VR (virtual reality) has been in the headlines for several years, but it’s only recently it’s gone into the mainstream. Until now, you probably knew very few people (or none at all) with VR headsets. Today, VR is becoming an aspirational item for a wider range of consumers. Let’s talk about the biggest VR companies and discuss which are the most popular virtual reality companies in the world right now.
As the VR industry gets bigger with each passing year, there are plenty of large virtual reality companies and tech companies with virtual reality branches all over the world.
List of the Biggest VR Companies
Let’s take a look at some facts about the VR companies we will discuss in this article, focusing on facts such as when they were founded, their flagship VR products, the number of employees, and more.
| VR Company | Year Founded | Flagship Product | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung | 1969 | Gear VR With Controller | 287,439 |
| iTechArt | 2002 | Custom software development services | 3500 |
| Tencent | 1998 | WeChat app | 62,885 |
| Microsoft | 1972 | HoloLens 2 | 103,000 |
| HTC | 1990 | HTC Vive Virtual Reality System | 11,000 |
| Oculus | 2012 | Oculus Quest All-in-One VR System | 19,000 |
| Snap Inc. | 2011 | Snap Spectacles | 3,863 |
| Dassault Systemes | 1981 | SolidWorks and CATIA | 20,000 |
| Vuzix | 1987 | Smart Glasses | 90 |
| Facebook/META | 2004 | Metaverse (in development) | 60,000 |
| Qualcomm | 1985 | Snapdragon 835 | 41,000 |
| NVIDIA | 1993 | GetForce RTX | 18,100 |
| Google/Alphabet | 1998 | Google Daydream VR Headset | 135,301 |
| Unity Technologies | 2004 | The Unity Engine | 3,379 |
| Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) | 1969 | AMD Liquid VR Technology | 15,500 |
More About the Biggest VR Companies in the World
Samsung
Samsung is indisputably among the world’s largest VR companies. Of course, it isn’t solely a VR company, but virtual reality is an increasingly significant part of its business and research.
Starting out in South Korea in 1969 with an initial focus on color television manufacturing, Samsung has since become an iconic brand.
Today, Samsung continually earns international accolades for its research and products. In 2020, it came in number 5 on Interbrand’s list of the Best Global Brands. Samsung is famous for its top-notch smartphones.
When it comes to virtual reality, Samsung produces the Gear VR with Controller (Amazon link), Powered by Oculus. This VR headset is a complete system allowing users to enjoy VR games and worlds. It was designed with comfort and convenience top of mind.
iTechArt
A newer company, iTechArt was founded in 2002. Since then, it’s grown exponentially, establishing a presence in several different places around the world including London, Kyiv, and more.
iTechArt takes pride in the skill of its engineers and how it helps its clients.
iTechArt has been recognized and lauded by publications such as Inc., and the Financial Times. It is also a part of Amazon’s AWS Partner Network, and it was recognized in 2020 by the Network Products Guide IT World Awards.
When it comes to virtual reality, iTechArt describes its approach as “holistic.” It dedicates itself to full immersion and realistic experiences for its VR users. iTechArt produces impressive VR software recognized throughout the industry.
Tencent
With headquarters in Shenzhen, China, Tencent Holdings is an investment firm with a massive tech footprint. In fact, Tencent is among the largest gaming operations on the planet.
This company has produced games designed especially for virtual reality experiences. A selection of Tencent games come with build-in headset functionality.
Tencent employs 62,885 people and has revenue as high as $54.6 billion. Its assets are worth $137 billion.
Microsoft
Microsoft is a company that needs no introduction. We all know its history and significance. But what is less known is VR technology is becoming important in Microsoft’s operations.
When it comes to the world of VR, Microsoft’s operations encompass both Augmented Reality and VR. In fact, Microsoft offers a selection of virtual reality headsets and accessories including the HoloLens2 (Amazon link), and the HP Reverb G2 (Amazon link).
HTC
HTC is one of the most significant VR companies, and it makes the HTC Vive (Amazon link). Consumers serious about virtual reality consider this headset and virtual reality system one of the best.
HTC provides the necessary headset, handheld devices, and sensors to put throughout your room for the best possible immersive virtual reality experience.
Oculus
When you think of VR headsets, you probably think of Oculus. Oculus is a dedicated virtual reality company. It has created innovative VR technologies tailored to the entertainment and business industries, and its Oculus Quest 2 (Amazon link / Manufacturer link) is one of the most popular VR headsets in the world.
Consumer VR headsets, controllers, and more from Oculus are wildly popular in the marketplace.
Snap Inc.
Even if you’ve never heard of Snap, you certainly know about their most famous product: Snapchat. Snap is also heavily involved in VR and augmented reality.
Snap AR provides development and design services for creators. For example, it provides the Lens Web Builder, Lens Studio, Lens Analytics, and My Lenses.
Dassault Systemes
One of the largest virtual reality companies on the planet, Dassault Systemes is based in Paris, France and employs 19.361 people.
This company serves other companies and creators, giving them the technology and guidance necessary to provide immersive 3D virtual experiences. Dassault Systemes’ operations center on technology they refer to as Immersive Virtuality.
Vuzix
Vuzix is integral to the virtual reality market in its smart glass production. That is why this company is so essential in the creation of VR technologies by other companies.
As well as VR, Vuzix also supplies smart glass for video conferencing applications, as well as medical purposes (for example, operating rooms), and even smart goggles for swimmers (Amazon link).
Facebook / META
This is one company we all know. Expanding far beyond its best-known focus, which is social media and the Facebook platform, Facebook is taking steps deep into the world of virtual reality.
In fact, Oculus, one of the other companies we have talked about here, is owned by Facebook. Facebook purchased Oculus for $2 billion in 2014. More recently, in 2020, Facebook’s new social VR experience Horizon was beta-launched.
Qualcomm
Qualcomm’s products and services are used by its clients to create completely immersive VR on mobile devices. This company produces microchips with specifications necessary for end-to-end applications in virtual reality.
This VR and digital telecommunications company employs 37,000 people and has a revenue of $24.7 billion. Qualcomm has its headquarters in San Diego, California.
NVIDIA
Nvidia is well-known for its top-quality graphics cards that play a significant role in the gaming industry. This company focuses on providing virtual reality technology that creators use for producing games and apps.
This company designs and produces chipsets, computer graphics processors, and more for the virtual reality marketplace. Clients, such as game designers and producers, rely on Nvidia for the necessary components. Nvidia is based in Santa Clara, California.
Google / Alphabet
Google’s influence extends far beyond just its world-famous search engine. This company is devoting increasingly more time to developing virtual reality technology. It’s starting simple, with its fun “Google Cardboard.”
You use it to create VR experiences with your smartphone. Best of all, it’s incredibly cheap, making it attractive to VR beginners. Another VR product Google has released is the Google Daydream View (Amazon link). This is a controller and headset product.
Unity Technologies
Based in San Francisco, Unity Technologies is yet another large VR company. It’s a software and video game development company. Unity was founded in 2004, in Copenhagen, Germany. This company focuses on real-time 3D virtual reality software.
Unity Technologies facilitates its clients’ ability not only to establish and operate VR experiences, but also monetize them in meaningful and lucrative ways. Unity Technologies employs 3,379 people.
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD)
A semiconductor company, Advanced Micro Devices is a Santa Clara-based company providing LiquidVR technology. This technology is used widely by virtual reality creators and developers, as it makes the VR experience more immersive and realistic.
LiquidVR technology also makes VR content production easier and simpler. Advanced Micro Devices has 11,400 employees and has a $7.2 billion revenue.
What is the Future of the VR Industry?
Most of us already know that the VR (virtual reality) industry is sure to grow exponentially over the coming years and decades. With VR, users experience immersive environments completely created by computer technology.
The VR experience is made possible with specialized equipment, such as a VR helmet or headset.
Video game enthusiasts, otherwise known as gamers, especially appreciate VR for how it makes their games more realistic. But virtual reality is also being used in a variety of industries.
Accordingly, experts expect VR to be near or at the top of the list of technologies that will grow the most in the near future.
The fact that VR is becoming more affordable and accessible for consumers makes it an even more formidable industry area.
Many tech companies, such as the ones we talked about earlier, are focusing more on VR and developing new approaches to virtual reality products and experiences.
Final Thoughts About the Biggest VR Companies
As we have seen here, there are numerous large and important VR companies all over the world.
While some of these companies are completely devoted to VR, others are larger tech companies with a wide range of product and service areas that have expanded into the virtual reality arena.
As the industry develops even further, more enterprises are sure to be founded.
