The CEO and Founding father of leading edge, immersive gaming studio, MixRift discusses XR in 2025 and whether this yr is the yr it would likely go mainstream. From innovations in gaming to the evolving prolonged reality landscape, he dives into what might be coming next. He also sheds light on the role of today’s biggest buzzword – AI – and the way what most individuals would think would transform the sector will hardly move the needle.
Like every innovation, there generally is a degree of scepticism with regards to prolonged reality (XR). Any perceived stumble is jumped on for instance of how XR technology won’t ever go mainstream, while many traditional technology powerhouses look like cautious of their approach.
Yet the trends suggest that 2025 goes to be a serious yr for XR, particularly in gaming. From latest, more accessible hardware to the impact of demographics and the role of AI, listed below are the themes shaping gaming XR in 2025.
Progressive hardware to take centre stage
Much of the main target in XR is on hardware, and particularly headsets. In some ways, this can be a microscosm for the space as an entire with each successes and struggles. Meta appears to have found the precise formula for its approach, offering each the powerful Quest 3S and a more cost-effective Quest 3S following the sale of greater than 20 million Quest 2 headsets. Elsewhere, while Apple’s Vision Pro may not have set the world alight, there are rumours that not only will the Vision Pro 2 likely debut in late 2026, but that a more budget-friendly version is in development as well. Moreover, the leak of the Asus ROG VR (Tarius) headset could be on its way – set to be the primary third party hardware to make use of Meta’s Horizon OS, and there’s SAmsung’s Moohan XR headset, developed with Google and Qualcomm, which made headlines on the recent Mobile World Congress (MWC) exhibition.
It is crucial to keep in mind that there may be more to XR than VR headsets, nevertheless. Google recently announced latest smart glasses, while Ray-Ban reported that its Meta glasses are the highest selling product in 60% of its stores in EMEA.
These wearables is probably not gaming devices, but what they’re is one other way into XR. The potential for these glasses to mix the physical and digital opens up unprecedented possibilities for game developers and players alike. Plus, if an individual uses an XR device in a single a part of their life, they usually tend to use it in others.
XR meets gaming shifts
The gaming landscape typically is undergoing a serious transformation. Meta recently confirmed that over 70% of time on Quest is spent in free-to-play apps, highlighting a shift toward in-app purchases because the fastest-growing revenue stream. This and the younger generations, equivalent to Alpha and Z, are using gaming not only for play, but to speak and collaborate. One analyst recently suggested that gaming was replacing social platforms for certain demographics, highlighting how Roblox’s penetration amongst 16-19-year-olds was 35% in Q3 24, while its fastest growing age group was 17-24-year-olds.
This highlights a transparent shift towards communal experiences. We’re witnessing a surge in social gaming, each in physical spaces and virtual realms like Horizon Worlds. Today’s players aren’t just gaming – they’re socialising and immersing themselves in personalised entertainment experiences. As this trend gains momentum, the longer term of gaming will increasingly revolve around interpersonal connections, emphasising shared experiences that reach beyond the sport itself. This evolution points to a future where gaming serves as a strong platform for social interaction and collective entertainment.
These experiences are immersive, and while the likes of Roblox are predominantly still accessed via consoles, mobiles and PCs, the subsequent step might be towards devices that bring additional layers of immersion: XR hardware.
AI: coming before you’re thinking that
AI is making waves in lots of industries, including the broader gaming space, but its impact on XR gaming has to date been less pronounced…until now. This might have been largely because of the rapid changes in XR platforms, which can not have provided sufficient stable content for LLMs to learn from effectively. Nonetheless, as AI technology advances, we’ve seen AI explode into various industries and make a huge impact. Thus it was inevitable that AI would crossover into Gaming, and with Meta’s recent announcement unveiling Aria Gen 2, a sophisticated research-focused smart glasses platform with enhanced sensors, eye-tracking, and AI capabilities – it’s testament to how quickly the gaming industry evolves.
We are able to expect to see AI’s influence proceed to grow in various points of gaming. AI-driven graphics are more likely to develop into more prevalent across different gaming platforms, enhancing visual fidelity and realism. Moreover, AI could revolutionize storytelling and character development, creating more dynamic and responsive narratives. As these AI-powered innovations mature in traditional gaming, they may likely find their way into XR experiences, potentially transforming the immersive gaming landscape.
The opportunities for developers are significant; with the ability to code or create content faster would support small teams and help level the playing field when up against AAA studios. Yet there may be also the danger that with the ability to produce more content faster will result in increased levels of poor quality. This might hamper XR penetration, if users cannot find the form of engaging, immersive experiences they expect.
Is XR going mainstream?
With any innovation, we’re rarely aware of the tipping point, where something goes from area of interest to mainstream. Will 2025 be the yr XR reaches that moment? It’s hard to say, but with hardware capabilities each improving and broadening, barriers to entry will fall. It’s as much as developers to ensure that that the content available captures users’ attention; while having the precise device is significant, what keeps people coming back are great experiences.
These developments will lay crucial groundwork, paving the way in which for more seamless integration of AI and other emerging technologies within the years to follow. Because the ecosystem matures, we are able to expect to see increasingly sophisticated and accessible mixed reality applications across gaming, entertainment, and beyond.
