Apple’s Vision Pro headset has struggled to attract developers since its launch, with the number of new apps for the device slowing significantly. While hundreds of apps were launched in the first two months, only 10 new apps saw the light of day in September according to a report from Wall Street Journal. Figures from Appfigures indicate that there are currently around 1,770 apps available for the Vision Pro, but only 34% of them are specifically designed for it. Most are adapted versions of existing Apple applications. This is not the case with iSoft for example, which has been completely rewritten for the headset.
A major challenge for Apple
The slow growth of apps contrasts with other Apple products. For example, the iPhone had 50,000 apps in its first year, and the Apple Watch had 10,000 in just five months. However, both of these devices had broader consumer appeal and lower prices than the Vision Pro’s $3,500, although the hype around the watch fizzled after two or three years (with some apps subsequently subsequently abandoned their extension for the watch). Development for the AR/VR headset also poses difficulties for a majority of developers, because it is necessary to move from designing 2D applications to designing 3D applications for an immersive experience.
Timothy Bates, University of Michigan-Flint College of Innovation & Technology:
Developing for Vision Pro means moving from designing 2D applications to an immersive 3D interactive environment. This is new territory, and porting existing applications is not a simple process.
Developers must rethink user interfaces, user experiences, and how people interact with software in spatial computing. It’s a challenge, but it opens up exciting possibilities if done right.
Aside from the technical challenge, developers are hesitant to invest heavily in creating apps for the Vision Pro, given its small user base and high cost of entry for both developers and users. Freelancers, in particular, face challenges because they don’t have the budget to invest in apps that don’t have clear prospects for monetization. Larger studios, on the other hand, are using this time to familiarize themselves with Apple’s spatial computing platform, optimizing their workflows for future, more affordable versions of the headset.
Some industry analysts suggest Apple may need to fund developers to encourage app creation, as it has done with previous platforms. This could include development grants or partnerships with established AR/VR developers. Others say Apple should adopt open standards, like OpenXR and WebXR, to make it easier to develop for multiple platforms, like the more popular Meta Quest.
Mark N. Vena, president and principal analyst at SmartTech Research:
The development community for Apple products is attracted by the huge volumes they can access. This is certainly not the case for the Vision Pro. »
The Vision Pro has significant potential, but its success will depend on creating a strong application ecosystem.
Jim Squires, XR and gaming consultant:
We’ll see both consumers and creators become more involved in Apple’s spatial computing efforts when costs come down with future iterations, but if Apple wants to have a pipeline of must-have apps for that day, they should already be laying the groundwork – and that means publicly and loudly funding more developers to take the plunge. Create something like a Vision Pro Creator Fund to generate interest among XR developers would be a step in the right direction.
Apple may need to nurture this ecosystem by investing in developers, but also by releasing more accessible and less expensive versions of the headset in order to encourage widespread adoption. We’re also talking about a basic Apple Vision at $1,999, which is more attractive, but still expensive compared to the competition. Yes, the experience with a Vision Pro is incredible, but it does not revolutionize the daily life of Mac users for example, with productivity still below.