When it comes to new technology, nothing is making waves quite like virtual reality. When one of the world’s largest companies (Facebook and Meta) starts investing heavily in something, everyone needs to pay attention.

However, while VR is still finding its footing in mainstream media and culture, there’s one area where it’s already dominating – adult content. VR porn is quickly becoming the go-to option for many adult sites, and the numbers are trending upward.

But why is that the case, and is VR erotica that much better than traditional 2D versions? Let’s get a box of tissues ready and find out.

By the Numbers: A Brief Look at VR’s Share of Adult Entertainment

It’s something of a cliche at this point, but everyone knows that porn websites occupy a significant portion of the internet. While the chunk is a bit smaller than you might imagine (only 4 percent total), it’s so easy to find adult content that many users need special programs to filter it out.

When it comes to VR websites, the trend is much higher than traditional web pages. In 2017, around 60 percent of all sites were related to adult content, and traffic was only increasing. In recent years, as VR has become more mainstream, the percentage has likely decreased, but only partially.

As far as usership goes, the vast majority of users are male. Around three-quarters of male VR users have visited porn sites with their devices. By comparison, only 57 percent of women reported the same habits.

Finally, when it comes to countries of origin, the United States takes the largest share with over 31 percent of the market. The UK is second with eight percent, and Germany is close behind with seven percent. Oddly enough, although Japanese VR content is commonplace, the country has relatively little adoption compared to other industrialized nations.

It’s pretty remarkable to see demand skyrocket like this, mainly because these sites have only cropped up in the last five years or so. It seems like users are hungry for sensual and sexy VR experiences and are far more comfortable seeking them out than one might think.

Is VR Porn Really Better?

While initial interest is clearly headed upward, do users prefer VR content over traditional porn? It’s hard to tell because there’s not really any data on it, but anecdotal evidence seems to suggest that once you go virtual, there’s no going back. But why is VR adult entertainment so appealing? Let’s break down some of the pros and cons:

  • Pro: Immersive Content – It’s so much easier to get into the mood when it feels like you’re in the room with someone else about to get it on. While not all VR scenes are shot in a point-of-view setting, most of them are. Even voyeuristic scenes are far more immersive than watching them on a flat screen.
  • Con: Longer Setup Time – Online porn is super convenient, so all one has to do is drop their pants and open a new browser tab. With VR porn, however, the experience is much more complicated, especially when using synced sex toys.
  • Pro: Full-Body Experience – Although it takes longer to set up a VR sex scene with toys, the pleasure is so much better. Typically, women have it easier because of the rise of teledildonics, but there are some toys for men too. When everything is synchronized, the scene feels that much more real.
  • Con: High Entry Price – Masturbating by hand costs nothing, and even if you use lube, it’s pretty cheap. For VR scenes, though, high-quality headsets can cost up to $300, and that’s not including any toys.

Overall, for tech-savvy people, the switch to VR sites like SexLikeReal makes a lot of sense. While there is still something of a hurdle to overcome, the reward is well worth the investment and the effort.