We have already understood the technical challenges for developing VR games on the Android platform. Now, let's have a look at the other challenges that a developer might face while developing or monetizing VR games for Android:
- Low target audience
- Limited game genres
- Long game sessions
- Limited device support
- Real-time constraints
There are very few Android users who are familiar with the VR concept and technology. Mostly, users are the common handset holders who do not have VR headsets. So, there is already a major section of the audience who are out of scope of VR gaming. This is why the VR gaming market is limited to the audience with VR headsets.
We have already looked at the possible game genres in VR gaming. VR games cannot support all the game genres released to date and possibly will not be able to do so in the near future. This limitation is a serious challenge for the Android VR gaming market in securing a profitable position and design monetization aspects.
Android VR games must be played with a VR headset fitted with an Android handset. Usually, the game sessions are longer, and it takes time and effort to set up a playable environment.
Android game users are usually addicted to quick and flexible game sessions. Most of the games can be immediately paused and resumed for convenient gameplay. However, VR games cannot be paused or resumed immediately. Users prefer to play VR games when they have a long period of free time.
Android VR games require high-level hardware configuration to run the game. The hardware platform must have enough power to process the game, and the rendering unit must render the game with the maximum possible quality in the minimum possible time.
There are many cheap and low-configuration handsets available in the market. Millions of Android users use those handsets. However, most of them are incapable of running a VR game with a steady and acceptable FPS. Developers of Android VR games are bound to exclude those devices. This limitation reduces the number of supported devices significantly.
Most of the VR game players are gamers or game enthusiasts. However, they also have some real-time constraints while playing VR games. Users or players must choose a gameplay situation where there is least chance of possible interruptions.
Gamers usually prefer to sit at a location or be in a spacious place to avoid any accidents while playing the game. Their eyes are covered with the VR headset, so users need to take these safety measures. These issues cannot be resolved and this affects the VR gaming market and leads to low session count and time.