Tiny Brains

As XR continues to mature globally, industry gatherings have become essential hubs for sharing progress, forecasting future trends, and strengthening collaboration between creators, platform holders, and hardware manufacturers. In Japan, XR Kaigi has steadily grown into one of the most notable events in this space. I attended for the first time this month, and found that the closest relation to the event is the widely praised Augmented World Expo (AWE)/ XR Kaigi’s breadth, professionalism, and ability to convene the broader XR ecosystem under one roof was impressive.

I first heard about XR Kaigi back in September at the Tokyo Game Show (TGS). I was intrigued by the event and decided to put efforts into attending, and with the help of G-Smash organised both a talk and opportunities to meet with several development studios. For me, XR Kaigi lived up to its reputation, offering a balanced and grounded look at where the industry is headed, and showcasing meaningful advancements across hardware, software, and games.

Founded by Mogura XR’s Shun Kobuta, XR Kaigi doesn’t skew toward either enterprise technology or consumer entertainment. Instead, the event provides a middle ground. The show floor and session lineup highlighted a diverse set of XR use cases, from industrial training tools and workplace collaboration systems to immersive storytelling and new forms of play. The result was an event where visitors could move seamlessly between academic research, product demonstrations, and hands-on game experiences, gaining a well-rounded sense of how Japanese XR development is evolving.

On the hardware front, several emerging trends stood out. Lightweight standalone headsets were front and centre, with both domestic and international manufacturers demonstrating prototypes that prioritise comfort and long-session usability. Many exhibitors focused on optics improvements and better color reproduction, highlighting a clear shift toward making longer professional use not just possible but pleasant. There was also significant interest in pass-through technology, with multiple companies refining depth perception, edge clarity, and environmental tracking to enable more convincing MR experiences. While none of these improvements were presented with excessive fanfare, they collectively signaled steady progress in hardware design that benefits both enterprise users and consumers.

Equally notable was the software on display. Japanese studios, universities, and startups presented tools designed to streamline XR production pipelines. Solutions for rapid 3D asset generation, environment design, collaborative annotation, and simulation management. This focus on usable, adoptable software was one of the event’s strongest themes. Developers increasingly emphasised the value of interoperability, open standards, and real-world deployment, positioning XR as a viable and sustainable component of enterprise digital transformation.

For many attendees, however, the games section remained a highlight. Japan’s long creative tradition in interactive entertainment was well represented, with developers bringing a mix of experimental prototypes and polished releases. The presence of VR and MR gaming alongside enterprise solutions created a natural flow: professionals working in training or simulation could see how mechanics from consumer gaming – intuitive gesture systems, feedback loops, environmental storytelling – are influencing enterprise design. Conversely, game creators were exposed to emerging hardware and tracking innovations typically discussed in more technical or industrial contexts. This cross-pollination is part of what makes XR Kaigi distinctive.

Taken as a whole, XR Kaigi 2025 demonstrated a maturing XR sector in Japan. Rather than focusing on grand promises or dramatic forecasts, the event showcased realistic steps forward: better hardware, smarter tools, and more engaging experiences. For companies working in or adjacent to XR, the conference provided a clear snapshot of where opportunities are emerging and which directions the industry is pursuing collectively.

In that sense, XR Kaigi continues to serve as Japan’s answer to AWE – not by imitating it, but by offering its own balanced, thoughtful view of the XR landscape. As XR adoption grows across industries and cultures, events like these play an essential role in bringing the community together, and XR Kaigi is well-positioned to become one of the most important stops on the global XR event calendar.