Aviva, an insurance company from the UK, revealed that claims submitted by its members experienced a big spike in 2021. This was due to Virtual Reality (VR) games, which increased by 31%.
"As the popularity of games and new gadgets continues to grow, we're seeing more and more claims from customers based on the games played," said Kelly Whittington, Aviva UK Director.
They said that the average VR-related claims for accidental damage amounted to USD 920 or around Rp. 13.1 million. For items that are frequently reported such as broken TVs, broken windows and broken fans. This is because gamers often swing their hands when entering the virtual world.
"This device can indeed be a source of great pleasure. But we ask people to pay attention to their surroundings and check insurance at home, to make sure it suits their needs," added Whittington.
With more and more people in the UK buying Merry Christmas VR headsets, claims are already in and the insurer is hoping for even more by 2022. They suggest adding accidental damage coverage to furniture in homes.
This spike also marks an increase of up to 68% from 2016 to 2022. According to them, a similar trend has occurred in the past, involving consoles with handsets, fitness games and fidget spinners.
Social media itself often presents videos of people using VR headsets, then they fall, hit furniture or even punch a loved one.
The popularity of VR games itself is already very large. Plus, there are various games with different genres that gamers can enjoy. Among them, such as table tennis or Beat Saber which is on the rise.