VR in the beginning of 2017. The beginning of the year is the sober month. People and companies need to rebalance their investments, priorities and expectations. However after probably the following technological developments will happen this year:

### Eyetracking, wireless and lower cost PC’s
![](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nogo7ilJmeI/U5fRF7PNONI/AAAAAAAAO3I/FE9MOjv1f7A/s1600/Eye+Tracking.jpg)

The development of eyetracking within the VR headsets will improve the immersion within the VR world. But this will also prevent motion sickness and will improve the overall experience.

At the CES it became clear that lower cost PC’s will become VR compatible. Besides that are parties such as MSI investing on PC backpacks to give you a wireless VR experience. Rivvr will bring a way to get rid of your cables on the HTC Vive so that you will have a wireless headset.

### HTC 2, Oculus 2 and Microsoft’s Hololens
The expectation is that there will be a new version of the current VR headsets that there are in the market. This can be from current suppliers such as Oculus or HTC or a new third party. The chance is also there that Microsoft will release their Hololens after submitting the dev kits last year.

### Console
![](https://ic.tweakimg.net/ext/i/2000774356.png)

Playstation will keep improving their Playstation VR experience. The current expectation is that Playstation VR will be sold between 750.000 and 1.500.000 in 2017. Besides that Microsoft will enter this market as well with the Hololens. 
Mobile

Gear VR will get a Daydream style controller. The first batch of daydream phones will be launched. An announcement will be made of positional tracking. And the main question is if Apple will launch something as well on VR.
Games

Oculus and HTC Vive will focus on fewer games but higher quality games. Sony will feed the market and will give more focus on social play where one person plays in VR and the other on the screen. Mobile VR will probably be lead by King in 2018/2019.

# Will it be the year of survival?
We don’t need to worry that VR will struggle this year. Platforms such as Oculus are still funding developers to develop on their platform. Grants will be slowly transformed into advances. A Ubisoft entered the VR market already with Eagly Flight last year, but we will see more VR games coming from third party developers. Besides that VR will expand into other markets, such as construction work, health and training.

According to Dave Ranyard, the CEO of Dream Reality Interactive, it isn’t a question anymore if VR will be a success. He is convinced that VR will be permanent, only the question is when will this happen.  This year that question of when will change to how will it happen.