VR in 2025: How Has VR Technology Improved So Far? And How Does It Affect Training?

Introduction to VR in 2025

As we approach 2025, the landscape of training technology is rapidly evolving. Virtual Reality (VR) has become an increasingly important tool in professional development across industries. When VR entered the spotlight, it was initially associated with gaming, and seen as a massive improvement for the video games & entertainment industry in terms of enhancing immersion for gamers.

Nowadays, while still popular in the gaming industry, its found a powerful niche in corporate training and used by companies around the world such as Walmart, ExxonMobil, UPS, Volvo, and many more thanks to it’s amazing ability to provide immersive learning experiences, improving engagement and retention while also reducing costs and risk to employees.

VR Training over the years has proven to be effective across many industries including energy, construction, logistics, retail, healthcare, military, and more. The thousands of virtual reality training tools created for these industries have had amazing results in terms of successfully improving training standards for the companies using it.

In this post, we’ll explore the progress of VR technology and discuss it’s growth and what the future holds for virtual reality, particularly in the training field, as we head into 2025.

How has VR Technology Improved So Far?

Virtual reality has had had significant improvements over the past decade, when it originally became available to consumers in the gaming market, it was incredibly bulky and tedious to set up. It was also expensive and less immersive than it is today. Nowadays it’s gone through several improvements making it easier and moer affordable.

While it’s still a niche in the gaming world due to the overwhelming competition from easier to access video games, but in the world of enterprise, virtual reality comes with added benefits that are irreplaceable for training, such as enabling hundreds in the U.S Air Force Weather Agency a chance to practice how to assemble an incredibly expensive and complex weather station for the military at a much cheaper price point from anywhere in the world, or memorize the complex process for safely transferring hazardous chemicals.

Technology Improvements To Date:

• Display Technology transitioned from LCD to OLED with higher resolutions (4k+ per eye) with 120hz+ refresh rates.
• Standalone Devices have become the standard, with inside-out tracking using camera, removing the need for external sensors and cables everywhere.
• Headset comfortability has improved immensely thanks to headset design with comfortable weight distribution and accessories for more adjustability.
• Affordability improvements now that virtual reality no longer requires powerful gaming pcs/external sensors to be used. The most popular modern VR headsets can be used completely wirelessly for only $200.
• Built-in hand tracking has unlocked the ability for hands to be tracked from Meta Quest 2 ($200) onward, without requiring extra hand tracking sensors.
• Software has improved in virtual reality operating systems, and VR developers now understand better how to keep users comfortable in their simulatons.

These are the reasons that virtual reality continues to grow, and it’s why 42.75% of the worlds’s top brands have virtual reality projects underway.

Exciting Technology Developments to Keep an Eye Out for VR This Year

This year, there have been promising new developments for emerging advancements in technology that will have an impact on virtual reality in 2025 and our future. Here’s what to look out for:

1. Apple Vision Pro: When the first edition of Apple’s mixed reality headset released earlier this year, it caused a huge surge in popularity with VR/AR, this year we can expect news on the next edition for the headset which introduced Micro OLED displays to further revolutionize the VR industry and have a huge impact on immersion and quality for training and gaming alike.

   On top of this, the Apple Vision Pro came with unique features and improvements to existing systems such as intuitive eye-tracking controls, and spatial awareness for safety when in virtual reality.

2. AI-Enhanced Training: You’d have to be living under a rock to not have heard about how artificial intelligence (AI) has been growing rapidly and impacting the way we use technology. As AI continues to improve, training software improves with it. For example, AI-powered instructors allowing for conversational dialogue between instructor and trainee within the VR training application which has potential to be huge for virtual soft skills training.

   And improving AI systems designed to automatically adapt in real-time to each individual learner and tailor traingn to suit them and the way they learn, as well as focusing on topics efficiently for each individual user.

3. Cloud Computing: For high quality virtual experiences at an affordable pricce, cloud-based virtual reality platforms will become eventually become more widespread. Cloud-based VR means using powerful graphical hardware through the cloud to render high quality 3d visuals on a vrtual reality system without the need for an expensive PC tethered to the VR headset.

   This will massively improve scalability for companies using virtual reality training, meaning if they want the highest end visual fidelity, they only need to purchase a headset for about $200 and not worry about reaching 4 digits per training unit, just for higher visual quality.

4. Brain-Computer Interface (BCI): This one may be slightly further in the future due to the amount of care needed in developing these systems, but I’m hopeful that afer many years, BCIs can enhance training and technology in general even further. Combining the powers of cloud computing, AI technology and brain computer interfaces, we’re set for an unimaginable future.

What Can We Expect to Change For Training with VR in 2025

• Increased adoption of VR Training in Industry: With VR technology growing, we can expect the trend of all the top businesses investing in virtual reality training to continue rising.
• Affordability: As more and more VR headsets release, the market also continues to grow, and thanks to this, virtual reality has become much more affordable and high-end VR systems become more affordable every year.
• Increased software development for the Apple Vision Pro: When Apple Vision Pro released in early 2024, developers around the world felt a surge of excitement and have started tinkering on those systems. There have already been some great VisionOS apps created, so I can’t wait to see what we see in 2025.
• Hardware improvements: With Apple releasing their mixed reality headset, it increased competition in the VR hardware market, which will benefit consumers as VR hardware producers will want to stand out.

  Also Meta releasing their OS for hardware tech brands to use in creating virtual reailty hardware, reduces the burden of needing to create their own operating system which is a challenge that pushed companies away in the past. Micro-OLED is also likely to be more widely adopted by new hardware brands creating VR headsets.

The State of Virtual Reality Technology in 2025

As VR technology continues to advance, its role in training is becoming more ad more critical across industries. By 2025, VR will be more affordable, accessible, and effective. Offering more immersive, and cost efficient learning experiences. Enhanced display technology, standalone devices, and AI-driven training systems are pushing VR’s capabilities even further.

Companies like Meta and Apple are driving innovation, ensuring that the future of VR training will be even more impactful. The growth in VR adoption and market value signals a strong future for immersive training. Beyond 2025, I expect VR to be even more immersive, scalable, affordable, and popular.