This article was published on March 23, 2016

PornHub wants you to get behind VR porn, so it’s launching a virtual reality section


PornHub wants you to get behind VR porn, so it’s launching a virtual reality section

Starting today, PornHub — which I’m told is a pornography site — is teaming up with BaDoinkVR, a leader in adult virtual reality entertainment, to launch its new VR category.

“At Pornhub it is our duty to provide our global audience with the latest in cutting edge technology. 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. Now, our users are not only able to view our content, but be protagonists in the experience and interact with their favorite porn stars,” said Corey Price, Vice President, Pornhub.

“We encourage our users to request a free pair of virtual reality goggles and visit Pornhub’s virtual reality section. There, users’ wildest fantasies will come alive as they slip into a world of heightened titillation.”

Last month, we gave you a peek behind the curtains at a professional VR porn shoot. It detailed some of the finer points of futuristic erotica, and we quickly realized — it’s not just about getting your rocks off while wearing a goofy headset; it’s big business.

Investment bank and asset management firm Piper Jaffray, estimates the VR porn industry will exceed $1 billion in revenue by 2025.

PornHub’s collaboration with BaDoink, one of the leaders in the VR porn industry, now sees two titans of smut in a partnership that could speed consumer VR adoption by years.

“We’re incredibly excited to be providing the content and tech behind Pornhub’s new initiative,” said Todd Glider, CEO, BaDoinkVR. “After decades of kicks and starts, virtual reality is finally hitting its stride. McDonalds Happy Meal boxes are doubling as Google Cardboard; now Pornhub is tossing its hat in the ring. Calling this revolution in mass communication a fad, resisting the urge to Drink the Kool Aid, grows steadily more irrational.”

Overlooking the mention of the mention of Happy Meals and porn in the same sentence, Glider is right; VR is here to stay. The more people use it, the more they’ll realize what its capabilities are, thus spurring further innovation in the space.

Porn has always had its place as the de facto tastemaker in the tech industry. In fact, it’s possibly the single largest factor in consumer tech adoption. It did, after all, singlehandedly decide the HD-DVD vs Blu-ray format war, as well as Betamax vs VHS before it.

Now that the content is free on everyone’s favorite porn site — and offering a free cardboard viewer to those interested in trying it VR is set to get a lot of attention from those that sort of assumed it was just a technology for gamers.

For enthusiasts (of either porn or VR — we won’t judge), that’s a good thing.

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