Rebecca Paredes April 1st, 2016
Back in 2014, Slate columnist Daniel Engber wrote about the failed promise of 3D porn. At one point, when Avatar was on track to become the highest-grossing film of all time, the adult entertainment industry jumped at the opportunity to ride on Hollywood’s coattails with the new possibilities of 3D technology.
But then — nothing. The potential for a new porn industry quietly fell off the wayside. It was too expensive and time-consuming, and the technology wasn’t giving viewers a worthwhile experience.
That may change with virtual reality technology.
Pornhub recently announced the launch of a free virtual reality porn channel, created in partnership with adult entertainment service BaDoink. Aside from the novelty of free virtual porn, this announcement represents a move to develop VR technology as an accessible medium for porn and — eventually — other mainstream entertainment industries.
From Glass To Cardboard
While Pornhub’s virtual reality channel is compatible with Oculus Rift, we’re looking forward to a piece of cardboard — specifically, Google Cardboard.
To accompany the announcement, Pornhub distributed 10,000 free pairs of Google Cardboard, a DIY virtual reality viewer that can fit over most smartphones. Google Cardboard suits a wider range of budgets than the stomach-churning price tag of Rift ($599!). The cardboard model starts at just $14.99, and other models on Google Cardboard’s official site top out at $39.95.
While Pornhub’s VR channel also works with the reasonably-priced Samsung Gear VR ($99.99), the site’s Google Cardboard promotion represents a positive step toward ensuring that virtual technology is accessible to a broader audience, whether it’s developed for porn or any other industry.
In a statement, Pornhub vice president Corey Price says, “Now, our users are not only able to view our content, but be protagonists in the experience and interact with their favorite porn stars. We encourage our users to request a free pair of virtual reality goggles and visit Pornhub’s virtual reality section.”
Of course, just because the technology is free doesn’t mean it’s good. As Emanuel Dunkberg writes on Motherboard, “Price is overselling the virtual reality porn experience here, at least as provided by streaming video and Google Cardboard VR … what this method gains in accessibility it more than loses in video quality, comfort, and overall user experience.”
Steps Toward Innovation
Virtual reality is still in its infancy. It has been in development since the 1950s, but it has always been curtailed by high costs with low returns. While Google Cardboard may not provide a fully authentic VR experience when compared to Rift, its integration into a website as prolific and highly trafficked as Pornhub illustrates a move for VR into the mainstream.
It’s too early to tell whether or not VR will truly satisfy consumers' expectations. Piper Jaffray, an investment bank and asset management firm, estimates that the virtual reality porn industry will earn more than $1 billion in revenue by 2025. That’s all well and good for porn, but it’s a bigger deal for the virtual reality industry in general. A continued emphasis on developing affordable VR technology will translate into more captivating experience for everyday consumers.
We have a long way to go until 2025. Until then, you can always build your own version of Google Cardboard — and wait for the next big development in VR. Odds are high that it’s coming soon.
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