The video game industry is one that is ever-growing and ever-evolving, and it seems that an industry goal is to seamlessly integrate the digital world and the real. During the lockdown, the video gaming industry, as a leisure activity, has shown the most growth in both spending and revenue.
(Image: Statista)
As the desire to integrate these two worlds develops, so does the evolution of Augmented and Virtual Reality. The implementation of this technology means that the headset and smart glasses industry is booming and video games companies are wanting to team up with eyewear partners to create a more comfortable experience for gamers and consumers alike.
What are Smart Glasses?
The smartphone has become the epitome of communication. From operating as a basic phone to being the home of a consumer’s daily living. The evolution of the smartphone is not only apparent with the phone models themselves but in the luxury wear that has become an extension of the smartphone. The smartwatch is a perfect example of this, the combination of two everyday reliances to create ultimate consumer ease.
Smart glasses are an augmented or mixed reality head-mounted display that allows computing and digital functionality. From displaying apps to digital projections, smart glasses are ideal for mobile game users who play AR games.
(Graph showing AR glasses unit sales worldwide from 2019 to 2024. Image: Statista)
These glasses are a way to accommodate the developments that were made for smartphones into eyewear. The hardware is designed to be worn as a regular pair of glasses and the software allows augmented reality to be at the forefront of this eyewear. VR and gaming headsets are just the beginning when it comes to AR and VR tools. Smart glasses can be used to accommodate a range of different consumer experiences and wants, from glasses that are designed to enhance audio such as the Bose Frames to smart glasses that are created with a focus in mind like the Smith Lowdown Focus. The introduction of smart glasses, just like the smartwatches, have been introduced to consumers as a way to encourage acceptance of developing technologies into everyday life and increase demand. They are becoming more and more included in this and are currently being developed to encompass AR.
Traditional Gaming Headsets and Shifting to Smaller Screens
Traditional gaming headsets are increasingly becoming part of a gamers repertoire.
Statistics have highlighted that virtual reality headsets shipments have doubled in demand since 2018. Although these headsets are showing no sign of slowing down in demand, market trends show that smartphones and tablets are becoming a primary gaming platform.
The screens on which gamers are indulging in video games is becoming smaller and smaller and smart glasses seem to be the latest contender in the AR gaming world. It appears that Smart Glasses and AR offer very little to no disconnect between a gaming device and the gaming experience. The increase in mobile and smartphone gaming is showing no signs of slowing down and with the ease of access to consumers, smart glasses could turn from an AR and gaming niche to a market dominated by them.
The video gaming industry is looking to partner up with eyewear companies as a way to accommodate and match the demand for this type of AR gaming. Moving away from the large VR gaming headsets to accommodate the growth in mobile gaming, there is an opportunity to offer more streamlined and lightweight smart glasses designs. This highlights how smart glasses are infiltrating the video gaming industry.
Games such as Fortnite and Player Unknowns Battlegrounds have been making the move to creating full feature versions of the games for smartphone users and in turn smart glasses users. It does not mean that the demand for computer gaming will decrease, it simply shows that the video gaming industry is trying to accommodate the majority of people who have a smartphone and their accessibility to the games. The desire to partner with eyewear companies will continue to make the world of video gaming and AR more available to a bigger consumer base and in turn, the accessories paired with it.
