Also available in: Deutsch (German)

Virtual reality products have been available to the mass market for around ten years. The focus remains on gaming. However, several players in the market have been working for years to bring the technology to the adult industry. The knot has not yet really been broken, but this could change soon. According to estimates, annual sales currently stand at around two billion US dollars and are expected to grow to over 20 billion by 2030 (depending on the forecast, 21–79% annual growth). More and more adult content producers have already adopted VR/AR, and VR accounts for a growing share of the digital adult market.

Hardware as an inhibiting factor

Customers who want to enjoy the immersive experience first need a suitable pair of glasses. Meta is the market leader here with its current Quest 3 and Quest 3s models, which currently start at around €300 in Germany. This means that the entry price has become significantly cheaper compared to previous years. Apple’s Vision Pro, starting at around £3,800, is virtually unrivalled, partly because access to adult apps is more difficult and such content can mainly be accessed via browser workarounds. According to estimates, around five million Meta Quests have been sold worldwide in recent years, but only around 100,000 to 300,000 in Germany (official figures have not been published).

The immersive experience of virtual reality

VR offers decisive advantages in the adult entertainment sector, where customers want to be particularly close to the performers and have a particularly intense experience. With VR glasses, you are completely immersed in the virtual world – it feels as if you are right there in the scene, in the same room with the performers. You can look around (e.g. by moving your head), see details such as furniture or the bodies of those involved, and control the perspective yourself, creating the illusion of participation. In contrast to flat videos, this creates a feeling of ‘being there’ that blurs the boundaries between reality and virtuality and stimulates the imagination more strongly.

What video offerings are already available?

Specialised portals have been offering VR pay content at various rates for years. Examples include Realitlovers, VRPorn, VirtualRealPorn, VRBangers, CzechVR, SexLikeReal and several others.
Some of the portals also offer marketing of their own content, and affiliate programmes are available practically everywhere. PornHub also offers free VR content in its own section.

Livecams in VR

Things are getting more exciting for many in the live sector. In fact, VR cams have been available on Stripchat for some time now. Many models stream in high quality (up to 4K) specifically for VR. There is a dedicated VR category with numerous active rooms. Free access (freemium), private shows possible. Compatible with most headsets (Meta Quest, Oculus, HTC Vive, etc.). Some of the above-mentioned video portals also offer live streams. Other large portals such as Chaturbate, CamSoda and BongaCams have tried VR in the past, but no longer offer it actively or only very sporadically.

Requirements for streaming in VR

If you want to offer a VR cam show, you first have to invest. At Stripchat, VR streaming runs through the partner Dreamcam. Models cannot use their own cameras. You have to contact Dreamcam – they check your earnings (you often need a minimum turnover) and then provide their own camera. Cost: approx. £600–£800 for the equipment. On other portals, many models use their own professional VR setups (e.g. Hermes Performer Cam or similar 3D cameras). Independent streaming is possible here, including features such as passthrough AR (the model appears in the viewer’s real environment) and high quality up to 8K/60fps. In addition, there are higher requirements for the PC used, lighting of the set, etc. Higher requirements also apply to the sound: high-quality microphones for binaural sound (spatial sound) are required.

Produce your own VR videos

Even if you want to produce VR videos yourself, you need special equipment. 360-degree cameras such as the Insta360 X5 are often recommended for this purpose. But be careful: although these cameras can be used to produce panoramic videos that allow customers to look around by moving their heads while wearing VR glasses, the videos are ‘flat’ (monoscopic). The spatial (stereoscopic) experience is missing. And that is precisely the highlight of VR. If you want to produce real VR videos, you will have to dig deeper into your pockets. This requires cameras such as the Canon EOS R5 Dual Fisheye Lens, Insta360 Pro II or Kandao QooCam 3 Ultra. However, the prices for these cameras start at around 5000 € and up.

Conclusion – is VR worthwhile in the adult industry?

According to a recent industry analysis, the global VR erotica market will grow to over USD 33 billion by 2035 (CAGR ~38%) – representing enormous potential over the next few years. Other estimates even suggest that the market could grow to over ten billion US dollars by 2026, with VR content accounting for up to around 22% of the entire digital adult market. Ten years after the launch of virtual reality in the consumer sector, now could be the right time to get involved in this technology. After all, the adult entertainment industry has already been the driving force behind the spread of new innovations in many areas.