Apple Vision Pro + Entertainment: A Special Report

Since the Vision Pro launched in February in the U.S., Apple’s mixed reality headset has drawn mixed reactions from early adopters, in-store testers, consumer tech reviewers, analysts and Mark Zuckerberg.

Some consumers have been effusive, enthralled with the immersive experience to the point of tears. Others were underwhelmed or outright uncomfortable.

Analysts were similarly split. Some struggled to get a fix on who and what the device was for. Others were impressed, honing in on media consumption and entertainment applications as the initial go-to use case and main selling point. “The Vision Pro is clearly constructed to become a content powerhouse,” wrote Morgan Stanley analyst Erik W. Woodring.

In this special report, “Apple Vision Pro + Entertainment,” Variety Intelligence Platform takes a focused but comprehensive look at the full spectrum of content on Apple’s mixed reality headset, including 3D and immersive movies, TV shows and sports, VR video games, live events and metaverse-like experiences and even user-generated spatial videos.

Indeed, Vision Pro is the first headset to position watching video content as a central use, with Disney CEO Bob Iger appearing onstage at WWDC 2023 when the device was first unveiled. Reviewers have even argued that Vision Pro is actually a TV, just one you wear on your face.

While it’s still early days, the arrival of Vision Pro signals the era of mixed reality entertainment is here. For Hollywood and other creative industries, the moment has come to pay attention to what Vision Pro could mean for the next wave of content innovation.