Mobile virtual reality on track to hit $861M in revenues this year

You’re going to need a big ol’ pile of cash if you want to get into high-end virtual reality on the PC, but that is creating an opportunity for Samsung and Google to sweep up entry-level consumers.

Mobile VR is on track to reach $861 million in revenues this year, according to data firm SuperData Research. That is a big increase for a market that is only just getting off the ground thanks to Samsung’s Gear VR (which it makes with Oculus VR) and Google’s Cardboard casings, which enable smartphones to power virtual reality games and apps. While Samsung and Google are not jumping out of bed each morning to fight over less than $1 billion, both are treating this as a chance to establish themselves as leaders for early adopters and developers.