Exclusive: Road to VR’s Ben Lang on the Future of Virtual Reality

For over fourteen years, Ben Lang has charted the course of virtual reality through his influential publication Road to VR, offering unparalleled insights into an industry that grew from niche curiosity to multi-billion dollar ecosystem. In a recent conversation with developer and blogger Tony Vitillo, Lang opened up about his journey, the principles guiding his work, and where he believes immersive technology is headed next.

The discussion began with Lang reflecting on the origins of Road to VR, which he launched in 2011, before Oculus even existed as a company. He recalled a period when consumer virtual reality had completely vanished after a brief moment in the late 80s and early 90s. “I was really curious about where virtual reality went,” Lang explained. “At that time, what remained was confined to medical or military applications. There was nothing available for everyday consumers.” This curiosity drove him to start documenting the technology’s potential trajectory, a mission that aligned perfectly with the subsequent explosion of interest following the Oculus Rift Kickstarter.

When asked whether he anticipated VR’s resurgence, Lang admitted it involved both luck and a well-founded hunch. Working in tech journalism covering smartphones and tablets, he noticed a shift toward more natural, human-centric interactions with devices, touchscreens, voice assistants, motion controls. He reasoned that the logical endpoint would be technology that surrounds users or integrates into their environment. What began as a college side project evolved into his life’s work, providing him a front-row seat to the industry’s dramatic expansion.

A significant portion of the conversation centered on Lang’s philosophy toward product reviews and journalism. He emphasized a pragmatic, audience-first approach. “My job is to help readers understand if something is worth their time and money,” he stated. While he deeply respects developers and often consults on projects behind the scenes, he believes honest, objective assessments ultimately benefit the industry by setting accurate expectations and encouraging improvement. He contrasted this with influencer culture, where close ties to companies can compromise objectivity, and outlined Road to VR’s strict policies against accepting promotional items or deals that could influence coverage.

For developers and studios seeking coverage, Lang offered practical advice. He stressed the importance of understanding both your target audience and the publications you pitch. Rather than sending generic announcements, he recommends identifying specific journalists who cover related topics and crafting a tailored pitch that highlights what makes a project uniquely compelling. “Approach them with a thesis,” he suggested. “Explain the specific feature or innovation that sets your work apart, don’t make them figure out why it matters.”

Lang also shared key design insights from his “Inside XR Design” series, which examines standout interaction models in VR experiences. He cautioned against directly porting flat-screen game mechanics into VR without rethinking them for the medium. “You want the concept, not the feature,” he elaborated. “Inventory management in RPGs should feel native and enjoyable in VR, not just replicate a mouse-and-pointer system.” He encourages developers to study and build upon existing VR design solutions rather than reinventing elements like door interactions or movement systems from scratch.

Reflecting on the industry’s evolution, Lang expressed surprise that headset form factors haven’t advanced more rapidly. While standalone capability, wireless operation, and inside-out tracking represent major improvements, he hopes future innovation will prioritize reducing size and weight now that displays are reaching a “good enough” resolution. He sees Apple’s entry into the market as a crucial development that is finally driving meaningful competition. “Meta is responding to Vision Pro in ways we haven’t seen before,” he observed, predicting that intensified rivalry will accelerate progress and benefit consumers.

Regarding the current state of XR, Lang interprets Meta’s apparent pivot toward smart glasses and AI as part of a long-term, dual-track strategy. He believes the company is simultaneously working on miniaturizing capable headsets and enhancing simpler wearable devices, with the goal of eventually merging both paths into an all-in-one device suitable for all-day use.

One recent innovation that genuinely excited Lang is the neural input band accompanying Meta’s latest Ray-Ban smart glasses. He sees wrist-based gesture control as a promising solution for discreet interaction with AR devices in public settings, overcoming the social awkwardness of voice commands. “For basic menu navigation outdoors, subtle pinch and swipe gestures detected by a wearable band could become the standard,” he predicted.

Lang concluded by encouraging developers to explore his “Inside XR Design” series, which compiles noteworthy VR interaction designs from over a decade of hands-on experience. “I want to help developers build on existing knowledge rather than starting from zero,” he said. “There are brilliant ideas hidden in older titles that deserve to be recognized and evolved.”

His final thoughts underscored a commitment to supporting the VR community through thoughtful analysis and shared learning, a mission that has defined Road to VR’s contribution to the field since its earliest days.

(Source: Road to VR)