Throughout the past year, the XR Association led the charge in the continued growth and acceleration of virtual (VR), augmented (AR), and mixed-reality (MR) technology. As a result, the XR industry has seen rapid expansion and impact across manufacturing, healthcare, education, and entertainment sectors. In the last year, XRA has grown to more than 45 member companies leading the way in immersive technologies, representing various stakeholders in XR, from headset manufacturers to technology platforms and enterprise solution providers.
As XR hardware continues to evolve, manufacturers and software developers are working to positively transform the way that users engage with different immersive experiences in a manner that is safe and enjoyable. From XRA’s various working groups to the passage of the CHIPS and Science Act, the association has remained a steward leader in the industry, and much more is in store for 2023.
As the industry continues to grow, the XR Association is committed to promoting the responsible development and use of this cutting-edge technology. The following are some of the highlights from 2022 and a look at what’s in store for the industry in 2023.
Read the full report below to see member company highlights, and XRA’s year in review.
Important XRA Milestones and Member Highlights
The XR Association reached a total of 47 members and represented a broad ecosystem of the XR industry, such as headset manufacturers, technology platforms, component and peripheral companies, enterprise solution providers and corporate end-users. Within the past year, we’ve seen exponential growth in the immersive technology space and our members were at the forefront of the industry.
XRA
- 100+ Speaking Events and Major Conferences, Including:
- 3 Legislative Wins
- Introduction of National XR Month Resolution
- Passage of CHIPS and Science Act – Designates immersive technology for federal R&D funding
- Introduction of XR Workforce bill
- 51 Member Milestones, Including:
- 7 Member Committees & Working Groups
- 13 Leaders celebrated as part of the Limitless Voices Initiative
- 31 New Members to join the association
- 27 Engagements with Members of Congress and Government Agencies Pushing Policy Forward
GameDriver
- GameDriver, the Gaming Industry’s First Out-of-the-Box Automated Testing Solution, is Now Widely Available; Receives $2 Million USD in Seed Round Funding
- Launch of GameDriver 2022.07
- Introduction of Beta: Unreal 4 and Godot
- Launch of GameDriver 2022.11
Big Rock Creative
- Breonna’s Garden (Won Best Societal Impact at the 2022 Auggie Awards at AWE)
- Pride Has No Borders (Finalist for Best Societal Impact at the 2022 VR Awards)
- SES – CricketVRse
- BRCvr – The Official Virtual Burning Man Experience
- FanConXR – The First VR Only Comic Book Convention
Transfr
- What Alabama Can Teach us About the Future of VR Training
- From Virtual Reality to Careers: How Indiana’s Boys & Girls Clubs use VR for Workforce Development
- Arkansas Taps Virtual Reality Simulations to Help Residents Explore Technical Career Paths and Training Options
- Boys & Girls Clubs Across Montana Receive Virtual Reality Headsets for Career Exploration
- TRIO Electric Upgrades their Electrician Training Program with Transfr
- West Alabama Works Provides Immersive Career Exploration with Transfr
Accenture
- Accenture’s Nth Floor Metaverse — Video
- Nth Floor Case Study
- Accenture Invests in BehaVR to Help Expand Access to Mental and Behavioral Healthcare Using Virtual Reality
- Accenture Invests in Strivr to Help Advance Immersive Learning in the Metaverse Continuum Era
- Accenture Invests in Extended Reality-Based Immersive Learning Startup Talespin
Strivr
- Strivr Announces Strategic Investments by Accenture and Workday Ventures to Accelerate Adoption of Enterprise VR
- Strivr Launches Partner Program to Accelerate the Expansion of VR in the Enterprise
- The XR Association Welcomes Eight New Member Companies
- Calling all VR Developers: Create Content for Millions of Fortune 1000 Employees on Strivr’s Enterprise VR Platform
Meta
- Progress in Augmented and Virtual Reality
- Research Prototypes for Meta’s Infinite Display System for VR Optics, Displaying NextGeneration Technologies
- Launched the Meta Quest Pro With Full-Color Mixed Reality
- More Options, More Platforms and Super Bowl LVI Shirts for Avatars
- Building and Innovating With Privacy in
- Mind Meta Connect 2022: Meta Quest Pro, More Social VR and a Look Into the Future
- Immersive View Coming Soon to Maps — Plus More Updates
- Google to Make Search and Maps More ‘Immersive’
- Gorillaz Turn the World Into a Stage With Augmented Reality
Talespin Reality Labs, Inc
- Talespin Announces Investment from WestRiver Group, Acquires ‘Pioneer Adaptive Learning’ Platform from Singularity Group
- Accenture Invests in Immersive Learning Startup Talespin
- Kyle Jackson, Co-Founder and CEO of Talespin, to receive UCLA Executive Leadership Award for Real Applications of the Metaverse
- Talespin Announces $20M Series C Funding Round, Validates 2015 Company Vision for Learning in the Metaverse
- Talespin Selected as one of the 2022 Best Tech Startups in Culver City
- Talespin Announces Three New Executive Hires to Fuel Immersive Learning Platform Growth
- Talespin Participates in the SAP.iO Foundry New York Fall 2022 program
- The Metaverse Can Provide a Whole New Opportunity for Education. Here’s What to Consider
- Talespin: Using Immersive Technology for Skills Development
- The Skill Immersion Lab: Year Two Results of Virtual Reality in the Classroom How Talespin is Using the Metaverse to Train Employees
- Learning in the Metaverse: Key Takeaways from the Experts
- Tower Hill Insurance Drives Workplace Innovation with the Talespin Platform
Praxis Labs
- Celebrating a Year of Learning and Growth
- Immersive Learning: Harnessing Technology to Create a New Empathetic Reality in the Workplace
- Edtech Insiders – Podcast
ArborXR
- Ultimate Guide to Using VR Devices for Work
- What Enterprise VR Headset Should I Buy?
- ArborXR Announces Strategic Collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies, Helping Companies Scale VR and AR Deployments
HTC
- HTC’s G Reigns partners with iconec for private 5G network showcase
- HTC’s virtual production solution VIVE Mars CamTrack hits the market
- VIVE introduces new Location Based Software Suite
- HTC Chairwoman Cher Wang unveils VIVERSE
- e& Universe launches with VIVERSE technology
- Introducing the powerful and versatile VIVE XR Elite
- VIVE Mars CamTrack integrates Aximmetry software for seamless virtual production
Sony
- Sony Unveils New Virtual Reality Headset for PlayStation
- PlayStation VR2 and PlayStation VR2 Sense controller: the next generation of VR gaming on PS5
- First look: the headset design for PlayStation VR2
- Look inside PlayStation VR2 with new teardown videos: First look at internal components with engineers
A Look Ahead
As we begin 2023, continuing to shape public policy for immersive technology will be a collaborative effort among policymakers, developers, industry leaders, civil society groups and academics. We expect XR technology to continue its expansion and integration into critical spaces such as healthcare, job training and education. XRA and its members will lead the way, promoting the responsible development and use of this pioneering technology.
