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Is AR In Front For Smartphones As VR Stumbles?

Is AR In Front For Smartphones As VR Stumbles?

Craig Chapple, Editor at PocketGamer.biz, examines the case for AR’s dominance in a mobile-driven market.

 

While consumer augmented reality headsets may still be years away, from almost nowhere AR has sprung itself to the forefront of smartphone innovation.

In the public consciousness, it all started with Niantic’s location-based AR game Pokemon GO. It’s a great title that blends AR and location-based gameplay (harnessing tech built from its previously title, Ingress, and lessons from its first app Field Trip) that effectively utilises its IP to great effect.

It was AR’s killer app straight out the gate before the public even knew they wanted it. Something that succinctly shows off the potential of AR in an entertaining way. Comparisons with Virtual Reality may be harsh, but VR has been stuck without a killer app and developers have had their hands on it for years.

It’s all about AR now. Expensive headsets not required. Just the camera on the phone you’re already going to get. And it’s the next frontier for smartphones that are struggling to find other innovative new features.

Pokemon GO brought AR to the public consciousness.
 

 

AR feels like it’s here and now. VR is now the distant prospect after its slow start.

Big investments

The biggest companies in the world have all cottoned on to how just big AR could be. Apple has developed ARKit, while Google has released ARCore (effectively a rebranded Tango that's more accessible).

Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg has also been touting its potential as the company gears up for its own AR platform that will support games and other location-based activities.

The investment in AR (in Apple’s case instead of in VR) and the accessibility of these tools speaks volumes. Somehow, AR feels like it’s here and now. VR is now the distant prospect after its slow start.

 

Apple Event

Apple’s special event keynote spent some time showing off the AR features of the iPhone 8, 8 Plus and brand new iPhone X, as well as on Augmented Reality games as Apple brought out yet another company to show off their project.

Chinese developer Directive Games showed off real-time MOBA-like title The Machines, coming exclusively to iOS this month. Harnessing ARKit, the game is able to turn a table into a warzone, in which players can battle it out in local and online multiplayer.

Apple iPhone 8 and ARKit will reach the masses.
 

What better way to get people onboard with AR than the smartphone?

Accessible Form Factor

AR experiences work on multiple fronts. The technology lends itself well for practical real-world uses (measuring a table, for example), it can be used socially and for games (see Pokemon GO, The Machines) and doesn’t require an expensive headset in its current form (not withstanding HoloLens).

As Niantic CEO John Hanke says, AR glasses are coming, but they’ll take time. But what better way right now to get people onboard with AR than the smartphone? VR has proven a difficult marketing proposition as it’s technology that consumers are unfamiliar with until they try it.

The sell for specialist AR hardware will be difficult, but it will at least have familiarity behind the concept to support it.

AR glasses are coming; will Magic Leap be first to market?
 

We were all sold the VR dream, but right now it’s coming up short.

Mavens Mantra

When PocketGamer.biz asked indie developers for their thoughts on ARKit and Augmented Reality for phones, the consensus was positive and optimistic.

“Where VR cuts you off, AR opens up the world,” said Perchang Co-founder Ben Murch, who offered up various use cases such as playing a virtual tabletop game with friends, all on their smartphones.

Dumpling Design Studio Head Travis Ryan said: “It’s bloody exciting, isn't it? A new technology within reach of a vast audience and a chance to rewrite the rulebooks; opportunities like that don’t come around very often.

“At this point, it's clear VR isn't going mainstream any time soon; cost, set-up and its isolating nature, not to mention the technical and physiological impact, were all huge oversights when considering a new technology for the mass audience.”

We were all sold the VR dream, but right now it’s coming up short.

With AR, as the Apple mantra goes, ‘It just works’.

 

This feature was originally published on our sister site, PocketGamer.biz. You can read the full article here

 

You can discover more about Augmented Reality at XR Connects Helsinki 2017 on September 19th and 20th.

Head of Content

Craig Chapple is a freelance analyst, consultant and writer with specialist knowledge of the games industry. He has previously served as Senior Editor at PocketGamer.biz, as well as holding roles at Sensor Tower, Nintendo and Develop.