The August 2016 VR trends reveal that while brands are expertly using new technology to promote their products, charitable organizations are using similar tactics to promote their own causes.
One of the benefits of VR technology to brands is that it helps them create a more immersive experience around their products. For example, Jack in the Box recently promoted its new Brewhouse Burger by immersing customers in the atmosphere of a brewery. Similarly, Mercedes-Benz was able to transport Tokyo residents to a virtual showroom that would not normally be found in large urban centers.
While brands have expertly used VR technology to sell their products, charities and other organizations are using similar tactics to spread messages of their own. Indeed, the August 2016 VR trends reveal that the technology can be just as effective in spreading messages about social good as it is for selling new products. One excellent example of this is the WWF's tiger conservation campaign, which used VR to help convey the dangers of poaching.
Top 30 VR Ideas in August
30
Virtual Battle Simulators
The 'Totally Accurate Battle Simulator' Uses Computers to Imitate Combat
29
Adult VR Festivals
A Virtual Reality Festival in Japan Simulated a Series of Sensual Experiences
28
Tiny VR Cameras
The Miniscule 'Nico360' Records High-Quality 360-Degree Footage
27
Expressive VR Headsets
This New VR Headset Translates Your Facial Expressions
26
VR Burger Releases
Jack in the Box's Brewhouse Burger Augmented Reality Puts Patrons Inside a Bar
25
Chronic Pain Simulations
'Seeing Is Believing' Uses Immersive Experiences to Simulate CRPS
24
VR Dining Experiments
'Project Nourished' Pairs 3D-Printed Food with Virtual Reality
23
Virtual Meditation Experiences
These Guided Meditations are Enhanced with Virtual Reality Tech
22
South Korean VR Films
'Time Paradox VR' Gives Korean Viewers a New Way to Experience VR Technology
21
Olympian VR Experiences
Samsung Users Will Be Able to See the Olympics in Virtual Reality
20
VR-Ready Graphics Cards
This New Nvidia GPU Can Handle Heavy Virtual Reality Applications
19
Virtual Vineyard Tours
Brancott Estate Shares Virtual Reality Vineyard Tours at Festivals
18
VR Drone-Racing Games
First-Person Drone Racing is a Reality with This New Game
17
Immersive Painter Apps
'The Night Cafe' Lets Users Step Into the Mind of Vincent Van Gogh With VR
16
VR-Ready Smartphones
Alcatel's Virtual Reality Phone Offers a Futuristic Smartphone Experience
15
Automotive Bookstore Showrooms
This Virtual Mercedes-Benz Showroom is Set Up in a Tokyo Bookstore
14
VR Swimming Lessons
Children Can Overcome Their Fear of Water with This New Program
13
VR Modeling Programs
Oculus Medium Enables the Creation of Sculptures with Virtual Clay
12
Charitable Virtual Gardens
Cancer Research UK Celebrates Its Supporters with a VR Flower Garden
11
Expansive VR Worlds
MetaWorld is a VR Experience That Will Stretch Nearly 10,000 Square Miles
10
Wildlife Protection Simulators
WWF's Newest Tiger Conservation Campaign Leverages Virtual Reality
9
Cardboard VR Headsets
The Nunulo Virtual Reality Comes With Fully Adjustable Lenses
8
Virtual Tennis Experiences
Jaguar Introduced a #FeelWimbledon Virtual Reality Experience
7
Virtual Carnival Games
Nvidia’s VR Funhouse Simulates Whack-a-Mole, Shooting Galleries and More
6
Kaleidescopic VR Flooring
Funky Magic Carpets Bring Mesmerizing Patterns to Milton Keynes
5
Virtual Home Viewers
PropertyGuru Gives Prospective Buyers House Tours in VR
4
VR-Centric Graphics Cards
This ZOTAC Graphics Card Features Heat-Dissipation Technologies
3
360-Degree VR Performances
Bjork Livestreamed a 360-Degree Concert in Virtual Reality
2
Leisurely Sports Games
The VR 'Rec Room' Game is Part Chatroom and Part Online Multiplayer Game
1
VR Music Studios
The SoundStage Lets You Engage In Virtual Music Creation
Related Ideas
Limited Gaming Eyewear
Viture × Cyberpunk 2077 XR Glasses Appear as a Limited Anniversary Release
Virtual Fashion Contests
Bratz and ZEPETO Launch a Four-Week Avatar Styling Challenge
Interactive Fashion Horror Games
The Room by Gentle Monster Reimagines Brand Storytelling
Gamified AR Footwear Fittings
Tootsie Augmented Reality Makes Shoe Shopping More Fun for Kids
Playable Mini Vinyls
Mini Brands Really Works Vinyl Makes Chart-Topping Hits Collectible
Digital Apparel Education Initiatives
Roblox is an Unexpected Platform for Fashion Education
Gen-Z-Focused AR Campaigns
American Eagle Launched an AE Jeans Try-on Haul Lens
Small-Space VR Platforms
Snack VR Operates in Just Five Square Meters
AI Virtual Fitting Rooms
Perfect Corp. is Bringing a Try-On Experience to Fashion Forward Week
AR-Powered Vending Machines
Snapchat and L’Oréal Made a Gamified Lens to Share Refillable Haircare
Next-Gen Virtual Merch Stores
The Benfica Immersive Store Assists Customers with an AI Concierge
VR Creation Platforms
Chop Reality Lets Users Create and Share Personalized VR Worlds Easily
Revenue-Earning AI-Training Opportunities
GoPro Taps Cloud-Stored Video Content for AI Purposes
High-Profile Live Performance Marketing
Rokid Delighted Folks with a High-Profile Marketing Event
Playful Creative Design Billboards
Canva Unveils 3D Billboards to Spotlight its Capabilities
Metaverse-Powered Watch Campaigns
Casio's G-SHOCK Watch Line Partners with The Sandbox
AI-Driven Product Photoshoots
Unilever Shared Its Use of AI and Digital Twins at NVIDIA GTC 2025
Smart Glasses-Compatible Ads
GetUp Nutrition Utilizes Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses for Marketing
Console VR Simulations
Microsoft Flight Simulator Expands VR Gameplay to PlayStation 5
Virtual Watch Brand-Inspired Experiences
Casio Debuts the VIRTUAL G-SHOCK Project in Roblox
Collaborative VR Art Experiences
Chanel Presents the A Conversation with the Sun Show
AR-Enabled Ski Rescue Helmets
The Conceptual Argus AR Helmet is Controlled by the Wearer's Eyes
Immersive K-Beauty Pop-Ups
TIRTIR Brings Jeju Matcha Skincare to NYC with a Sensory Experience
Fashion-Branded Café Experiences
Vogue Blends Retail with Immersive Hospitality Spaces
Immersive Recovery Therapies
NeuroAnimation Technology Promotes Motor Recovery & Brain Health
Virtual Footwear Try-Ons
Google's AI-Powered Try-On Tech Helps with Online Shoe Shopping
Fandom Culture Retail Experiences
EB Games x Vibrant Marketing Launch an 'EB Trends' Store Concept
AR Documentary Series
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World Links Content with QR Codes
Interactive AR Avocado Scans
Chipotle Launches its 'AvoLotto Lens' on Snapchat
Gamer-Targeted Donor Campaigns
Virtual Donors Turns In-Game Deaths into Real Registrations
Interactive AR Storefronts
Spotselfie AR Meta Stores Tie Real-World Places to Virtual Storefronts
AI-Assisted Business Ads
Google Workspace's 50 States, 50 Stories Shares Small Businesses Using AI
VTuber-Centric Tech Collaborations
hololive and RHINOSHIELD Unveil Summer-Inspired VTuber Products
Immersive Video Shopping Experiences
ASOS Live Blends Creator-Led Content with Real-Time Shopping
Animal Welfare Campaigns
The Humane League Targets the Grocery Chain Food Lion
Entertainment-Powered Retail Experiences
AT&T Brings Toy Story 5 to Interactive Store Activations
Pet-Finding Billboards
Hrvatski Telekom Created Scented Billboards That Attract Lost Dogs
Beer Brand Nature Campaigns
Corona Launched Its Living Is Calling With a Tripadvisor Partnership
AI Beauty Assistants
Sephora Launched Advanced Chatbot Features for Virtual Try-Ons and Bookings
AI-Powered 3D Avatars
AVATAi's Platform Creates Customizable Digital Brand Ambassadors
AI Video Generators
Vitrin Generates Social Media Videos Quickly From One Image
Event-Ready Travel Kits
UGREEN Bundles Tracking and Charging Tools for Sports Fans
Game Developer-Targeting AI Tools
Ramen VR Debuts Telos for Its Existing Aura Platform
Playable Brand Universes
adidas and Brawl Stars Connect Gaming, Apparel and Live Fan Experiences
Shoppable AR Villages
The Snapchat Winter Village Has Three Immersive Luxury Brand Boutiques
Scan-to-VR Technologies
Teleport by Varjo Creates Digital Twins for Real-World Locations
AI-forward home brand visions
LG Electronics presented its AI in Action strategy at CES 2026
AI-Assisted Marketing Tools
YouCam AI Pro Offers AI Business Avatar & AI Product Staging Tools
Virtual Live-TV Experiences
DIRECTV Launches Its DIRECTV on Meta Quest Viewing
Immersive Superhero Attractions
Warner Bros. Gamifies Superman Storytelling with Gameplay
Immersive Character Experiences
Sanrio Brings Kuromi to Life with an Interactive KCON Activation
GenAI Fashion Try-Ons
Perfect Corp. Fashion APIs Help Shoppers Visualize Scarves, Hats & More
Honest Sustainability-Focused Installations
Temple (The Last Cheeseburger) is Thought-Provoking
Traveling Fashion Showcases
The Guess Bus in Sydney is an Example of Experimental Marketing
AI-Powered Shoppable Runways
Topshop and THG Studios Hosted a Front Row AI Experience
Interactive Juice Boxes
Suntop's Mega Back to School Campaign Integrates Connected Packaging
Virtual Clothing Tools
Virtual Try On Generates Realistic Clothing Images For Marketing And Social
Virtual Dressing Rooms
AI Virtual Try On Offers Instant High-Quality Style Previews For Shoppers
Multitasking Volunteer Initiatives
Heineken Fan Volunteers Applies a Rarely Used Employee Benefit
Burger Ad Campaigns
Burger King’s New Campaign Suggests Even Babies Can’t Resist the Whopper
Gaming Lifestyle Collections
Toca Boca and MINISO Blend Retail with Digital Rewards
Virtual Try-On Tools
Clothing Virtual Try On Shows Realistic Outfits For Online & Retail Shopping
Emotionally Intelligent Retailer Platforms
JK Tech Spotlights Its Artificial Intelligence Platform
Comprehensive XR Lineups
Goertek Spotlights Its Extended Reality Range at CES 2026
Pop-Up Reality TV Bars
Samsung Electronics' Verkligheten is a Destination for Reality TV Fans
Charity Organization Rebrands
Humane World for Animals Launches a Powerful Campaign
Virtual Sneaker Authentication Services
Real Authentication Has Expanded to the Sneaker Market
Impactful Gaming Experiences
Humanity Games Combines Retro Gameplay With Real-World Lessons
Sound-Dectecting AR Mirrors
Snapchat and Oasis' Venting Machine Rewards Screamers with Cold Drinks
Immersive Queue Displays
Samsung Transforms Everland Wait Lines with Interactive 3D Safari Visuals
Olfacory Experience Metaverses
Guardians of Memories Helps Gen Z & Alpha Discover Fragrance
Emotional Mothers Day Ads
Apple's Mother’s Day Campaign Showcases Spatial Video's Emotional Power
AR-Powered Library Experiences
Snap and LePub Partner with National Library Board of Singapore
Swiss-Engineered Virtual Presentation Systems
The ShowCase Caters to the Needs of Luxury Brands
AI-Powered Virtual Worlds
Google's Project Genie Turns Text Prompts Into Traversable Worlds
Prescribable VR Therapy Programs
Brainjo Launches Its VR DiGA Product For Children With ADHD
Textural Veggie-Rich Burger Patties
Actual Veggies Burgers are Introducing Three New Products
Social Responsibility-Aligned Corporate Marketing
GoodBrand Impact is a Newly Launched Agency
Science-Backed Adventure Collaborations
Toyota, AllGear Digital & Immersion Neuroscience Partner
Research-Informed Accessible Tech
The Royal National Institute of Blind People Works with Samsung
AI-Powered Gaming Ecosystems
Razer Unveiled its New 'Wyvrn' Ecosystem to Enhance Gaming
Wearable Olfactory VR Modules
Institute of Science Tokyo Introduced Scent Headset Prototype
Monarch Butterfly-Inspired Digital Billboards
LG Electronics Expands Its Endangered Species Series
Immersive Virtual Reality Concerts
IMMERSION VR Concert Film Brings Fans Virtually on Stage
AI-Advanced 3D Product Tours
Kaon Interactive Introduces Kaon Demo360+TM
Audio Experience-Integrated Beverage Packaging
TapTunes, Inc. Has Introduced Virtual Wax
AR Virtual Space Hangouts
Meta Hyperscape Capture Now Supports Communal Hangouts Anywhere
Accessibility-Focused Smart Glasses
The American Council of the Blind Distributes Smart Glasses
Bright Brand Identity Updates
Big Hug Becomes a Purpose-Driven Brand with Bold Rebrand by JDO
Fandom Retail Experiences
TOUS les JOURS Transforms Bakery Cafés into BTS Fan Destinations
Adventurous AI Experiences
Prezzee x Universal Pictures Present a Jurassic World Activation
Experiential Wine Campaigns
Avaline Partners with Proper Hotels for a Summer Music Series
Immersive Store Screens
Hays Travel Introduces Immersive Technology to Transform Holiday Planning
AR Bag Try-Ons
WANNA's Bags Virtual Try-On Experience Visualizes Styles Worn on the Shoulder
Vision AI Restaurants
Berry AI and Culver’s Expand Real-Time QSR Analytics Nationwide
Globally Inspired Plant-Based Patties
Taste of the World Burgers Let Recognizable Vegetables Shine
Gamified Destination Tourism
Connecticut Launches Rewards Platform for Local Exploration
Horror-Themed VR Worlds
Blumhouse is Creating the 'Horrorverse' for Meta Quest 3
Real-Time 3D Engines
Unity Enables 2D, 3D, VR & AR Project Development Across Industries
Verified Engagement Advertising
EarnOS Rewards Verified Human Actions Instead of Ad Clicks
Immersive Blood Donation
Samsung and Abbott Use Galaxy XR to Create Calming Donor Experiences.
Plant-Based Cuisine QSR Campaigns
This Burger King UK Campaign Stars Pete Wicks
Celebratory VR Promotions
Zero Latency VR is an Expert in Free-Roam Virtual Reality Entertainment
Celebratory QSR Promotions
Whataburger is Hosting a Month-Long Birthday Celebration for the Brand
Immersive Cultural Dining Experiences
HIRAKUZA Ginza Tokyo Combines Sumo Wrestling with Dining
Global Product Launch Events
Uber Unveils a New Go-Get Exhibit Featuring Interactive Vignettes
Attention Economy Agencies
VaynerX Launches Tamara Group to Drive Social-First Brand Relevance
Robot Simulation Platforms
LuckyRobots Trains, Tests, and Improves Robots in Virtual Environments
VR Rail Carriages
The St Vincent’s Express Takes Senior Care Residents to 10 Countries
Toy-Themed Real Estate Campaigns
Barbie and Rightmove Partnered for an Immersive Experience
AR-Enhanced Learning Tools
TutAR Empowers Education with AR-Enabled 3D Teaching Aids for K12
Embedded Safety Networks
‘Ask for Angela’ Builds Retail-Based Support Systems Across Toronto
Ad-Friendly Vertical Video Feeds
Instacart Debuts the Immersive Feed Feature on Its Platform
Social-to-Outdoor Campaigns
Tribesigns Extends TikTok's Super Wish Campaign to Times Square
Interactive Virtual Train Tours
Ocean3D Partners with Lumo Trains on an Interactive Virtual Tour
Prescriptive VR Therapy Platforms
VA Rolls Out Mynd Immersive MyndXR Across 45 Centers
Physical-World Data Marketing
WPP Uses Google Earth AI to Predict Real-World Consumer Behavior
Educational VR Florist Programs
The Texas State Florists' Association Debuts a Unique VR Program
AI 3D Conversion Tools
Sony Uses AI to Turn 2D Visuals into 3D
Celebrity-Supported Smart Glasses Campaigns
Ray-Ban and Meta Tap Doja Cat and Teyana Taylor
Video-Based Mystery Shopping Technologies
Blaze Pizza Partners with Reality Based Group
AI-Powered Native Video Ads
TripleLift Powers GUESS FRAGRANCES Big Game Campaign
Spatial Utility Tools
Boost Productivity With Mixed Reality Tools Using Widgets App
Event-Centric Camping Experiences
Huttopia Hosts World Cup Viewing and Activities at Its Campsites
Virtual City Explorers
Citywalki Offers Immersive Virtual Experiences In Over 140 Cities
Social Good Gifting Ranges
The Virgin Experience Days Gifts for Good Collection is Purposeful
Charitable Home Improvement Initiatives
VEVOR Has Donated 10 Hybrid Heat Press Machines
Game-Focused Attribution Platforms
Toya Debuts the Beta Version of PlayTiger
Charitable Qsr Campaigns
A&W Canada is Running the Burgers to Beat MS Day Campaign
Experiential Brand Roles
Lagunitas Recruits a Beer Roadie for the Iron Maiden Tour
AI-Powered Mixology Tools
Weber Ranch Launched a Virtual Bartender for Making Cocktails at Home
Recycling-Focused Travel Campaigns
Coca-Cola and Merlin Entertainments Partnered for a Promotion
Purpose-Led Emerging Brands Initiatives
7-Eleven Taps 27 Brands for Its 2026 Brands with Heart™
Digital Marine Education Tools
Costa Rica Blue Teaches Biodiversity Through Interactive Content
Cardholder Access Experiences
Visa Unlocks Early Access and VIP Perks at Top of the Rock
Immersive Fitness Apps
Gym Spatial Brings Immersive Environments To Apple Vision Pro Workouts
Interactive Project Platforms
Community Aquarium Turns Projects Into Digital Fish For Discovery
Gamified Animal Aids
Cats-We Turns Virtual Pet Care Into Real Support for Cats in Need
Immersive Narrative Tourism
EF Ultimate Break Turns Ashridge House Into a Live Murder Mystery Game
Crowd Analytics Beacons
EB Systems Deploys Crowd-Tracking Beacons at FIFA Venues