Social VR’s success depends on humans, not headsets

The early success of social VR apps like Rec Room and Altspace show us that social VR ventures need to focus on key drivers of human behavior as much as they focus on engineering and 3D UX design. Moreover, the rise and subsequent stagnation of Pokémon Go demonstrate the consequences of ignoring our innate desire to create and share with the communities that matter to us. This article features experts in human behavior and VR thought leaders who explain why understanding user motivations is key to long term success for social VR.

Empower users to make meaningful choices

The first time anyone demos a HoloLens or Oculus Rift, they’re often astounded at a gut level by the experience of being in an immersive environment for the first time. However, the novelty can quickly wear off and leave new users disillusioned by the dearth compelling content in the marketplace. This begs the question: how do mixed reality content creators build experiences that will compel users to keep coming back for more? After all, without strong user retention, it’s impossible to build a social platform in any medium.