Thank you, vertical video…next
Short, but sweet – it’s the end of an era for vertical video. As we speak, the format is packing things up and heading for a well-deserved vacation, thanks to the rise of Virtual Reality (VR). Thank you for your service.
How did we get here? Well, a quick history lesson:
We could time-travel back to 1892 when silent films popped up... but we’ve got stuff to do.
So, let’s skip ahead to 1996 when HDTV took hold, and 16:9 became the standard for TV production. This was during PSE (Pre-Smartphone Era, obviously), so people mainly consumed content on widescreen TVs or computers with a 16:9 ratio.
Cut to our smartphone era, where we hold our phones vertically and engage in content consumption through portrait mode. You know the drill.
But, it’s not a blog post without a cute little plot twist. TikTok – who did ~big things~ for vertical video about five minutes ago – is offering incentives (we’re talking increased views and potential big bucks) for creators who post long-form horizontal (or landscape) videos. Oh, how the ratio tables have turned
VR is sitting at the popular table, and it’s likely to reign supreme from here on.
This might have a lil’ something to do with innovations like Sony’s PlayStation VR, a VR headset compatible with PlayStation 4 and 5 gaming consoles that allow users to experience immersive VR environments.
Then, you’ve got the Apple Vision Pro – a virtual reality headset (priced at over $5,000) that made its debut in June 2023 and is being rolled out as we speak. This cutting-edge device has the potential to revolutionise how we engage with technology and content, interact with people, and even our work. Creators may also explore formats like Apple’s “spatial video” which gives a 3D effect, making users feel like they’re physically present in the room with the on-screen characters. Cool, huh?
Our magic 8-ball is telling us that this is what content creation and consumption will look like in the future. Shifting from small screens to fully immersing ourselves will bring back the popularity and nostalgia of horizontal videos, similar to what we watch on TV or at the movies (but BYO popcorn).
We’re living in a world where fiction is becoming reality, and the possibilities are pretty impressive.
It’s projected that vertical videos are likely going to be phased out soon. But, before we slam the door in its face, it’s worth remembering that trends that go out of style often have a revival era – much like horizontal video, of course.
Until next time, vertical video. Enjoy a piña colada on us.