I believe the same fate awaits VR headsets. AR (augmented reality) has the potential to be be the game changer, especially AR contacts, whenever they become available!
We haven't even scratched the surface of what it's capable of yet. Even if no AAA titles materialize the amount of creativity coming from lone devs and small studios is astonishing.
In terms of "failing" - it might not become a mass market thing yet - but it's got an enthusiast market that's not going anywhere soon. There are a dozen OpenVR headsets coming out in the near future so even if HTC and Oculus disappeared tomorrow it would be sustainable.
Bear in mind 3D is only a tiny part of what VR is about. The failure of 3D TVs doesn't teach us anything about the future of VR.
Unlike 3D TVs, VR might be here to stay for the enthusiast market but I don't see it becoming a mass market must-have gadget for every household.
And because the current generation is so underwhelming and overhyped, there might be a 5-10 year period of relative silence before the next-next generation comes out - hopefully with much improved quality as the technology improves.
But the next year will tell... and it's up to the content side. If there will be a mega hit game, movie,other entertainment experience or even a serious application coming out I might be wrong.
Don't get me wrong, I've tried most of the VR gadgets out there and I kinda enjoyed using them (except the first Oculus devkit which was awful) and so did my friends. But they don't really keep me entertained for more than an hour or so. And I usually like to play with friends (in the same room) and having only one guy wearing the headset isn't really social.
First is that it is interactive.
Second is that it is not shared like a TV in a room is.
Essentially VR and AR are 90% the same technology and design challenges, but with AR you feature in the already existing 3D world around you and VR creates one.