Virtual reality (VR) is becoming increasingly popular. At present, these catchy technologies are used, for example, for non-traditional forms of employee training, but also to support communication and cooperation within companies or to improve the customer experience.

Simultaneously, the expected market for virtual reality is referred to as a new wave of communication and is predicted to proliferate. In 2021, the value of the VR and AR (Augmented Reality) market is expected by analysts to reach $ 215 billion.

Given that we have already seen several highly successful uses of these technologies in business, it can be expected that half of the companies not yet using VR will become interested in these technologies in the following years. 

Let’s have a look at some of the VR Prague-based startups.

Beat Games

Beat Games is a Prague-based game studio and makers of the hit VR game Beat Saber. Beat Saber is a VR rhythm game where you slash colorful cubes to the beat of adrenaline-pumping music as they fly towards you.

The studio was founded in 2018 and is based on simple game principles – a red and blue lightsaber, and with them, you have to cut blue and red boxes to the beat of the music. However, as simple as it is, it is addictive, and the game is so successful that it was even declared VR Game of the Year in 2019 at The Game Awards.

Facebook bought the studio in 2019 through its company Oculus. Beat Games continues to work on new content for Beat Saber; however, it is not known whether it forms a new title.

Yord Studio

Yord is a development and creative mixed reality studio that provides comprehensive services in virtual & augmented reality, 3D projects, visualization, and virtual showrooms. Among its clients, Yord has companies such as Škoda Auto, ČSOB, or Adidas and likes to cooperate with international NGOs such as Human Right Watch or Equality Now.

The diversity of clients is something they are keen on. Still, it also invests its experience in creating innovative products in the world of immersive reality. Currently, they focus on their new project, Virtual Showrooms (VS) – a web/app e-commerce solution where companies present and sell their products and services and at the same time communicate with their customers as in offline stores.

In Yord, they believe that another milestone is the sale of products in virtual space.

VRgineers

 VRgineers is a tech start-up that deals with developing professional glasses for virtual reality, among the current world leaders. Their portfolio includes NASA, the US Air Force, the US NAVY, BAE Systems, Audi, BMW, and Westfield. In the Czech Republic, for example, Škoda Auto uses XTAL glasses to visualize new models.

VRgineers is the manufacturer of XTAL; a new VR headset grew according to the needs and requirements of professional designers and engineers who require top image quality and accuracy, a wide field of view, easy integration, and data security.

DIVR Labs

DIVR Labs is an independent VR gaming studio that strives to create immersive and exhilarating experiences that challenge and excite its audiences while pushing the VR industry forward. The studio develops unique multisensory experiences that combine the latest dimension of virtual reality with real-world movement.

In 2018, it launched the largest European VR attraction, the Golem. For technology enthusiasts, the toy store Hamleys offers the opportunity to try out the Golem VR project; Golem VR belongs to the category of experiential multisensory games, where the player gets to know the surrounding virtual world and simultaneously moves quite usually.

In the case of the Golem VR, the environment revolves around Prague, and the player has the opportunity to get to know the city and interact live with various objects and solve tasks.