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Virtual reality has significantly changed the gaming landscape, but this technology can do much more than just games.

VR continues to innovate in every industry it touches, and in some very surprising ways. Be it a new way to watch movies with friends, or an entirely different way to pass the time, let's have a look at just some of the ways VR is changing entertainment.

Virtual Reality: New Ways to Entertain

So how could VR change entertainment? VR Gaming is an obvious example, with the industry seeing a glut of new ways to design and play games, but what else is changing?

In some ways, the same industries we're used to are seeing new life in VR headsets. In other ways, entirely new mediums are cropping up, where virtual reality is the only way you can appreciate them.

Only time will tell what will continue to grow and evolve and what will be left in the dust after the novelty has worn off. One thing is for sure: all of them are worth checking out if you have a VR headset.

1. VR Music Concerts and Nightclubs

Concerts delivered to a virtual audience is a concept that has been tackled before. The Metaverse is already changing the industry with concerts and games, and Fortnite famously offers a platform for musicians to play at a virtual concert.

Of course, VR can take this to an entirely new level.

Delivered through platforms such as VRChat or Wave VR, virtual reality concerts allow users from anywhere in the world to gather and enjoy the performance of their favorite artist, live and with all the bells and whistles that VR allows.

This meshes well with another relatively recent concept. The VR nightclub.

Popularized by virtual venues such as Shelter VR, what better way to enjoy a good performance than by hitting the virtual dance floor?

This is where you'll see lots of people showing off their full-body tracking rigs and other VR accessories, allowing them to dance with every part of their bodies.

2. VR Movie Nights

Watching an entire movie with a headset strapped to your face doesn't seem very appealing at first, but a fairly popular virtual pass time is a callback to an old classic: the movie night.

Virtual reality movie nights were popularized by Bigscreen, essentially a multiplayer VR movie theater. They allow people to come together and enjoy a movie, show, or even just a YouTube video. Taking advantage of VR's unique features, you're able to pack as many people as you'd like into a single virtual room without having to be concerned about actually fitting everyone in your living room.

With the resolutions of VR headsets improving by the year, clarity is less of a concern than it used to be, and the virtual environment allows people to play and create as much as they can just sit and watch.

It might not be the way to watch a gripping drama, but whatever you do watch, at least you'll be with good company.

3. VR Museums

Another huge boon for those with barriers to travel, museums of all kinds have taken it upon themselves to digitally recreate their venue for a unique virtual reality experience.

VR museums have been around since the very early days of VR, first appearing as digital recreations for users to take tours in.

Some museums, such as the Smithsonian, offer virtual tours through the actual museum. Others, such as the Louvre, have created fresh new experiences that take advantage of the unique features of VR.

This allows historical materials, works of art, and other usually inaccessible content to be viewed and enjoyed by essentially anyone. There's a wealth of history and art to be enjoyed through your VR headset.

4. Sports Streams in Virtual Reality

You've hit the club, checked out the Louvre, and now some of you may be wondering if you can also watch the next big game on your VR headset.

As you might expect, you can. While the other concepts on this list usually involve their own application, watching sports through a VR headset is a little different and, to some, a little limiting.

Certain organizations, such as the NBA or Sky Sports 3D, offer 3D versions of their streams that you can play through a VR headset or a web client.

This means you can pop on your headset and look around to your heart's content. Unfortunately, this isn't any more advanced than watching a 3D video at the time of writing.

You won't be recreating the experience of sitting in the stands with your mates, but you will see a sport from a close-up perspective that might have otherwise been impossible.

5. Virtual Reality Arcades

Let's get out of the house for this one. So far, these concepts have really benefited those that might prefer to stay at home for certain events, but what if you want to go somewhere with your friends?

VR arcades are another idea from VR's infancy that has stuck around. Take an arcade, but replace all the coin-munching cabinets with VR headsets.

A lot of the time, this takes the form of what some people call Warehouse VR, a large space that allows players to run around to their hearts' content, all while involved in the virtual world.

You can expect a unique game or tailored experience from a VR arcade. There are certain games out there that are designed specifically for VR arcades and aren't available for consumer purchase.

If you decide to try out a VR arcade, you'll likely have an experience you can't have elsewhere.

Virtual Reality Is Experimenting With Entertainment

Just like gaming, VR is taking the broad medium of entertainment by storm.

Many of these experiments may stay as just experiments, but people are already finding lasting ways to entertain, impact, and move users with the exciting medium of virtual reality. Be it a way to curb social anxiety, to see something you've never seen before, or even just to play an exciting video game, VR is here to stay.

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