GDC Industry Survey Reveals 35% of Game Developers Are Focused on XR Platforms

Despite facing some challenges, XR development continues to hold steady according to insights from the annual Game Developer Conference (GDC) State of the Game Industry Survey. This year, 35% of developers indicated that they’re working on XR projects, showing a resilient interest in the field.

The GDC, held in San Francisco, is a vital gathering for game developers globally. It’s more than just an opportunity to showcase new projects; it’s a hub for networking and gaining forward-thinking insights from leading companies and platform providers.

Though it takes place every March, the GDC conducts its surveys online towards the end of the year, ensuring the data is current. Notably, this year marks the first time the survey included a section dedicated to XR content development, unveiling some fascinating statistics.

According to survey results, the top platforms capturing developers’ interest include Meta Quest with 63%, followed by SteamVR at 45%. Apple’s Vision Pro and PlayStation VR/2 drew interest from 26% and 25% of developers respectively, while Apple’s ARKit attracted 12%. You can click to enlarge the image below for a visual breakdown of these numbers.

However, when it comes to actual development, there’s a distinct pattern emerging. The majority of studios are developing for Quest (59%), SteamVR (31%), and PSVR 2 (16%). Despite a 26% interest in Vision Pro, only around 8% are actively creating content for Apple’s mixed reality device.

This year represents a baseline for XR-related questions in the GDC survey, so accurate year-over-year comparisons aren’t possible. Still, organizers suggest that the number of XR developers and their platform preferences have remained stable, based on less formal methods prior to this survey addition.

These insights arrive during a tough period for the gaming industry, marked by studio closures and layoffs impacting both traditional game developers and those in the XR realm since 2023.

The steady development in XR is a hopeful sign, especially considering the relatively smaller audience for XR games and experiences compared to traditional platforms. Such conditions might have otherwise led studios to abandon XR endeavors in favor of more guaranteed ventures.

Anticipation is building for more insights at this year’s GDC, scheduled for March 17th through 22nd at San Francisco’s Moscone Center. More revelations surely await, further fueling the excitement surrounding the event.