Advancements in virtual reality headsets, content production techniques and editing know-how, as well as a steadily growing audience of passionate fans, has led to a watershed moment in adult VR.
With stay-at-home orders accelerating consumer spending on video games and high-end hardware, many fans are tapping into the immersive world of VR, where porn is but a click and a subscription away.
In my opinion, the surge we see in consumer use has as much to do with advancements in hardware and new content as it does with our need to connect in difficult times.
And one of the vanguard brands in the VR porn game, WankzVR, has solidified its foothold in the space over the past five years, through a blend of uniquely attuned marketing across the critics-verse of YouTube and Reddit, while upping their output to an impressive five scenes a week.
Rocking a roster of trained producers, a crack team of editors and a bevy of content coordinators seamlessly collaborating on integrating the latest and greatest angles, tech and stars, WankzVR Product Lead Darrell Rosebush has much to be proud of when he reps the site to would-be fans. He has the numbers, he has the vision and he has the trust of a very vocal niche community.
And after winning yet another XBIZ Award for Virtual Reality Site of the Year in 2021, WankzVR is flexing more momentum than ever in the digital arms race. Now, strap on a headset and get ready to be immersed in WankzVR’s behind-the-scenes strategies and evolution, for this executive seat interview with Rosebush.
XBIZ: Give us a snapshot of your earliest days in adult and how you ultimately got involved with WankzVR.
Rosebush: My journey into the world of online adult started back in the late 1990s. After a short time as an affiliate marketer earning with early programs like Maxcash and ARS, a group of us formed our own affiliate program, powering a small collection of subscription sites. The organization continued to grow, while I accepted a role with a leading live cam platform in Montreal, focusing on member retention and anti-fraud systems.
In the years since, I’ve worked as a senior team member at LoadedCash and influenced standards in adult dating, email deliverability and online communities. I’ve championed marketing best practices and standards, and represented brands at organizations such as MAAWG, establishing connections with industry leaders and lawmakers alike.
For nearly a decade, I’ve been back with the team I began my journey with and in 2016, we launched WankzVR, followed by MILF VR, TranzVR, and most recently, POVR.com. Involved with the early conception and day-to-day operations, I’ve been the voice of our VR brands, often adding my own twisted sense of humor to the mix.
XBIZ: What does your current role at the company entail and how do you juggle your various duties?
Rosebush: In my current role as Product Lead for WankzVR and MILF VR I oversee production for POVR Originals and BrasilVR content at POVR while supporting studios and content creators as part of the POVR Partners program. I see myself as an evangelist for VR and virtual reality sex and represent our brands within the adult industry and beyond.
We have one of the most aggressive release schedules in the adult VR landscape, producing four to five new VR scenes per week while also devoting resources to remastered content. Every day is a new chance to learn, problem-solve and overcome new challenges. I depend heavily on the experienced members of our team and production crews, as each fills a vital role that creates a streamlined production process.
XBIZ: In your view, what is the current state of the VR adult content market?
Rosebush: It is hard to deny that after VR gaming, it is adult content that is driving the demand for today’s virtual reality. We are seeing a surge in the adult VR market with more content creators and active consumers than ever before. Recent holiday sales of the Oculus Quest 2 headset exceeded all expectations, currently making it the second most used headset on SteamVR. Oculus has also hinted at new platforms on the horizon that would make content like ours more accessible.
In February of this year, WankzVR celebrated five years of service. With over 500 full-length scenes under that collection and another 200 productions at MILF VR, the demand continues to grow and we’ll keep meeting that demand.
XBIZ: How does WankzVR distinguish itself in terms of technology, shooting techniques and site features?
Rosebush: Our production pause in 2020 gave us the chance to test and implement a completely new camera rig and set of production standards. Not unlike other top adult VR studios, we use custom hardware builds and develop very specific post-production systems to get the desired results.
The real distinction is how our production crews and editors use these tools to achieve a signature look and feel for each brand. WankzVR for instance may feature more of our infamous closeup missionary position while MILF VR can often see more cowgirl and reverse cowgirl, but the action can be more fluid than that. POVR Originals in contrast tends to include more whispering and audio stimulation along with other more experimental sequences.
You also can’t talk about WankzVR without talking about our robust member community. Our user forums have emerged as one of the most active and reliable sources for information, feedback and discussions on VR porn. This sense of community creates a genuine connection as consumers and content creators navigate this new technology together. We’ve been called “The Punk Rock of VR Porn” and that description fits us like a glove. The winning formula behind WankzVR isn’t just a focus on technical elements or even the star power of the performers themselves. Our success is forged by a combined effort with a true sense of community and a distinctive style that has made us what we are today.
XBIZ: Describe your approach to coordinating scenes with producers, balancing hands-on data-driven directions with creative freedom/risk-taking.
Rosebush: We currently have partnerships with five active producers, each contributing content across our network of VR brands. For each, we share standard guidelines and establish underlying principles to follow for settings and other key elements. I’d be lying if I said that each producer works best under the exact same process, but our approach allows for a fair degree of creative freedom and that’s the product of working with some of the very best in the industry.
For select brands and scenes, we will work with the producer on a VR narrative that makes use of a particular performer’s skillset or highlights the capabilities of virtual reality. Scripts can often be written with a specific performer in mind or several made available in a pool to be used at the producer’s discretion. The ability to adapt and take advantage of valuable user feedback in our member forum and across social media help fill in the gaps and provide further insight.
XBIZ: What’s it like marketing to VR consumers? How many are avid users of headsets for a diverse array of media, and how many are porn fans looking to take their first steps into the medium?
Rosebush: For the lack of a better analogy, if we examine how televisions were first marketed to the public, we can see parallels in today’s adult VR landscape. When TVs first burst on the scene and were on the cusp of becoming widely available, how would you go about selling something that no one has fully experienced? You’d lean on the options you have at the time; radio ads or print and hope for word of mouth and for consumer expectations and demands to change. Fast forward to today and to sell VR, particularly adult VR, the industry tends to look to banner ads, 2D video, user reviews and the user community. The key with any new consumer is accessibility, making it easy for them to use and banking on that wow factor viewers experience the first time they enter VR.
One early initiative I took aside from my regular duties was the creation of the FalseDogs VR review channel on YouTube and its associated blog. This was my personal review brand and it provided a blueprint for other affiliates interested in promoting VR. I’d review adult VR titles and provide a side-by-side video account of myself diving into VR while giving the audience my perspective from inside the headset.
Early adopters and avid VR fans know what they like. Some are already using their 2nd or 3rd headset and seek to get the best value out of their investment. The key with this audience is consistency and producing content that does not outpace the limitations of their hardware. There is no question that a larger and somewhat untapped group of porn fans is out there, ready to discover VR sex for the first time.
The continued release of popular VR game titles and the success of the Oculus Quest 2 means more faces in headsets, and potentially more customers and people to market to. Our experienced users will tend to stay informed via Reddit, with user reviews and other related communities to make informed decisions. Because of the nature of VR, there is a strong community out there of very passionate users. Offers on our VR brands are powered by PimpRoll, a long-running affiliate program and some of the most successful affiliates have focused on scene reviews and staying connected within the VR community.
XBIZ: Let’s discuss how VR porn fans consume content. What are the most popular headsets? Do they prefer VOD or downloads? Are there certain scene lengths or sex acts that they tend to gravitate towards?
Rosebush: While The Oculus Quest 2 and Rift S have emerged as clear winners for most popular VRheadsets, we can often see a distribution when it comes to hardware of choice. The Valve Index and Reverb G2 from HP both boast impressive specs and have their own legions of loyal fans, while other systems like the PSVR and smartphone use are still prevalent. I’m still a little disappointed that Oculus discontinued support for the Oculus Go. The Go was the best light-weight headset for enjoying VR porn and had an attractive price. I myself use both an Oculus Quest 2 and Samsung HMD Odyssey+ when I’m traversing the virtual landscape or answering a virtual booty call.
Runtime, and in turn, file size is important to get right. VR video files are large and as content creators make new options available in terms of video resolution, these files can get big fast. Viewers tend to be split between the convenience of our streaming player for a quick VR fix while most hardcore VR lovers focus on downloads. We have found that fans gravitate towards certain positions and some can be very passionate about the perfect cowgirl or missionary sequence.
As we’ve developed new camera rigs, each iteration has taken work to get the precise angles right. Production crews and directors work in tandem with editors and content team members to optimize our positions. Viewers love our closeup missionary position, prone bone and cowgirl/reverse cowgirl, but it is the performers and direction that really bring these moments to life.
XBIZ: Was there an uptick in VR consumption from 2020-2021 with the pandemic lockdowns, and if so, how did WankzVR capitalize on it? If not, what was it like working through this unique time?
Rosebush: There has been a surge in VR consumption on both a consumer and commercial level. It is debatable if the increase we see in the consumer sector was a direct result of pandemic lockdowns or based on other factors. In 2020, big VR game titles like “Half-Life: Alyx” and “Star Wars: Squadrons” were released and showcased the capabilities of today’s VR. Other compatible VR game titles like “Elite Dangerous” continue to play exceptionally well in VR. The success of the Oculus Quest 2 should also take some credit. The specs and capabilities of this standalone headset are impressive and it’s incredibly easy to use; the setup and controls are pretty intuitive for first-time users. In my opinion, the surge we see in consumer use has as much to do with advancements in hardware and new content as it does with our need to connect in difficult times.
On a commercial level, more and more companies and brands are seeing the benefits of connecting in more rich and interactive ways. An increase in remote working and virtual collaborations between teams is also driving VR use in other ways. For us as a team, we’ve transitioned to working remotely since the spring of 2020 and while there were challenges to overcome, the staff prevailed as we continue to crank out new VR titles. We had the luxury of being in a position to work safely from home and leverage partnerships across the industry to maintain value for our members. This is a fact we don’t take for granted as lockdowns, safety regulations and the gravity of the pandemic itself have impacted so many.
XBIZ: Where do you see the VR market heading in the future, both from a general standpoint and also in adult specifically.
Rosebush: One of the things we’ve struggled with when marketing to new VR audiences is that even today’s virtual reality is only now catching up with expectations set by sci-fi TV and movies. There are countless examples across popular culture that paint VR in a far more futuristic and interactive way. This being said, we are seeing more fun and interactive ways to enjoy VR porn and our own interactive collection is a good example. Kiiroo and Fleshlight both make products that can sync with special interactive scenes but we are still far from the Star Trek Holodeck or jacking into the Matrix.
Popular books and movies like “Ready Player One” or the “Otherland” series by Tad Williams have provided a glimpse of what VR of the future could be. When it comes to Adult VR, if viewers are spending more time entering VR or climbing into some complex suit or rig, than actually viewing the content, we’ve lost them.
There’s still a lot of magic to squeeze out of VR in its current state. Balancing visuals and depth with sophisticated audio, much can be done using current setups to enhance immersion. I feel we and other content creators can advance in the short term by simply exploring more ways to blend the visuals, audio and set elements together for greater impact.
XBIZ: For the coming year, what are your main ambitions for the WankzVR brand and yourself?
Rosebush: I feel that 2021 is a year of possibilities. The technology behind VR production evolves pretty fast and in the first five years WankzVR has been in operation we’ve seen drastic improvements in video resolution and overall presentation. I myself aim to add a greater variety to our collections and showcase the true capabilities of VR to our audiences. This process has already begun as we’ve grown our team of outsourced producers and are now in a better position to maintain a steady flow of content. With a more proactive and reworked approach to the creative process, my goal is to supercharge our collections at WankzVR, MILF VR and other brands.
Our recent win at the 2021 XBIZ Awards for “Virtual Reality Site of the Year” means the world to us after a year like 2020. After our previous wins in 2018 and 2019 it was nice to reclaim this honor, especially as I myself transitioned to take the reins on production. I personally would like to thank XBIZ and all those who voted for us as it will serve as motivation for the year to come. I’ll see you in VR!
