VR mobile games on Android see 60% growth, 13 million new users

A newly released study by SplitMetrics has revealed that VR mobile games experienced substantial growth in 2024, particularly among Android users.

According to the study, VR games attracted 13 million new Android users in 2024, representing a 60% increase compared to 2023, which had 8 million new users, and a 30% rise from the 2022 figure of 10 million. The report highlights a record-breaking year for the sector on the Google Play Store in terms of new user acquisition.

The study utilised data sourced from SplitMetrics' App Radar platform and pointed to the influence of new VR devices, such as the Meta Quest 3, on user growth. There was a significant 198% increase in downloads of Android VR games in December 2024 compared to April 2023, prior to the announcement of the new headset.

Additionally, VR gaming portals experienced growth in user numbers. Specifically, Google's Cardboard app and the Meta Quest app collectively achieved 56 million lifetime downloads on Google Play. In December 2024, the Meta Horizon app saw a 254% surge in Android downloads following the release of the Meta Quest 3 headset.

December 2024 saw an impressive rise in Android VR game downloads, with a 115% increase seen when compared to December 2023. This trend highlights the impact of seasonal factors on downloads, particularly surrounding significant calendar events.

Of the 28 VR games analysed, the top downloads in 2024 included Rec Room - Play with friends! with 7.3 million downloads, VR Roller Coaster 360 with 815,000, VR Thrills Roller Coaster Game at 733,000, Sky On Fire: 1940 with 596,000, and VRChat with 559,000 downloads.

In terms of cumulative downloads, the VR apps analysed reached an estimated 86 million lifetime downloads. The top-download apps, based on lifetime figures, were Rec Room - Play with friends! at 36 million, VR Thrills Roller Coaster Game with 23 million, Fulldive VR - Virtual Reality at 11 million, Backrooms with 2.3 million, and Sky On Fire: 1940 hitting 2.1 million.

Thomas Kriebernegg, General Manager at SplitMetrics Agency, commented: "2024 was a big year for the VR and XR industries. Although some headlines from the past few months may have suggested that the sector is stagnating, it is far from the truth. The record-breaking growth of the VR gaming sector demonstrates that VR is not just a fad and has a very promising future."

He further noted, "There's no reason to believe that this level of growth will drop off in 2025. As the market becomes more competitive, developers will need to shift their focus beyond UX and functionality improvements and concentrate on innovative marketing campaigns to sustain and boost their app performance."

Kriebernegg added, "App marketers and developers should also note the impact that seasonality has on user growth. Optimising app storefronts is essential when it comes to capitalising on important calendar events, such as Christmas or the launch of a new industry-related device. When done right, growth around calendar events can be achieved without a big advertising budget."

The findings suggest a bright future for virtual reality gaming as the industry continues to adapt and respond to new technologies and consumer interests.