Sony PlayStation VR2 Suffers First Month Low Unit Sales, Price Cut Predicted

[T0@st]

Industry analysts have been busy with reviews of the PlayStation VR2 headset's launch sales figures, and have concluded that the numbers are a big disappointment according to findings published in a Bloomberg article. The research firm IDC is predicting that the PS VR2 is unlikely to break above 270,000 unit sales - timed from its launch this year on February 22 to the end of March. This is a substantial shortfall when lined up against the expected sales figures - Sony was reported to have an estimate of 2 million units sold going into the next financial year, but it was cutback to 1.5 million in the recent past. Francisco Jeronimo, IDC's Vice President of data and analytics cites a number of factors for the sluggish start: "Consumers around the world are facing rising costs of living, rising interest rates and rising layoffs - VR headsets are not top of mind for most consumers under the current economic climate."

Gamers were surprised by the higher than expected pricing for the PlayStation VR2 headset - at an MSRP of $550 it exceeds the asking price of the PlayStation 5 - and the home console is a necessary component in hosting the VR2's functionality. The virtual reality device has been a critical darling, although reviewers have been quick to question the price tag. It has been praised for an impressive specification and feature set, which includes dual 2,000 x 2,040 OLED displays, class leading eye-tracking tech and innovative Move wand controllers. The analysts share similar views about the high MSRP - Jeronimo predicts that Sony will need to take drastic action in order to right its sales ship: "I suspect a price cut on the PS VR2 will be needed to avoid a complete disaster of their new product." A price cut would perhaps appeal to a more mainstream buyer, coupled with the PlayStation VR2 being part of an ultra familiar gaming brand, but VR headset manufacturers as a whole are experiencing a slowdown in sales. Gamers were slow to adopt the first iteration of Sony's virtual headset, and that pattern appears to be repeating for the new model.



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[Solaris17]

It's a great unit, but I just dont care about VR.

 

[evernessince]

The fact that it doesn't work with PSVR1 games really really hurts it here. There's really only 2 good games you can play right now on this.

 

[ZoneDymo]

it would help if they launched it with a fantastic game or two.....might wanna give that a go?

 

[HeadRusch1]

Gran Turismo 7 is probably the greatest example of a Killer App (*particularly* if you have a wheel to game on and NOT the controller) out there. The problem is this is a $700 add-on.

I thought this was backwards compatible with the PS4 VR1 games, thanks to the poster-above for mentioning it isn't....I'm actually kinda shocked it's not....that is a *huge* deal breaker and I absolutely understand why people are going "Forget This...."


PS: Having said all that, people don't "Get" VR until they try it......because most people think "Oh its just strapping an LCD monitor to your face"....no, it's not. Its seamlessly 3D. VR is less like being in a "game" and more like being on a Ride at a theme park, because your entire body gets involved...because your brain thinks it's supposed to be involved based on what it is seeing through the visor. So while I get the "too expensive" part......if you are reading this and you haven't tried VR.....it really is....kinda a big deal.

Granted, I remember when games were B&W with like 100 pixels on the screen and telephones were all rotary dial......so you know, your mileage may vary on the whole "OMG" front....but for me.....it was OMG starting with the first Oculus Rift CV1.

Driving games, for example, you will notice the incredible elevation changes on tracks that you absolutely ignore when you're just looking at a flat 2D screen.......you can look into corners, use your side mirrors, be surprised when you notice a car is right there next to you (because it's all 3D, and all rendered to scale, your brain does get tricked easily into flinching.....this goes away with time but it's really palpable at first).

And flying or space flight simulators....well.....keep a bucket near you the first time you go flying in VR

 

[RegaeRevaeb]

Sony doing Sony things. Like the old Memory Stick in a manner, exclusivity in thought, design and deed... well, it sucks (IMO, of course).

With its VR and also its [allegedly] accessible controller not being open to PC users, the decisions that led them there may harm Sony in the long run more than help it.

(Edited for typos.)

 

[AnarchoPrimitiv]

If it worked with PC, I'd buy it

 

[Vayra86]

VR taking the market by storm again!

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
So 549.99 ?
Damn wish I had a cool name like Jeronimo

 

[dragontamer5788]

Gran Turismo 7 is probably the greatest example of a Killer App (*particularly* if you have a wheel to game on and NOT the controller) out there. The problem is this is a $700 add-on.

VIVE XR Elite is $1099. $700 is middle-of-the-road when it comes to VR equipment.

That being said, we're seeing a huge tech slowdown due to all of the layoffs. Disney just laid off their entire Metaverse division apparently (for example). The people who'd normally be jumping to buy this stuff are losing their jobs right now. Even if $700 is a good price, I think VR is going to be undergoing a massive slowdown.

 

[Tartaros]

The fact that it doesn't work with PSVR1 games really really hurts it here. There's really only 2 good games you can play right now on this.

That's the most baffling decision. I was willing to let go PC compatibility, but not having PSVR is just stupid.

I'm torn, I really want to try GT7 in vr, but 550 bucks for only that is just no.

 

[Space Lynx]

call of the wild was the main game for psr v2 and it got mediocre reviews, apparently most of the game is climbing mountains and that just isn't fun in vr

 

[mechtech]

hmmmmm oculus is $460 CAD now so that's about $340 USD. Is the sony version that much better??

https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/meta-quest-2-128gb-vr-headset-with-touch-controllers/15490835

 

[Space Lynx]

hmmmmm oculus is $460 CAD now so that's about $340 USD. Is the sony version that much better??

https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/meta-quest-2-128gb-vr-headset-with-touch-controllers/15490835

I am just waiting for valve Index 2, i want the best possible experience. patience and saving for it.

 

[mechtech]

I am just waiting for valve Index 2, i want the best possible experience. patience and saving for it.

Not the Apple VR?!?!

A bunch of coworkers got the occulus and play golf together, not sure I'd shell out that cash for golf lol

 

[DBGT]

I hope that make them consider to make it works on PC.

 

[Space Lynx]

I hope that make them consider to make it works on PC.

your profile picture is from the game Braid, I was literally playing that game the other night. I even talked about it in the steam deck owners club forums here on this site.

lol wild

 

[beedoo]

As a PC gamer and enthusiast with a HP Reverb G2, I found the PSVR2 a great unit (bought a PS5 specifically for its release), but I will never buy another Sony PlayStation again after experiencing their customer service after buying some software that wasn't compatible with the VR2 and trying to get a refund.

Gotta say, it's dampened the experience, and I haven't touch the PS5 since. Back to PC gaming.

 

[TheDeeGee]

Still trying to beat this dead horse huh?

 

[trsttte]

PS: Having said all that, people don't "Get" VR until they try it......because most people think "Oh its just strapping an LCD monitor to your face"....no, it's not. Its seamlessly 3D. VR is less like being in a "game" and more like being on a Ride at a theme park, because your entire body gets involved...because your brain thinks it's supposed to be involved based on what it is seeing through the visor. So while I get the "too expensive" part......if you are reading this and you haven't tried VR.....it really is....kinda a big deal.

Yeah, people shelling out big time for sim racing (or other) setups with monitors instead of buying a headset are missing out, but as great as it is it just proves once again that VR is still a niche market and will continue so for a long while.

Good luck Facebook with the all in you've made (not really, I hope they crash and burn, that'll be a ton of fun)

Is the sony version that much better??

Just not being controlled and dependent on Facebook is much better, but even excluding that it's supposed to be (I have neither, judging based on available reviews). Problem is price and available games, dropping support for the original PSVR was a very poor decision

 

[Space Lynx]

Still trying to beat this dead horse huh?

I think it will be $299 for PSVR2 by this time next year, unless they open it up to be used on PC through a software update. then it will probably sell well at that price.

 

[DBGT]

your profile picture is from the game Braid, I was literally playing that game the other night. I even talked about it in the steam deck owners club forums here on this site.

lol wild

Glad to see a fan for my favorite game.
Still waiting for the Anniversary Edition though. It should be coming out in 2021, but nothing from the developers unfortunately.

 

[Space Lynx]

should be coming out in 2021

you time travel in the game and in real life. very impressive. explains the 26 messages since 2013...

 

[TumbleGeorge]

I see a lot of dissatisfaction with the prices of VR headsets today. I remember what the prices were in 1995 for the highest end of such equipment, which had a resolution below that of the cheapest offers today. It was sold for military pilot training and cost anywhere from a few tens of thousands to a few hundred thousand dollars.

 

[Deleted member 185088]

If they officially make it compatible with PC it will sale a lot.