Although 2016 was touted to be the year of VR, with the likes of Sony and HTC launching powerful devices, the tech proved too expensive for mainstream audiences. Seeking to make virtual worlds more accessible is the Oculus Go, an affordable headset that doesn’t need a high-end computer to operate.

As dedicated venues open up worldwide, VR gaming could help revive the popularity of amusement arcades. Despite the growing interest, home VR is still prohibitively expensive for most, so third party venues give the opportunity to become a key destination for next-gen gamers.

Facebook is looking to connect people with others in a more immersive way by letting them hang out with groups of interest through virtual reality headsets. In doing so, the social network is demonstrating that the technology can be used for much more than gaming.

Expensive headsets and a lack of mainstream exposure mean that virtual reality is still very much a niche interest in most countries. But in China, VR cafés run by Shenzhen-based start-up Emax are turning this emerging technology into everyday entertainment with a social side.