A Close-Up Look at the VR Porn Industry [2024 Statistics]

In this article, we’ve covered every facts and statistics that you need to know about VR porn, the VR porn industry, its ups and downs, and more. Read on:

vr porn industry

Virtual Reality (VR) is becoming more and more popular as the headsets get smaller, more portable, and easier to use. With the increase in VR use, there is, of course, an increase in VR porn consumption as well.

In this article, we’ve covered every stat you need to know about VR porn, the VR porn industry, its ups and downs, and more.

Top VR Porn Industry Statistics You Should Know:

  • Virtual reality porn is viewed through a VR headset or a smartphone fitted into a specialized piece of headgear.
  • VR porn is often also referred to as “360 camera porn” and is shot in a point of view (POV) style.
  • Spending on VR content and apps is forecast to reach $3.77B in 2021 globally.
  • In 2021, 17.7% of people will use VR in the US.
  • There were 9.86 million units of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) devices shipped worldwide in 2021.
  • Training that incorporates VR reduces the chances of work-related injuries by 43%.
  • Only 2.3% of people who watch VR porn buy interactive sex toy scripts.
  • 77% of people who use VR want more social engagement in it.
  • 13% of people who vacation in VR go on to book a trip or get in touch with hospitality companies.
  • Pornhub’s VR content initially launched with 30 videos but has continued to grow. They have added over 2,600 videos in 12 months which get over 500,000 daily views.

What Is VR Porn?

Before we dive into all the stats about Virtual Reality and VR porn, we should first define them and some important terms to know:

  • Virtual reality (VR) simulates computer environments using a headset. (The Sun, 2019)1
  • Virtual reality porn is viewed through a VR headset or a smartphone fitted into a specialized piece of headgear. (The Sun, 2022)2
    • VR porn scenes are shown from the point of view of one of the performers rather than watching in the third person.

  • VR Porn Terms to Know (AskMen, n.d.)3
    • 3D: 3D means “three-dimensional,” and most experiences in VR simulate a 3D environment. “As soon as you’re watching a video in a headset, you’re getting a 3D experience,” says Doug McCourt, founder of 3dpornreviews.com,
      • He continues by saying this happens “because the headset divides the image up into two separate images.” When each eye views these images separately, they give you the perception of viewing something in 3 dimensions.
    • 360: 360-degree views are something enabled in VR. “Take a piece of paper and hold it up,” says McCourt. “That’s a regular video. Now fold that piece of imaginary paper, so it goes all the way around you. That’s 360.”
      • “You can look to the side, you can turn around, but the image is still flat. Now step inside that paper. Welcome to VR. In VR, you can get closer or farther away from the subjects, sometimes even walk around. “
    • 180: 180-degree views are also common in VR – with half the perspective of 360. According to Bradley Phillips, managing director of WankzVR, “Imagine you are standing in the center of a sphere, and that inside surface of that sphere is a screen,”
      • “360-degree content would fill the entire sphere. Now, cut that sphere in half from the top to the bottom, and you have 180-degree content. You can still look all the way up and all the way down, but directly behind you, there is no image. 180-degree content is hemispherical.”
    • 4K vs. 1080p HD: The term 4K (also referred to as UHD or Ultra High Definition) refers to the resolution of videos,  specifically, how many pixels wide the image is.
      • “When compared to 1080P, 4K video has double the horizontal as well as the vertical resolution, meaning that each image contains 4 times the pixels.”
    • Male POV vs. Female POV: POV stands for point of view. “In a male POV, you’ll be looking down and seeing a male body where your own would be.” A female POV is the same but with a female body.

How Is VR Porn Made?

VR porn is different than traditional porn in more than just its unique perspective. It also has to be filmed with very specialized equipment to get its 3D and 360-degree effects. Here’s how VR porn is made: 

  • VR porn is often also referred to as “360 camera porn” and is shot in a point of view (POV) style. (The Sun, 2022)2
    • VR porn doesn’t need lots of cameras with different angles like standard shoots.
    • According to performer Brett Rossi, who has starred in adult VR films, “There is a male partner, he’s laying on his back typically. And the camera is level to where the viewer would be, to make it feel like first-person.”
      • Important factors for VR porn include setting up the proper scale, video stitching, and maintaining a steady shot.
      • One of the challenges of this kind of porn is the lack of extra cameras for backup angles. Since there is no backup, a mistake can disrupt the whole scene.

  • Broadly speaking, here are some of the main differences between VR porn & traditional porn: (Kotaku, 2016)4
    • VR porn has fewer cuts, with the goal of making the porn more realistic. Actual sex doesn’t include different viewpoints and angles; it’s all first-person.
    • Performers have to stand further back in VR porn to allow the camera a better view. Female performers often say that holding positions is more difficult because of this.
    • According to performers, VR porn brings a new level of vulnerability. It’s much harder to hide flaws when the viewer has a 360-degree view.
    • The camera used to shoot VR porn consists of seven GoPro cameras bundled together. The footage is weaved together in post-production.
      • After the footage is captured, a program maps the clips onto a dome, which is how one can then look around on a VR headset.

VR Porn Statistics

With the growth and popularity of VR headsets comes an increase in the consumption of VR porn. Here are all the stats and data on how virtual reality headsets, and the industries around them, have grown in the last few years:

2022 Virtual Reality Statistics

  • The VR market is predicted to reach $3.7 billion globally at the end of 2021. (TechJury, 2022)5
    • The market size of the VR industry is expected to grow by $1.1 billion over 2021.
  • China is projected to have the highest AR/VR spending worldwide in 2024. (TechJury, 2022)5
    • Worldwide spending is predicted to grow on AR/VR and is expected to reach $72.8 billion by 2024.
    • China may have the most significant AR/VR spending and is expected to account for 36% of these sales in 2024. Closely followed by the United States and Western Europe.
  • VR/AR devices will see a growing increase in demand over the next few years. (TechJury, 2022)5
    • There were 9.86 million units of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) devices shipped worldwide in 2021. This is set to rise to 14.19 million units in 2022.
    • The number of VR/AR devices shipped worldwide is expected to increase to 68.6 million units in 2023.
    • AR and VR headsets are projected to have massive sales of over 30 million units annually by the end of 2023.
  • The engineering industry will benefit from the adoption of VR. (TechJury, 2022)5
    • The implementation and development of VR in engineering can reduce model design time by 10% and construction time by 7%.

  • VR can enhance e-commerce sales. (TechJury, 2022)5
    • The adoption of VR in e-commerce can boost online shopping conversion by 17%. For comparison, the average eCommerce conversion rate is 2%.
  • In 2021, 17.7% of people will use VR in the US: (TechJury, 2022)5
    • 58.9 million people will use VR in the U.S., and 93.3 million will use AR at least once a month this year. This accounts for 17.7% and 28.1% of the total US population.
    • This is a significant boost compared to 2020, when 52.1 million used VR and 82.1 million people used AR at least once per month in the US.
  • User experience is one of the greatest obstacles to VR adoption. (TechJury, 2022)5
    • 27% of VR industry experts claim that user experience (e.g., bulky hardware and technical glitches) is the main obstacle to the mass adoption of VR.
    • 20% say customer and business hesitation is an obstacle to embracing VR.
    • 19% said poor content offering by the VR industry was an obstacle to adoption.
  • Facebook was the world’s largest vendor of VR headsets in 2020. (TechJury, 2022)5
    • There were 5.5 million units of VR and AR headsets shipped in 2020
    • Facebook was the market leader when it came to headset shipments, accounting for 38.7% of sales.
    • Sony followed with 21.9%, and Pico placed third with 9.2%.

Virtual Reality Market Statistics

  • The worldwide AR and VR market size is forecast to grow 7.7x between 2018 and 2022. (TechJury, 2022)5
  • The worldwide market share of VR is predicted to be worth $20.9 billion by 2025. (TechJury, 2022)5
    • There were only $6.1B in sales in the VR industry in 2020.
    • This caused many stakeholders to revise their predictions. As a result, recent reports predict that the global virtual reality market will increase by $14.8 billion by 2025.
  • 26 million AR and VR headsets were sold in 2020. (TechJury, 2022)5
    • This is an impressive improvement, considering that only 14 million VR devices were sold in 2019.
  • Demand for standalone VR devices will grow over 16 times between 2018 and 2022. (TechJury, 2022)5
    • The sale of standalone devices will grow from almost nothing in 2017 to more than half of the total AR and VR devices market in 2022 (29 million units).
    • Tethered headsets, which require a connection with a computer, smartphone, or gaming console for use, will likely stay around for a while, selling 18 million units in 2022.
  • Spending on VR content and apps is forecast to reach $3.77B in 2021 globally. (TechJury, 2022)5
    • Location-based VR sales are expected to account for an additional $700 million.
    • Spending on VR content/apps and location-based VR experiences is expected to rise from $2.54 billion in 2019 to $3.77 billion in 2021.
    • Spending on AR content and apps is nearly 2.5 times that on VR content and is expected to grow at a higher pace as well.
  • VR video gaming revenues are expected to reach $2.4B in 2024. (TechJury, 2022)5
    • The VR gaming revenue generates about $1.1 billion per year.
    • This value is expected to grow to $1.6 billion by 2022 and eventually reach $2.4 billion by 2024.
  • The number of VR startups has increased by 14% in less than a year. (TechJury, 2022)5
    • The number of startups listed on AngelList went from 1,800 in May 2018 to 2270 in January 2020. 
    • This list also mentions 978 investors, meaning many of these startups have also secured funding to develop their projects.

Virtual Reality User Statistics

  • The number of AR users in the US will reach 95.1 million by 2022. (TechJury, 2022)5
    • There were 57.4 million VR users in the US and 90.9 million AR users in 2020.
    • Some predictions expect that figure will rise by 37.7 million in 2022.
  • 70% of VR headset owners have bought a game on it. (TechJury, 2022)5
    • Nearly 70% of consumers who own a dedicated VR headset have bought games for it.
  • 78% of Americans are familiar with VR now.
    • VR technology awareness is as high as 90% among consumers in the UK and US, according to a recent virtual reality demographics study by GlobalWebIndex. (TechJury, 2022)5
  • Only 28% of VR set owners use these devices daily. (TechJury, 2022)5
    • 39% say they use VR sets once a week
    • 19% once a month
    • 8% once every six months
    • 6% just about once a year
  • 77% of people who use VR want more social engagement in it. (TechJury, 2022)5
    • 77% of those surveyed who own a VR headset say they are interested in social interactions with other people in VR.
    • Playing games, watching videos, and video communicating are the most popular social activities in VR.
  • 70% of VR users intend to increase their use in the next year. (TechJury, 2022)5
    • 38% of VR users say they intend to increase their use a lot more
    • 32% say they want to use VR a little more
    • Only 7% want to decrease the amount they are spending on VR devices

  • Hardware cost is the biggest entry barrier keeping the VR adoption rate down.
    • 54% of high-end VR device users think that hardware cost is the primary reason preventing more users from adopting VR.
      • 48% of budget VR device users think the cost is the primary reason, and 50% of mid-range users think so. (TechJury, 2022)5
  • 64% of VR users think VR has the greatest potential in gaming. (TechJury, 2022)5
    • Other areas in decreasing order of expectations are:
    • 52%: film and TV
    • 42%: Sports viewing
    • 41%: Classroom education
    • 38%: Social media
  • 53% of AR and VR-aware users believe VR has a higher chance of hitting the mainstream first. (TechJury, 2022)5
    • This indicates that once users have tried out both AR and VR, their perception changes.
    • 50% say AR has a greater potential to hit the mainstream compared to 47% in favor of VR.
  • More professionals are considering adopting VR/AR for training purposes in 2021. (TechJury, 2022)5
    • Training that incorporates VR reduces the chances of work-related injuries by 43%.
    • Statistics indicate that 70% of professionals believe that more businesses will use VR when training employees.
  • In 2020, 55% of users found the VR experience satisfying. (TechJury, 2022)5

Virtual Reality in The Industry

  • 43% of manufacturing companies say VR will become mainstream in their organization within the next three years. (TechJury, 2022)5
  • 82% of companies implementing AR/VR indicate that benefits exceed expectations. (TechJury, 2022)5
  • “Early achievers” (those who successfully implement VR successfully) constitute 6% of all VR experimenters and implementers but get more than twice the benefits of other companies. (TechJury, 2022)5
    • These early achievers also see a 57% increase in efficiency compared to 23% for other companies.
    • They also see a 55% vs. 23% safety increase, 52% vs. 21% productivity increase, and 47% vs.19% complexity reduction.
  • 80% of users feel positive about experiencing branded VR tactics. (TechJury, 2022)5
  • 20% of users say a branded VR experience would make them feel more positively towards the brand. (TechJury, 2022)5
    • Only 1% would feel negative about it, and the rest are neutral.
    • VR also has high word-of-mouth marketability, with 81% of people who experienced VR told their friends about it.

  • 13% of users say VR experiences will cause them to shop more in physical stores. (TechJury, 2022)5
  • 13% of people who vacation in VR go on to book a trip or get in touch with hospitality companies. (TechJury, 2022)5
    • When people witnessed conditions in war-torn Syria through VR, there was a  16% increase in donations to Amnesty International.
    • There was a 190% increase in revenue from Thomas Cook’s VR-promoted New York excursion afterward.
    • 51% of Marriott’s customers said they would travel to more hotels in the chain after viewing VR travel stories from other locations.
  • Virtual reality trends indicate an upward movement in the VR adoption rate in the US. (TechJury, 2022)5
    • 25% of internet users will be using VR in the US by 2023, which amounts to about 70.2 million people.

Percentage of People Watching VR Porn

VR porn consumption seems to be much more common in younger generations, and the people who watch it have a wide variety of interests, according to this data. Here are the stats on how many people watch VR porn:

  • Who watches more VR porn? (VR Selector, 2020)6
    • Men: 83.3%
    • Women: 16.7%
  • Ages of people who watch VR porn: (VR Selector, 2020)6
    • 18-24 years: 25.61%
    • 25-34 years: 32.78%
    • 35-44 years: 17.85%
    • 45-54 years: 11.63%
    • 55-64 years: 7.24%
    • 65+ years: 5.15%
  • Top 5 most-watched categories for women (VR Selector, 2020)6
    • Female POV
    • JAV
    • Anal
    • Striptease
    • MILF
  • Top 5 categories that women watch in 2D (VR Selector, 2020)6
    • Lesbian
    • Hentai
    • Ebony
    • Anal
    • Indian
  • Teledildonics & VR porn (VR Selector, 2020)6
    • Only 2.3% of people who watch VR porn buy interactive sex toy scripts.
    • The average length of a session is 97 seconds, but those that use interactive sex toy scripts with VR porn videos watch for 19 minutes per session on average.

Pornhub’s Virtual Reality Insights

Pornhub is one of the biggest porn sites in the world and has also recently launched virtual reality porn. Here’s the data from Pornhub’s VR segment:

  • Pornhub’s VR content initially launched with 30 videos but has continued to grow. They have added over 2,600 videos in 12 months which get over 500,000 daily views. (Pornhub Insights, 2017)7
  • Top VR Porn Searches: (Pornhub Insights, 2017)7
    • VR
    • 360 VR
    • 360 Degree
    • Virtual Reality
    • 3D VR
    • 360 Cam
    • VR Hentai
    • VR Anal
    • Shemale VR
    • VR POV
  • Men are 160% more likely to view VR videos compared to women.
    • Popularity when compared to other ages: (Pornhub Insights, 2017)7
      • 18-24 years: +18%
      • 25-34 years: +47%
      • 35-44 years: +5%
      • 45-54 years: -59%
      • 55-64 years: -81%
      • 55+ years: -84%

  • Over the last 12 months, VR viewership has increased in every part of the United States. (Pornhub Insights, 2017)7
    • The most growth occurred in Eastern states, including New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, and New Jersey.
    • California still accounts for the most VR video views each day, but the growth rate in popularity has been much slower.
  • Countries where VR porn is proportionally most popular: (Pornhub Insights, 2017)7
    • Thailand
    • Hong Kong
    • Philippines
    • Taiwan
    • Norway
    • Israel
    • Pakistan
    • Malaysia
    • Vietnam
    • Egypt
    • Chile
    • Finland
    • Netherlands
    • Brazil
    • Sweden
    • Germany
    • Hungary
    • Romania
    • Ireland
    • Spain
    • Denmark
  • The highest growth rate in VR popularity is in Ireland and the United Kingdom, by nearly 250%. (Pornhub Insights, 2017)7

Best VR Headsets/Devices To Use

If you’re gonna watch VR porn, you might want to spring for a comfortable headset. Nothing’s more likely to take you out of the mood than a poorly fitted VR headset.

Here are the top choices for all VR activities: (VR Porn Rank, n.d.)8

  • Oculus Gear VR: Best VR Porn Headset for Galaxy Users
    • The Samsung Gear VR is different from other phone VR headsets. It uses special software and plugs right into your phone’s charging port.
    • The headset is comfortable, has face padding, and has a good head strap. Moving your head around and viewing porn from different angles in VR are easy. 
    • There’s also a touchpad on the side of the headset near the temple that can be used for navigation and web browsing.

  • Oculus Go: Best Standalone VR Headset For Porn
    • The Oculus Go is a standalone helmet with an HD viewing experience without needing to use your phone for VR.
    • The Oculus can use the Chrome browser to navigate to VR porn sites and stream or download videos directly onto its 32 or 64-GB drive.

  • Destek: Best VR Porn Headset for iPhone and Pixel Devices
    • The Destek V4 is a versatile headset that works with everything from the iPhone to other android phones like Huawei, pixel, and galaxy.
    • It has a comfortable head strap and eye padding designed to block light, making it an immersive VR porn experience.

  • Oculus Quest & Rift: Best Headset For VR Porn Games (And Videos)
    • The Oculus Quest is the step up from the Oculus GO and has the processing power to handle more intense VR games.
    • The Oculus Quest is the best for VR Porn Games. If you’re into interactive VR sex games, then this is the headset you’ll want to upgrade to.

  • Oculus Quest & Rift: Best Headset For VR Porn Games (And Videos)
    • The Oculus Quest is the step up from the Oculus GO and has the processing power to handle more intense VR games.
    • The Oculus Quest is the best for VR Porn Games. If you’re into interactive VR sex games, then this is the headset you’ll want to upgrade to.

  • HTC Vive: Most Powerful Headset for VR Porn
    • The HTC Vive is considered the most powerful home VR headset and has fantastic processing power. If you want to run any VR porn game possible, and can afford the hefty price tag, then this headset is a good pick.
    • The Vive can play video content in 4k VR and will work with every VR porn video and then some.
    • The Vive VR headsets have 70 sensors that offer users 110-degree FOV, a resolution of 2160 x 1200, and a 90Hz refresh rate.

  • PlayStation PSVR (Virtual Reality Reporter, 2022)9
    • If you already have a PlayStation 4, then this is a great option.
    • If you already own a PS4 ($289), you can buy a PSVR headset for just $399.

  • Homido V2
    • The HOMiDO V2 VR headset offers great quality and comfort at an affordable price.
    • The headset offers 100-degree FOV (field of view) adjustments for both near- and far-sighted users and has a comfy foam band around the eyes to improve your viewing experience.
    • This headset is compatible with most smartphones with 4.5-inch to 6-inch screens.

  • Daydream VR
    • Daydream VR is compatible with Android smartphones, so it’s a good pick if you already use android. 
    • Unfortunately, Daydream dedicated apps and games don’t work on many smartphones, which is a major downside for someone who wants to watch VR porn using a mobile phone.

  • BlitzWolf VR Headset
    • BlitzWolf VR headset is designed to be compatible with a wide range of devices, unlike most high-end VR headsets.
    • Anyone with a smartphone with a 4.7-inch to 6-inch screen can enjoy a virtual reality experience with the BlitzWolf VR headset. You also don’t have to hold it up as you do with the Google Cardboard to watch your favorite porn videos.

  • Google Cardboard: Cheapest VR Porn Headset
    • The Google Cardboard is a simple and cheap way to get a VR headset from your phone. The biggest downside is that it doesn’t have head straps, so you have to hold it with one hand while doing your thing. 

Best VR Porn Sites

While many major porn sites such as Pornhub offer VR options, sometimes it’s best to go to a dedicated source for VR porn.

These sites specialize in creating this kind of content and do a great job of it: (Virtual Reality Reporter, 2022)9

  • Wankz VR
    • Wankzvr.com is reasonably priced, has high-quality content, and even offers a free headset when you sign up. It’s compatible with any VR headset on the market here. They have content from top pornstars, and their site design is sleek and easy to use.

  • Naughty America VR
    • NaughtyAmericaVR.com is one of the older VR players, starting in 2015 when virtual reality porn was new and just beginning to get traction. They have a deep catalog of popular porn stars and frequently add more content. 

  • VR Bangers
    • VR Bangers has also been around since 2015 and has one of the biggest collections of VR movies. Since they specialize in VR, they’re one of the best at making you feel immersed in the scene.

  • VirtualRealPorn
    • VirtualRealPorn.com makes great use of all the VR features that are out there. All the videos are filmed in 3D and use binaural audio for a fully immersive experience.

  • Czech VR
    • Czechvr.com combines high-quality VR tech with Czech pornstars. In addition, they have a well-designed site with support for almost every VR device out there. So if you’re into Czech girls, this is the site for you!

  • Badoink VR
    • Badoink VR has over 620 scenes and counting, all filmed with immersive high-resolution VR technology. They offer a wide variety of content and have been given awards from AVN and PornHub in the VR category.

  • Adult Festa VR
    • Adult Festa focuses on interactive elements of porn with other devices, including Teledildonics and other sex toys. Much of the content is JAV (Japanese Adult Videos) and other similar content.

  • SexLikeReal
    • SexLikeReal is a VR porn and live cam streaming site, production company, and VR technology developer. They have a wide variety of curated content that streams up to 8K resolution for most VR equipment. Their content is also compatible with many sex toys like Lovense products and The Handy

  • Teen Mega World
    • The VR site for Teen Mega World focuses on VR content with 18-19-year-old pornstars. Their content is compatible with most VR headsets and streams in 5K resolution. 

  • SexBabes VR
    • Like most VR porn sites, SexBabes VR’s content can be streamed or downloaded onto the vast majority of VR platforms and is compatible with most phones. They consistently add new content monthly, and all videos stream in 5K resolution.

  • StripChat VR
    • StripChat is a cam site that didn’t always have VR but has expanded into the category. This is one of the few sites that allows VR interactivity with live cam girls and even lets you talk to them with the built-in headset mic during private shows.

  • 18 VR
    • 18 VR was created in 2017 and focuses on what the name would suggest. With headlines like “Barely Legal” and “The Next Gen of Teen VR Porn Starlets,” 18VR is pretty clear about what they’re producing. Most of their pornstars are from eastern Europe, and their videos are available in 5K & 7K resolution for immersive virtual reality porn. 

Conclusion

The VR porn industry is growing and will probably only continue to grow with the continued improvements and adoption of VR headsets. While there are still some definite improvements yet to be made on headsets in both comfort and affordability, they are increasingly popular, especially among younger people. The additions of interactive devices and sex toys, along with first-person POVs, can make for an extremely compelling experience.

Will we all be watching VR porn in the next decade? Only time will tell.

For more interesting sex studies and statistics, head over to our guide here.

Footnotes

  1. The Sun, 2019. An article on how porn users can use “sex goggles” to interact with camgirls online.
  2. The Sun, 2022. An article about VR porn and how it works.
  3. AskMen, n.d. An article on Everything You Need To Know About Virtual Reality Porn.
  4. Kotaku, 2016. An article on how VR porn is made.
  5. TechJury, 2022. An article on VR porn statistics.
  6. VR Selector, 2020. An article on VR porn statistics.
  7. Pornhub Insights, 2017. Pornhub’s compiled data on VR porn.
  8. VR Porn Rank, n.d. List of the best VR headsets/devices for VR porn viewing.
  9. Virtual Reality Reporter, 2022. List of the best VR sites and VR devices recommendations.
Dainis Graveris

Dainis Graveris

Over last 4 years Dainis have helped millions of people through his advice on this site (200+ guides and 1M+ visits/monthly). His work & advice has appeared on sites like: Healthline, Vice, Cosmopolitan, Men's Health, WomensHealthMag, MindBodyGreen & more. Read More.

Got Questions? Ping me on Twitter.