A more affordable Apple Vision Pro is essential for rekindling app developers’ interest

In February, Apple made a significant announcement by unveiling its high-end AR/VR headset, the Vision Pro. Despite the initial excitement surrounding its release, the device has struggled to maintain interest, largely due to its exorbitant price of $3,500 in the United States. It seems that only dedicated tech enthusiasts are inclined to purchase the Apple Vision Pro, which has, in turn, deterred app developers from creating content for the visionOS ecosystem.

Although marketing a luxury product to a niche audience can be viable, the high cost limits the user base, consequently dissuading developers—especially for a fledgling platform like visionOS—from investing their efforts. Apple initially boasted that over 600 applications and games would be ready on the visionOS App Store at launch. However, as of August, the total number of available apps had only reached 2,500.

Recent analysis from Appfigures, featured in the Wall Street Journal, illustrates a stark reduction in the creation of new apps for the Apple Vision Pro, with each month showing a marked decline. The report highlights that just 10 new apps were added to the visionOS App Store in September, a significant drop from the hundreds available shortly after the product’s launch.

When the Wall Street Journal reached out to developers about the slowdown in app releases, many pointed to the limited user base and missing crucial features as key reasons for their hesitancy. Hrafn Thorisson, CEO of Aldin Dynamics, a VR gaming studio based in Iceland, remarked, “We’re not in a rush. We’re waiting to see a more promising direction and the arrival of the next device.”

Scott Albright, the head of Combat Waffle Studios, expressed his concerns regarding the Vision Pro’s appeal to gamers, noting its lack of dedicated gaming controllers. “It’s fantastic that Apple is involved, but they need to clarify the headset’s purpose,”he stated. Despite some remaining excitement for the Apple Vision Pro, the scarcity of engaging content is leaving the product feeling stagnant. Notably, there is still a lack of apps for major streaming services like Netflix, Spotify, and YouTube.

We invite you to share your opinions on the diminishing interest in Apple Vision Pro and what strategies Apple could implement to rekindle app developers’ enthusiasm.

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