10 Top Virtual Reality Companies 2023

Virtual reality is also known as VR is a modern technology that powers users to feel immersed in an unnatural environment using a VR headset or helmet. It is a computer-generated environment with artificial scenes and objects that seem to be real thereby giving an immersive environment.

VR is created with software and presented to the user as a similitude. Over the years, the term virtual reality has been in existence but not as we know it, the first use of virtual reality can be cited in the mid-1980s when John Lanier founded VPL Research and developed the gear, goggles, and gloves needed in the experience of what he called virtual reality.

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 Virtual reality is enabled using special equipment called the VR headset. The virtual reality experience is used both in education, medical institutions, and the entertainment industry.

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There are over 30 companies that manufacture VR gadgets but in this article, we will be discussing the top ten virtual reality companies that you need to know.

Here are the 10 Top Virtual Reality Companies you should know about:

1. META:

Meta Inc., formerly known as Facebook Inc., is the parent organization of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and other subsidiaries, is located in Menlo Park, California.

Meta’s VR products use the brand name Oculus. Oculus is probably best known as the first developer of the modern virtual reality headset.

John Carmack, a famous gaming visionary of id Software and Doom, was one of the team members before he left the company over legal disputes with ZeniMax.

Facebook bought Oculus for $2 billion in 2016, but it still runs as a separate VR company on Facebook; its revenue is over 100 million. Oculus products include Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift, Oculus Go, and Oculus Rift S.

2. SAMSUNG:

Samsung is an electronic company that was founded in March 1938 and is located in Samsung Town, Seoul, South Korea.

Samsung has many phone products in the market but in November 2015, they launched a smartphone-based Samsung Gear VR, a virtual reality headset that you can slip your phone right into and it is also cheaper than most VR products; to date, it is preferred by most people because of its lower cost.

In July 2018, Samsung together with NASA launched “A Moon for All Mankind” (AMFAM), a 4D Lunar Gravity VR experience.

The company also produces Gear VR controllers, Samsung VR browser, and accessories like joystick, wireless galaxy game controllers, and others. In the nearest future, Samsung may begin to produce games.

 3. Microsoft Corporation:

Microsoft was founded in  April 1975 by  Bill Gate and Paul Allen. It is located in Washington, United States. Microsoft is basically known for developing and supporting software, computing and networking.

The  Microsoft  Windows 10 operating system allows unanimous PCs and laptops to experience Windows Mixed Reality, that is, a VR and AR experience platform. Microsoft’s VR experience presents the most famous VR games through Stream VR.

Also, Altspace VR, a social VR and one of the services of Microsoft corporation can be used to connect with friends, both old and new ones.

The Windows Mixed Reality also offers Maquette, which empowers users to design unique immersive interfaces, scenes, objects, and experiences with a variety of powerful tools and assets that allows you to build and repeat ideas within 3D space. 

Microsoft Corporation joined the VR space with its production and launch of HoloLens, which focuses not just on games but on practical applications as well such as medical imaging and complex equipment repair.

 Microsoft Corporation introduced a cheaper and easy-to-use software tool called Mesh in 2021, and it is for people to access greater reality and VR content, and also assists creators to create an enhanced digital and holographic world. 

This company shows that VR companies can also be big existing companies as well.

4. Unity:

This is a game engine company located in San Francisco and other 12 countries including Germany, China, and the United Kingdom to name a few, was founded in the year 2004.

They provide complete solutions for experts and allow them to create, develop and operate a real-time 3D experience. Most of the content that has been used in VR space has gone through the Unity 3D engine including Pokemon Go, making Unity an integral part of VR and a top VR company.

Unity is also a great developer in the field of 3D animation and their platform is used by different creators, artists, architects, filmmakers, other VR companies, and designers to create, develop, and monetize stimulating 2D and 3D content for smartphones, tablets, PCs and other virtual reality devices. This company has done projects with Microsoft corporation, Sony (PS4 and PS5), Apple (IOS) and Alphabet (Android tv), and numerous others.

The Unity development engine lays the grounds for half of all mobile games and virtual or augmented reality content, including Pokemon Go.

5. ALPHABET: 

Alphabet is widely known as the parent company of Google but Google was renamed Alphabet after its restructuring on 2nd October  2015, making Google it’s subsidiary.

This company deals in  – search engines, AI, VR, AR, networking, computers, IoT, drones, space projects, smartphones, etc. It is one of the biggest VR companies today.

It was founded in the year 1998 and is located in Mountain View, California, USA. With its revenue of  $2.6 billion annually, it is the third-largest technology company.

In 2014, Alphabet Inc with its launch of Google Cardboard joined the VR space. The Google Cardboard is a cardboard-shaped headset that can be attached to a user’s smartphone screen and is also very cheap. Other of their VR products include Google DayDream, Google Expeditions VR, Google YouTube VR, and other VR applications.

6. SONY: 

Sony was founded in May 1946, is a Japanese mega tech company, located in Minato Tokyo, Japan. They specialize in the design, production, manufacturing, and sale of different types of electronic equipment, tools, and devices, as well as games and software.

In 2016, Sony entered the VR space with the successful launch of Playstation VR a headset priced and sold at USD 399.

Presently, Sony is concentrating on a more advanced level of virtual reality headset for  PS5 which will consist of a single cord, enhanced field, and view for better and simpler use.

7. HTC:

HTC is one of the oldest tech companies founded in the year 1997, it is located in North Conway, United States. The company specializes in the production of smartphones and other electronic devices but recently, they have joined the VR space with the production of an institutional-grade VR headset in 2017.

The HTC Vive Pro, HTC Viveport, and two other versions of the Pro Eye were released after the first and original professional HTC Vive headset. HTC  Vive is able to allow the user to move around the room and not just sit in a spot.

The company offers  VR products under the brand name HTC VIVE Focus Series, VIVE Pro Series with integrated wireless capabilities, VIVE Cosmos Series, and VIVE accessories. The company also partnered with Valve for their project.

In May 2019, HTC VIVE signed an agreement with SYNNEX Corporation to deliver its virtual reality solutions to enterprise resellers. Under this agreement, the resellers have got access to HTC VIVE’s VR. Google and  Samsung are one of their clients. The company has $1.billion as its revenue.

8. NVIDIA:

Nvidia provides VR technology for creators, filmmakers, designers, and VR companies to create and develop better apps and games. The company was founded in 1993 and it is located in Santa Clara, USA.  

In the month of April 2021, Nvidia announced the development of a new software kit called the CloudXR, to power creators and developers to create more pleasant and immersive reality content and experiences.

We all know Nvidia’s iconic dedication to top-of-the-line graphics cards that allow us to see our favorite games in the best quality possible

Nvidia is one of the best when it comes to GPU graphics cards, some of which support VR, AR, and MR gaming on both PCs and other devices Nvidia provides a smooth and easy program or app that allows a more realistic experience for the user. Nvidia has $7.6 billion as its revenue.

9. MATTERPORT:

Matterport is an American-based 3D technology company that provides solutions to virtual media problems. It was founded by the trio: Dave Gausebeck, Matt Bell, and Mike Beebe and it is located in Sunnyvale, California.

They provide immersive 3D tours to help individuals and businesses grow. Matterport provides a platform to capture any space with their VR gadgets and have a good reality experience. Matterport is funded by 27 investors including DCM Ventures and Lux Capital.

The company provides lots of services which include their mobile application known as Matterport Capture App, a Virtual reality platform called the Matterport CoreVR, and Matterport 3D Showcase but their basic services are Matterport cameras and Matterport Cloud, which is high intelligence storage that processes the captured image to their Matterport space.

Matterport puts the future of building at our fingertips with their 3D cameras. The pandemic increased the demand for VR technology and also contributed to its growth, as industries try to enhance training in the following fields, medical institutions, military actions, construction companies for engineers, and also in the entertainment industry.

10. VUZIX :

Vuzix is a technology firm that is located in Rochester, New York. It was founded in 1997 by Paul Travers. It was formally known as Icuite but in 2007, it was rebranded to Vuzix.

Vuzix specializes in optical goods like smart glasses, wearable and head display technology, VR, and immersive reality. Vuzix manufactures and sells computer display devices and software.

Their services include 3D games, manufacturing training, and some military tactical equipment. Between 2010 and 2011, Vuzix introduced a  model of see-through augmented glasses known as the STAR 1200 for $4999. 

INTEL obtained a 30% of Vuzix’s stock for $24.8 million on the 5th of January 2015. Vuzix is currently collaborating with DARPA to create and develop a next-generation heads-up display for military ground personnel. Their smart glasses have a user-centered ergonomic design and they are the current market leader for video eyewear.