According to a GDC Industry Survey, 35% of Game Developers Are Focused on XR Development

Despite the gaming industry’s recent struggles, XR (Extended Reality) development has remained steady, as highlighted by the annual State of the Game Industry Survey from the Game Developer Conference (GDC). This year, 35% of survey participants revealed they are working on XR projects, demonstrating ongoing interest and investment in this innovative field.

Held annually in San Francisco, GDC is a pivotal event for game developers globally. It serves not only as a platform for showcasing their creations but also as a vital opportunity to connect with peers, gain valuable insights, and learn from some of the most influential companies and platform holders in gaming.

Although the conference itself is a March affair, the GDC conducts its surveys towards the end of the previous year. This timing ensures that the published data is fresh and relevant. Notably, this year’s survey included, for the first time, questions specifically about XR content creation, yielding intriguing statistics.

Among the most intriguing platforms for developers, the survey pointed to Meta Quest leading with 63%, followed by SteamVR at 45%, Apple Vision Pro at 26%, PlayStation VR/2 at 25%, and Apple’s ARKit for smartphones at 12%. These statistics paint a picture of where developer interest currently lies in the XR space.

However, interest does not always translate directly into development efforts. According to the report, while an impressive number of developers are intrigued by Vision Pro (26%), only about 8% are actively creating content for Apple’s mixed reality ‘spatial computer.’

Comparing these findings with previous years is challenging, as this is the first instance where GDC’s yearly survey included specific XR content queries. However, GDC suggests that XR development numbers have remained stable, drawing insights from informal polling methods besides the survey.

The gaming industry has indeed seen tough times recently, with closures and layoffs affecting both traditional and XR-focused studios since 2023. In this context, learning that XR development holds steady is heartening, especially considering the market for XR experiences and games is smaller than that of traditional gaming platforms. This resilience in XR development could mitigate the temptation for studios to abandon this field in favor of safer investments.

As we look forward to this year’s GDC, scheduled from March 17th to 22nd at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, the anticipation builds for more insights and developments in the XR domain. It promises to be an exciting gathering of minds, eager to explore the future of the gaming landscape.