Sony launched the PS VR2 headset again in February of 2023, with a number of confidence in its success. That hasn’t materialized into precise big gross sales numbers, nevertheless, and at the moment a rumor claims the corporate has chosen to halt manufacturing of the headset to be able to clear up current stock.
Sony is allegedly sitting on a pretty big stockpile of PS VR2s, amid dwindling gross sales which have shrunk each single quarter because the headset’s launch. IDC says Sony moved 595.5K items in Q1 final yr, 435.5K in Q2, 343.6K in Q3, and 325.2K in This fall. These, by the way in which, are deliveries to retailers, not shoppers, so the precise gross sales to shoppers numbers are most likely even decrease.
Sony has made “properly over” 2 million PS VR2s to date, in accordance with “individuals accustomed to its plans”. Gross sales have clearly been nowhere close to that mark, so pausing manufacturing does in fact make sense. The extra intriguing query is whether or not this implies something for the overall mass-market demand for VR headsets which might be rather more fairly priced than Apple’s Vision Pro (the PS VR2 is $550).
One of many issues for the PS VR2 might need been the provision of video games for it, or relatively, the shortage thereof. Sony ‘s PlayStation London division, which was centered on making VR video games, was weirdly shut down final month, a transfer which means issues will not get any higher sooner or later in terms of sport availability for the PS VR2. However, Sony mentioned in February that it is testing the flexibility for PS VR2 house owners to entry PC titles.
Creating VR video games is claimed to return at a “considerably larger” value than regular titles, which explains the dearth of choices. Then once more, players will not shell out even $550 if there aren’t a number of titles obtainable for such a VR headset, and so we’re just about caught in a circle right here.
