Considering that more than a 10^th of websites on the internet are pornographic, and those websites combined get more traffic than Netflix, Amazon and Twitter, we can deduce that when a new, or vastly improved medium of porn consumption comes around – one that vigorously ups the viewer’s level of intimacy with the actor(s) – it’s probably going to be big … very big.

PornHub, one of the world’s most watched ‘adult entertainment’ websites, knew this when this year it released a dedicated virtual reality category. “It’s like you’re there,” says one very gratified user in the ad PornHub released for this new medium of virtually having sex with people. In a statement Pornhub Vice President Corey Price talked of the VR channel, which now gives users an interactive experience as well as mere voyeuristic thrills. “Virtual reality is the next phase in the constantly metamorphosing world of adult entertainment and will provide users with a mesmeric experience unlike anything they’ve seen before,” said Price.

It was reported prior to its release that the Oculus Rift VR headset would not block X-rated media or apps. And it didn’t. Users can sign-up to a range of websites, including VirtualRealPorn, mount their headset, and off they go into their first up-close foray with a porn star. And those that have tried it, liked it … a lot.

How was it for you?

Most VR porn is of the POV (point of view) genre, which means you see what the actor is seeing. One early reviewer of sex inside the Oculus Rift talked of his hyper-titillation and of being taken to another realm. “Are you a guy who wants to please a beautiful woman? Done. Are you a lady who wants her own Channing Tatum-esque dancer? No problem. You can even take on the role of another gender and explore your sexuality a bit- it’s a remarkably freeing experience no matter what you choose,” he said of his virtual dalliance, whose only drawback was the fact that his fear of being caught masturbating rose tenfold when encapsulated in his new prurient virtual environment.

The amount of apps and websites dedicated to VR porn is growing by the week, and the reviews, like the one above, are almost always glowing. One reviewer writing for International Business Times was, “absolutely convinced it was not only the future – but that all VR headsets were only ever intended for porn,” adding that it felt so real it could potentially leave users feeling guilty for cheating on their real-life partner. Another reviewer using the Oculus-powered Samsung Gear VR writing for Digital Trends writes, “VR takes the genre to a whole new level.”

Reading reviews you’ll find most people repeat the same mantra, this is world-changing, it’s going to be huge, or you can go over to YouTube and just watch the reactions of guys and girls using a VR headset for porn for the first time. Most people also agree on one thing, changing roles and becoming a member of the opposite sex is an unforgettable ride.

Porn metamorphosis

There has in the past been much talk of VR technology being over-hyped, but one thing for sure is, if you spend an afternoon reading people’s reactions to having digital sex for the first time you’ll come to only one conclusion:  the way we, and that’s a hell of a lot of us, watch pornography is soon going to be transformed. Perhaps a second conclusion will be to get yourself down to the store and buy a virtual reality headset. Even if you’re not a porn consumer you will most likely just want to see what all these early users are so overwhelmed, pleased, shocked and mesmerized about.

Only a few days ago Engadget came to their own conclusion after trying out digital sex for the very first time: “If virtual reality is going to take off, it’s going to be on the wings of pornography.” It’s a statement many of us can probably agree with given how popular porn is, but it is also perhaps something no one really wants to talk about. The image is not one the tech industry, the VR industry, or perhaps the world at large, is comfortable with.

It’s going to huge, you can bet your life on it. The headset makers might not come out and say it, but the porn industry is bubbling with excitement over the future of this new medium. Only last week HoloFilm Productions, according to itself, ‘the leading Adult Industry Virtual Reality technology and Content company’, announced the release of HoloCashVR, an affiliate program for adult webmasters that offers what it calls the best in VR content.

Porn pioneer and CEO of HoloFilm Productions Brian Shuster said in a press release, “Almost every single person who buys a VR headset is looking for porn … the people coming to the site are so motivated to buy VR content, that we’re seeing conversion rates that are literally better than anything this industry has experienced in the last 20 years.”

There’s no doubt that more porn studios, little and large, will be mounting cameras on their actors now that we finally have decent VR headsets on the market. According to some reports what’s now available can be of low quality, but lust usually has a way of driving technological advances. It’s probably only a matter of time, and statistical certainty, that a good number of you reading this article will soon pop your VR cherry.

Photo credit: Plalts via Flickr