The International Data Corporation (IDC) has been tracking sales of Sony's PlayStation VR2 virtual reality headset since launch time (February 2023)—a new report claims that a backlog of unsold units has accumulated. Bloomberg's analysis of IDC data reveals that PS VR2 sales have consistently declined each quarter, despite promising early numbers—the publication alleges that Sony Group Corporation has paused production of its ($550 MSRP) PS VR2 headset: "until it clears a backlog of unsold units, according to people familiar with its plans, adding to doubts about the appeal of virtual reality gadgets." Anonymous industry moles reckon that manufacturing facilities have pumped out over two million examples since launch time. Sony is unlikely to admit, publicly, that it is having a tough time shifting its second generation virtual reality headset—Bloomberg's network of insiders believe that "stocks of the device are building up."

The lack of AAA content, developed exclusively for the PS VR2's ecosystem, is cited as big stumbling block—Bloomberg (alongside numerous publications) reckons that sales have suffered due to an absence of system-selling titles. Horizon: Call of the Mountain (2023) was an impactful launch title, but the headset's software portfolio contains a lot of "novelty" items, casual experiences and glorified tech demos (according to community feedback). Late last month, Sony admitted that it was exploring options beyond the VR2's normal mode of operation (PS5 acting as host): "We're pleased to share that we are currently testing the ability for PS VR2 players to access additional games on PC to offer even more game variety in addition to the PS VR2 titles available through PS5. We hope to make this support available in 2024, so stay tuned for more updates." This surprising announcement arrived mere days before the firing of (around) 900 PlayStation employees. Company leadership revealed that Firesprite's headcount would be reduced. This VR-oriented studio collaborated with Guerrilla Games on the development of Horizon: Call of the Mountain. Sony's London Studio will be closed down—its team had previously worked on PlayStation VR Worlds (2016) and Blood & Truth (2019)—compatible with Sony's first generation headset.

Sony's second generation virtual reality headset—PlayStation VR2—is a very neat bit of kit, but many VR gaming enthusiasts believe that its potential is being wasted to some degree. Presently, VR2 is locked into the Sony PlayStation 5 console ecosystem, yet efforts to break this exclusive cycle started many months ago—modders have been working on PC platform support. The "iVRy VR" project is a notable endeavor—its leader outlined a bumpy development road on Reddit late last year: "PS VR2 can now be used for SteamVR on Windows. I wrote the driver some months ago, but the project has been delayed due to hardware or GPU driver hacks necessary to get the headset driven correctly by the GPU." Things are back on track according to iVRy's latest social media posts: "Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order running on Sony PS VR2, using UEVR and iVRy Driver for SteamVR (Windows). Use your device as a SteamVR VR Headset for your PC." The latest rumblings from Sony indicate that iVRy's crowdfunded efforts could be usurped in 2024.

First-party support on PC platforms has been teased by Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE)—a freshly published PlayStation Blog article reveals that a conversion team is tinkering away in the background: "PlayStation VR2 launched one year ago, backed by a 40+ game launch window lineup which included all-new experiences like Horizon Call of the Mountain and Pavlov, as well as PS VR2-compatible titles such as Gran Turismo 7 and Resident Evil Village... We're pleased to share that we are currently testing the ability for PS VR2 players to access additional games on PC to offer even more game variety in addition to the PS VR2 titles available through PS5. We hope to make this support available in 2024, so stay tuned for more updates." Company representatives have insisted, in the past, that their second generation VR headset is exclusive to PlayStation 5—The Verge has "reached out to Sony to clarify exactly what "access additional games on PC" means and whether the support will be limited to certain games. We'll update you accordingly."

Hi everyone, I'm Samar, Associate Game Director at Vertigo Games. We couldn't be more excited to reveal our next project, Metro Awakening, during today's State of Play. We're proud to say that, with the support of Deep Silver, for the last two and a half years we've been working to bring the post-apocalyptic world of Metro to PS VR2, Meta Quest 2+3 and Steam VR 2024. The best video games take us out of our world by putting us in the boots of someone else. They let us experience that world through their eyes. The Metro series continually strives to achieve this. Inspired by the internationally best-selling novels by Dmitry Glukhovsky, Metro 2033, Metro: Last Light, and Metro Exodus delivered immersive first-person experiences at release. These games put players in the heart of a desperate battle for survival after nuclear Armageddon. Metro Awakening is an all-new Metro game made exclusively for VR, and powered by the immersive features of PS VR2 and its Sense controllers.

It's an origins story, set before the events of Metro 2033, that both offers a whole new angle for Metro fans, and a fantastic starting point for seasoned VR players ready to put on the gas mask. Set in 2028, the all-new story is penned by series creator Dmitry Glukhovsky. You play as Serdar, a doctor searching for his wife amongst the claustrophobic, irradiated metro tunnels of post-apocalyptic Moscow. As Serdar ventures deeper into the Metro his courage and sanity will be tested by the supernatural forces he encounters, and will set in motion the events that lead to his spiritual awakening as something else entirely…

Hi everyone, 2024 has just begun and it's time for our very first State of Play! The broadcast will be over 40 minutes long, and feature guest appearances from some of the most talented minds in gaming. Among many other updates, we'll feature extended looks at Stellar Blade and Rise of the Ronin, two great games coming to PS5 this year. And we'll give you a new look at other titles coming to PS5 and PS VR2 in 2024 and beyond. The show begins Wednesday, January 31 at 2pm PT / 5pm ET / 10pm GMT on YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok. Here's to a new year of great games!

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Ever since we announced Firewall Ultra, the next evolution of the Firewall franchise, last year on the PlayStation Blog, the outpour of encouragement from the community has been nothing short of amazing. The pure excitement in all your comments, messages, tweets, and posts have us all even more motivated to make the game as great as it can be. Which is why we're so excited to debut our new gameplay trailer featuring fresh PvP gameplay footage!

To cap off that excitement, today we're thrilled to announce that pre-orders are officially live for Firewall Ultra starting today with a launch date of August 24, 2023! Firewall Ultra puts the next-gen VR features embedded in the PS VR2 front and center to deliver a compelling and immersive first-person shooter experience. This includes eye-tracking for innovative use cases like closing your eyes to avoid the effects of a flashbang, incredible haptic feedback in the PlayStation VR2 Sense controllers for realistic weapon feedback, headset feedback when you take damage or toggle on night vision goggles, and so much more.

Sony revealed in a presentation now posted online that PlayStation VR2 excelled in sales in its first six weeks, outselling the original PlayStation VR in the same six week period after launch. The figure that Sony posted was just under 600,000 units, a far cry from an analyst estimate at the end of March that they would only ship 270,000 units by that point. By contrast the original PS VR sold close to 500,000 units in its launch period. PlayStation VR2 has received generally positive reviews for its visual fidelity, accurate tracking, and excellent controllers. The $550 USD price has been a point of contention, with a price drop initially expected after the negative third party sales reports. However it is now expected that the price will remain unchanged after what Sony has described as a, "strong PlayStation VR2 launch."

With a launch lineup of only 42 games, Sony and partnering studios have been hard at work adding more games to the VR library with the list expanding to 112 as of announcements at the most recent PlayStation Showcase. Many older PS VR games are still not ported to PS VR2 though various developers have stated intentions to do so, and new titles yet to be fully announced are still in the works suggesting strong support for the new generation headset.

Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) announced today the global launch of its next generation virtual reality headset, PlayStation VR2. Featuring high fidelity visuals, new sensory features and enhanced tracking, PlayStation VR2 takes virtual reality gaming to a whole new level, enabling players to feel a heightened range of sensations unlike any other. The PlayStation VR2 headset and included PlayStation VR2 Sense controller is available at the recommended retail price of $549.99 / €599.99 / £529.99 / ¥74,980

"Providing extraordinary experiences to gamers is what we strive for at PlayStation, and today we are thrilled to start this new chapter in virtual reality gaming with PlayStation VR2," said Jim Ryan, President and CEO, Sony Interactive Entertainment. "PlayStation VR2's innovative technology has helped unlock the creativity of the industry's finest developers, who have designed outstanding games that deliver a greater sense of presence for players. I can't wait for fans around the world to experience PlayStation VR2 for themselves."

TrendForce estimates that global shipments of VR devices will come to around 8.58 million units for 2022, showing a YoY drop of 5.3%. There are three notable factors behind the decline. First, the ongoing high inflation has been suppressing the consumer demand for end products this year. Second, VR brands have either opted to not release a new product this year or pushed back the schedule for releasing a new product. Lastly, the demand for Meta's Quest devices has been dampened by a significant pricing adjustment. As for 2023, TrendForce forecasts that global shipments of VR devices will bounce back to a total of 10.35 million units and show a YoY growth of 20.6%. New products including the Sony PS VR2 and the Meta Quest 3 are scheduled for release next year, so they are expected to be a significant demand driver.

Meta has been the most aggressive in committing resources into the VR/AR market. However, the effect of its attempt to offer hardware at a low price has been quite disproportionate to its massive investments in related technologies. Due to mounting cost pressure, Meta has adjusted its pricing strategy for Quest devices. The Meta Quest 2, in particular, is now priced at US$1,499, which is more than three times its previous price. On account of this price hike and its relatively short battery life, the Quest Pro will unlikely follow the footsteps of the Quest 2 with respect to maintaining a strong shipment growth momentum. TrendForce estimates that that shipments of the Quest Pro will reach just to the level of 250,000 units for 2022. Meta will have to wait until next year, when the Quest 3 hit the market, to again see a notable positive growth in its shipments of VR devices. TrendForce currently forecasts that Meta's shipments for 2023 will total around 7.25 million units.

Sony has finally revealed the pricing for its upcoming PlayStation VR2 headset and for those interested in getting one, we really hope you've saved up, as the headset costs more than a PlayStation 5 console. The headset will only launch on the 22nd of February 2023, but Sony will start taking pre-orders later this month and you're going to have to cough up $549.99 / €599.99 / £529.99 / ¥74,980 depending on where you live to get your hands on one. For the money, you get the PS VR2 headset, the PS VR2 Sense controllers and a set of undisclosed stereo headphones. Sony will also offer a bundle with Horizon Call of the Mountain, which will retail for $599.99 / €649.99 / £569.99 / ¥79,980.

In addition to the headset, Sony will also offer a charging station for the controllers, which comes in at $49.99 / €49.99 / £39.99 / ¥5,480. The controllers would otherwise charge via USB-C. The PS VR2 also uses USB-C to connect to the PS5 console. The PS VR2 offers 2000 x 2040 pixels resolution per eye, using OLED displays that are capable of 90 and 120 Hz refresh rate. The headset also sports four cameras for headset and controller tracking, as well as an IR camera for each eye, for eye tracking. The eye tracking hardware is made by Swedish Tobii, which is a company that specialises in eye tracking solutions. Sony also announced 11 new PS VR2 games, which among others include Switchback VR, Cities VR - Enhanced Edition, Crossfire: Sierra Squad and The Light Brigade.

After a long wait, Sony has finally released the first pictures of its upcoming PlayStation VR2 headset and it clearly follows the design of the original, but looks sleeker, possibly due to the use of a lot more white plastic. The most obvious change is the inclusion of four cameras in the headset itself, much like what we've seen in VR headsets from other manufacturers, which are used for tracking. The PS VR2 should also feature eye tracking, although it seems like Sony is still negotiating with it suppliers as to which technology will be used. It still connects via a cable to the PS5 console, but it seems like Sony has upgraded the displays significantly, as the company claims 4K HDR support, without going into any further details.

Sony talked a lot about the design of the hardware and about how the new headset and controllers were designed to "become an attractive part of your living room decor" while also keeping the gamer immersed in the VR games they're playing, "to the point where you almost forget you are using a headset or controller". As such, ergonomics have apparently played a key role in developing the PlayStation VR2, to make sure it's comfortable to use, no matter the shape or size of the player's head. The only new hardware features mentioned include a lens adjustment dial and a new motor for haptic feedback. For those in hotter climates, Sony has also added a new air vent, which might also be handy for those wearing glasses. Unlike HTC, it doesn't seem like Sony has gone for a fan assisted vent. Sony also announced that PS VR2 headsets are already with game developers and that the company will be sharing more details about the hardware in the future.

Sony today has confirmed the first specs for its upcoming update of the original PlayStation VR hardware. The PlayStation VR2, as it's (predictably) named, will feature an entirely new display array consisting of dual OLED panels (2000 x 2040 per eye), enabling 4K HDR content to be directly beamed into the users' retinas. The panels enable a 110º field of view and up to 120 Hz refresh rates. The PS VR2 headset will now feature inside-out tracking, which means there's no need for external accessories: four cameras placed on the headset itself will take care of hand and positional tracking, with some help from the new Sense handheld controllers (which integrate the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers of the PS5 DualSense controller).

While wireless VR technologies have become more common, the PlayStation VR2 will require a single, USB Type-C physical connection with the PS5 console - and it's unlikely it will ever properly work outside Sony's ecosystem. This is partly due to Sony listing a number of new sensory technologies that are being integrated into its VR2 headset such as eye tracking, headset feedback, and 3D Audio (processed via the company's Tempest technology). Sony describes the eye tracking implementation as serving as a new possible input for game experiences, whilst also enabling technologies such as foveated rendering to enable higher performance to be extracted from the PS5 hardware. Allying foveated rendering and eye-tracking should bring about a much-needed breakthrough for VR performance - theoretically, the system can apply Variable Rate Shading (VRS)-like technologies according to the user's eye position, reducing rendering quality in line with the less detailed captures of humans' peripheral vision compared to the pupil's central focus point.