How Much Does it Cost to Develop Virtual Reality Games

We hear about new VR games, technologies, and news seemingly every day these days. With the two largest manufacturers of video game consoles (Microsoft and Sony) holding very different opinions on the use of virtual reality in gaming, the debate has intensified in particular. What is universally acknowledged, though, is that the number of VR games released each year is increasing and the industry as a whole is expanding quickly regardless of the cost to develop Virtual Reality games.

Which video games rank among the best in history? Your favorite video game may be PUBG, while some people may mention Call of Duty (COD) and Grand Theft Auto. All of these games are truly excellent!

All of these games were fantastic, but our favorites were the first-person shooters. Did we not? FPS players make up about a third of the three billion gamers worldwide. Ever questioned why so many people adore these games?

It’s because FPS games give us a sense of immersion in the gaming world. We’ll be honest: We’ve always wanted to enter the gaming world and experience the events firsthand. Everyone is a devoted fan of FPS games because they produce an immersive experience similar to our dreams.

The clue was chosen by the game developers. They came to understand that launching products that give gamers an engaging experience is the secret to success in the gaming industry. At that point, gaming started to incorporate Virtual Reality (VR) technology!

The entire gaming industry is now impacted by VR, which is a huge technology. The average user spends nearly 19.7 minutes playing VR games because they enjoy them so much. It is therefore safe to say that VR is a widely accepted trend in the gaming industry.

VR games have become popular among investors, much like they are among gamers. There is no doubt that gamers’ preference for VR games has developed a lucrative market for investors

Are you aspiring to build a super duper VR game? If “yes,” then best luck with your million-dollar investment strategy!

VR games will undoubtedly pay off in a big way only if you’re willing to invest in them. So, budgeting is the first step in creating a profitable VR game.

Before even approaching a trusted technology partner, it will be best to determine the precise budget.

Unfortunately, you might not be having an idea how much it costs to develop VR games. Right? We’ve got you covered, so don’t worry!

Your go-to guide for Virtual Reality game development costs is this detailed blog planned by a reliable VR game development company; DxMinds.

Are you ready for the ride, then?

Let’s start now!

Overview of virtual reality through the Lens of Gaming

Virtual Reality is an artificial and digital environment made using the most recent tools and systems. Users think that the orchestrated environment is realistic as long as they are in it because it seems so real.

VR uses sound and sight, two human senses, to convey to users the events of the virtual world. What does that imply?

It implies that in a VR environment, you are unable to touch any objects. In the VR world, it is possible to view them and hear various sounds. That is how you can use a variety of hardware elements to “feel” the artificial environment.

Based on its applications, VR can be divided into two categories:

It creates a simulated environment to virtually represent real-world surroundings.

It can also be used to create imaginative environments with true-to-life creatures.

To create popular VR games, we use the latter use case. The ultimate goal is to tell a narrative and create an environment that is better than reality for gamers to experience and enjoy the product.

When playing VR games, users may become engrossed and end up playing for longer periods of time.

Market Analysis of VR Games

Here are some statistics that show how profitable the VR gaming industry is!

• In 2020, the VR gaming market brought in $1.1 billion in revenue.
• By 2024, it is projected to generate $2.4 billion in revenue.
• Virtual reality gaming, in the opinion of nearly 64% of users, is its best use.
• Half-Life: Alyx earned $64.6 million in its first six months of operation.
• Virtual reality gaming content was viewed 17.3 million hours on Twitch in 2020.
• In the coming years, up to 70% of customers want to use VR more frequently.
• Beat Saber is the highest-grossing VR title with $69.7 million in lifetime earnings.

Top Reasons to Invest in VR Game Development

The creation of VR games is a source of revenue. By investing in the creation of VR games, you can reap a wide range of advantages and substantial returns.

Do you need reasons for making a VR game development investment? Here are some important details for you!

Greater Profitability

You as an investor might be concerned about producing enough profitability. What if investing in the creation of VR games did not yield sufficient returns? Now, you might be having similar second thoughts. Isn’t that right? We have some good news for you!

The virtual reality gaming market offers many lucrative investment opportunities. So you can design a foolproof plan and start appeasing VR gamers right away.

The sector is probably going to expand and hit the trillion-dollar mark in the future. The best time to play your cards and generate enormous profits for your business is now that more prestigious companies are starting to go the virtual reality route.

Increase brand reputation

Customers and the industry favor brands that stay current with technological trends. Are you aware? They already anticipate that you will introduce something novel, mainly utilizing AR/VR technologies.

What could be better than making an investment in a sector that always generates buzz? Yes, we are talking about the well-known VR gaming industry! If you want to try out VR technology, it’s best to do this.

Once you start working in the VR space, you quickly establish yourself as a leading business, joining Meta and other elite organizations. As a result, making an investment in the creation of VR games can help you establish your brand’s reputation and give the impression that your business is up to date on the latest technological trends.

You’ll benefit from social media marketing

Are you aware of this? The tweet from Valve announcing the release of “Half-Life: Alyx” has 121,817 likes and 35,433 retweets. That is the influence of social media on the acceptance of VR games.

You can start a successful VR game and take advantage of social media marketing. The tech-savvy gamers are active on well-known social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Meta.

You can get people excited about your new product and entice them to play the VR game as soon as it is released. The social media posts about these games quickly gain traction, turning the product into a hit in a flash. It’s a must-invest domain for you given that VR games are marketed favorably.

• Many gamers will switch to virtual reality gaming in the future.

Gamers are constantly looking for challenging games. They are gradually growing tired of playing conventional games and want to try something new. Around that time, they started to play more VR games.

Virtual reality (VR) games are pulling most players inward and making them play more frequently. Many players will eventually start playing VR games and starting the corresponding streaming sessions.

• The future is promising

Players are constantly looking for challenging games. They are gradually getting bored with playing traditional games and looking for new experiences. VR games were starting to gain popularity at that point.

The majority of players are being drawn inward by VR games, which motivates them to play more frequently. A lot of players will eventually start live-streaming their VR gaming sessions.

You might be a little hesitant to spend money on VR games given the state of the market. Games that use virtual reality are still fairly new to gamers. But the future will be unique. There will be fewer traditional players and more VR players.

It is therefore the ideal time to invest in developing high-quality VR games in order to draw in a sizable user base.

• Low-cost VR equipment is coming

The high cost of the hardware is a significant barrier for VR game investors. Do you worry that your customers won’t play your VR games because of these elements?

Demand for standalone virtual reality (VR) devices will multiply by 16 between 2018 and 2022.

The number of virtual reality hardware components sold by Meta in 2021 ranged from 5.3 million to 6.8 million.

Virtual reality headsets were owned by consumers in close to 26 million units in 2020.

Why are these numbers important? They seem to be saying that there are consumers for VR equipment and that there isn’t much of a barrier to players enjoying VR gaming.

• Greater potential for outsourcing

It takes a lot of work to create a VR game. The VR gaming industry lacks talented designers and game developers. Additionally, hiring experts can be expensive and does not ensure the timely production of desired VR games.

A thorough guide on How to create a VR application

The creation of any VR application, including games, differs significantly from the creation of regular apps. There is a need for more resources, and it also necessitates a variety of professional skills and experience. The presence of an auxiliary device is also necessary. The VR app, sadly, does not allow for full immersion without goggles or headsets. So, before we start developing VR applications, let’s talk about the hardware you should use.

Step 1: Select your VR Hardware

Google Cardboard It is a pair of cardboard glasses that can work with Android smartphones running an OS version no older than 4.4. Additionally, it supports iPhone VR applications. The most convenient method for entering a virtual world at the moment is thought to be Google Cardboard. Unfortunately, the low cost translates into lower quality, making complete immersion impossible.

Daydream VR One more creation from Google. Although the VR picture quality is improved by this expensive headset. The Samsung Galaxy Note 8, Motorola Moto Z, and other most recent Android smartphone models are the only ones it supports. Take this into account as you develop VR software.

Demonstration of the Daydream VR headset

Samsung Gear VR. a headset created by Samsung and Oculus VR. With the Note 4 and later, this fully autonomous device is compatible with Samsung Galaxy Note smartphones. It has high-quality lenses and a touchscreen control panel, but it also has a handheld controller that improves the VR experience and gives us intuitive control.

Oculus Rift. This cutting-edge headset was created for use with a PC. It has to do with tethered VR headsets as well. Virtual reality motion controllers make for incredibly simple and natural-looking movements. These headsets currently have a lot of popular VR applications.

HTC Vive. HTC Vive is the thing that HTC and Valve jointly made. It has a great virtual reality design and comes with two hand controllers to deepen customer interaction. The Oculus Rift and HTC Vive VR headsets both work with your PC.

Get inside VR with HTC Vive.

The most common VR hardware is therefore taken into account above. Vive and Oculus offer users a really good VR experience despite being tethered devices. Decide on the appropriate VR device for which you want to develop an app and estimate your budget.

Step 2: Use a specialized 3D engine, such as Unity

Well, you’ve already made your decision. Great! So let’s move on to the development phase. You now need to determine whether all necessary software development kits (SDKs) are present in 3D engines. Unity is the most widely used 3D environment for creating video games and VR features. Although they are both excellent, our business prefers to use the Unity engine because it satisfies all of our requirements. VR development is greatly facilitated by Unity.

Step 3: UX Design

You should pay close attention to the design of your VR app as you create it because it will determine how successful it is in the long run.

Here are some guidelines you should adhere to while developing:

Limit your session length (if you develop a game). Actually, a good virtual reality application shouldn’t tire potential users and should have a simple flow;

Users can keep an eye on the battery’s condition by measuring the length of their VR sessions. VR requires a lot of energy, as you are aware; Interaction level: when creating VR content, give users a straightforward control panel and avoid complexity because VR can be stressful for those who are experiencing it for the first time;

Using Google Cardboard as an example,

For a truly amazing VR experience, devices should react to head movements immediately;

Users should avoid abrupt acceleration and deceleration and make their movements easy and smooth; Maintain the users’ current point of view. Avoid switching between first- and third-person views as it may make the user queasy;

As each person has a unique sensitivity to sudden movements and some people are prone to motion sickness, let the user adjust the level of comfort;

Step 4: VR UI Design

You must first incorporate 3D models and animation into your virtual reality. We will implement this challenging stage of VR content development with the aid of proprietary tools like Autodesk or Blender. Additionally, take into account:

Remember to create a stereoscopic app and correctly render all elements;

UI should be integrated into the interaction logic with 3D objects to give users a sense of being in the real world;

The user interface (UI) should be designed in accordance with the following principles: it should be situated where the user can see it clearly without constantly turning their head;

The use of eye-tracking technology in mobile VR applications is possible. Users can monitor the data with the aid of a virtual cursor that tracks head movements. To give users the option to disable it at any time, this feature should, however, be presented as an option.

Additionally, allow users to select objects manually rather than just with their eyes when developing their own VR app. Eye tracking can be taxing, for instance, if your app offers a multi-level menu.

Step 5: VR performance improvement

Performance optimization is crucial to the development process because it ensures that the intended use will be as comfortable as possible.

Use iOS and Android’s most well-liked AR SDKs. You can use these 8 top-notch AR SDKs for iOS and Android right away.

Battery usage, general app performance, and 3D optimization are a few other performance factors worth mentioning. They have a significant impact on the future of your VR app design. What should be done to improve it, then?

The application ought to be 60fps-ready. Use your target device instead to test your software and take into account how well it runs on that device;

Utilize specialized integrated debugging tools in 3D engines to reveal your app’s weak points, such as instances of lagging

Step 6: Testing

The last step before an app is released is testing. According to virtual reality development companies, VR apps typically require a longer and more thorough testing process than regular apps.

Additionally, the app may be made available for user acceptance testing, which aids in finding bugs and fixing them before the app is made available to the general public. Graphics engines also take into account your app’s performance level. Additionally, integrated testing tools will assist you in locating bugs and flaws so you can quickly fix them.

These phases are essential for the creation of VR applications. We will now move on to the article’s main topic: how to make money with your VR app and how much you should budget for its development.

VR app monetization

Let’s look at some of the most common and useful methods of monetization.

Freemium

Your app is free to download. However, some extra services won’t be made available unless users are willing to pay for them. They must, for instance, remove advertising or add some new features. They ought to foot the bill. This model is prevalent in many apps and, with the right strategy, can be profitable. Additionally, the freemium model will allow you to profit from it if you add advertising to it.

In-app purchases

With this monetization strategy, you can also receive extra benefits like new, cool game tools or add-on tools for your business app that users can purchase. Virtual goods may have different prices depending on how much they are worth to the app. This model candies, a free app that incorporates this model candies unlike other apps that incorporate this model candies, candies, a free app where you candy, a free app where you candies, It’s all very easy.

Premium

You must pay a certain sum of money to download these apps. However, when users initially pay for this app, they receive it free of advertising as well as all the intriguing and alluring bonuses.

Product placement or advertisement

The majority of free-to-use apps monetize primarily through advertising. On the homepage, while using the app, and in other places, the user of such apps can see various types of advertisements. Paying attention to product placement is preferable because it can be quite irritating. It is a subtle form of advertising where different well-known brands could show up in the app’s windows, on vehicles, and on other things

How Much Does it Cost To Develop a Virtual Reality Game?

Your budget for creating VR games will be influenced by a variety of factors. Prior to estimating the budget for your project, it is best to visit all the relevant factors. Do not be concerned; we will assist you!

Here are the main factors that will affect your cost when developing VR games. Check it out!

• Keep the company’s reputation in mind

Depending on the firm you select, the final cost of developing a VR game will vary. The best businesses typically charge more than the lesser-known ones.

Keep in mind that a company grows significantly with industry knowledge, talented VR developers, and work history. Overall, years of honed reputation depend on their brand. Therefore, a reputable company will probably charge more to create a VR game.

You can be confident that your investment will result in greater returns because these companies are aware of what it takes to create a successful game.

• Location of the VR game developers

The cost to develop such games varies depending on where the VR game developers are located. While some regions have lower development costs, others have higher fees.

In order to choose a location with low development costs, you can conduct market research. However, when doing so, you must take into account a few things like time zone and language barriers. USA and Canada – $150 to $250

VR Game development cost in India – $20 to $40/hr

VR Game development cost in India Eastern Europe – $25 to $80/hr

& Western Europe – $80 to $150

• Product complexity level

 A complex product uses more time and resources than a simple one does. Thus, the development costs for the earlier products are higher than those for the later ones. Additionally, the length of development depends on how complex the VR game is. Your final bill is further impacted by it.

• Simple VR Games

It takes 3 to 5 months to complete the development of simple VR games with basic features and designs.

• Medium-complexity VR games

It takes longer to create VR games with the most recent features and basic graphics. For the delivery of your product, the developers may request a dedicated timeframe of approximately 6 to 8 months.

• Hard-core VR titles:

The longest development times are required for feature- and graphics-rich VR games. The time it takes to put together the necessary functionalities and create the desired games can be a year or even longer.

• Platforms

As was previously mentioned, the selection of development technologies and compatible platforms has an impact on the process of creating VR games as well as the necessary funding. Only one platform can support native VR game development. These games cost little money.

To create a multi-platform VR game from scratch, you can spend more money. In the end, it’s up to you!

• Payment Mode

The fixed pricing model may be the easiest method of payment. However, because of financial limitations, prevents you and the development team from contributing innovative ideas. So, with such rigid approaches, research and innovation are still at risk.

To create the best products, you can opt for a more flexible pricing structure. Your team will be able to think ahead and come up with innovative VR game ideas thanks to this payment method without having to worry about money problems.

It’s time to reveal the lump sum, now that you are familiar with the cost breakdown. To create basic VR games with few features, you will need to invest between $15,000 and $30,000.

Adding more features and functionality to your VR game will, however, raise your costs. In order to create complex, demanding, and feature-rich VR games for gamers, you should be prepared to spend anywhere between $35,000 and $95,000.

How Can DxMinds help you with VR Game Development?

The best technology partner is the first step in a VR game’s success. So, for your project, do you need the best VR game development company? You can get assistance from DxMinds technologies

We are the top VR game development company, and we have created high-quality games for the gaming industry as well as numerous other VR projects.

Here are a few of the qualities that set us apart from other VR game development companies for investors. Check it out!

• We have a large number of talented VR game developers who are extremely familiar with the necessary tech stacks.
• We have a talented group of programmers, testers, UI/UX designers, and developers who work together to create original, immersive VR games.
• Our team provides a variety of engagement models so that you can work with competent VR game developers for the required time period at affordable rates.
• Before entrusting your project to the developers, our knowledgeable experts can assist you in designing your game plan and determining the necessary resources.
• The importance of maintaining bug-free VR games is recognized by our developers. To help you provide a consistent gaming experience to the audiences, we ensure eradicating bugs immediately and resolving errors without holding up the process.

Conclusion

Your requirements and choices will affect how much it will cost to develop a VR game. It’s best to take a step back when selecting the right resources for your project to prevent falls

Do you need our help laying out the plan and creating VR games for you? Get in touch with us right away!