It looks like PSVR 2 probably won’t outsell its predecessor
Missing the mark
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It seems thatPSVR2 isn’t exactly on track to meet its sales targets, at least according to one notable VR analyst.
PSVR 2looks like it’ll sell just shy of 300,000 units by the end of March 2023, according to IDC VR analyst Francisco Jeronimo. Ina quoteto Bloomberg’s Takashi Mochizuki, Jeronimo gave an explaination as to why thePS5headset might be underperforming.
“Consumers around the world are facing rising costs of living, rising interest rates and rising layoffs,” says Jeronimo, “VR headsets are not top of mind for most consumers under the current economic climate.”
Jeronimo also states that a PSVR 2 price cut may be in order ifSonywants to “avoid a complete disaster.”
Exclusive: Sony’s PSVR2 is not doing well. IDC’s @fjeronimo expects sales of just 270,000 units by the end of March. “I suspect a price cut on the PSVR2 will be needed to avoid a complete disaster,” he says.https://t.co/pzmNKsnTjIMarch 30, 2023
The report comes not long after Sony CFO Hiroki Totoki expressed confidence inPSVR 2 exceeding the five million unitsthe company achieved with the originalPlayStation VRheadset.
Now, it may be premature to cast doom and gloom on PSVR 2 when it’s been on store shelves for a little over a month. However, PS4’s PlayStation VR managed to sellclose to a million unitsin its first four months on sale. Granted, the original headset was at a much lower price point and thus easier to obtain esppecially when compared to the eye-watering $549 / £529 / AU$879 it costs to net Sony’s latest VR headset.
Does PSVR 2 have a future?
I’m a big fan of PSVR 2, but I can’t help but be concerned for its future if the above sales forecast is accurate. When thePS Vitasimilarly underperformed a decade ago, Sony was quick to pull the plug on a genuinely fantastic handheld device. I hope the PSVR 2 will not meet the same fate.
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But it’s so easy to see why PSVR 2 wouldn’t meet Sony’s sales expectations. I’ve said it before, to the point of sounding like a broken record, but it’s always going to be a tough sell when your VR headset costs even more than the console you’re buying it for. At the retail level, many consumers are going to see that and simply turn away.
I agree that PSVR 2 could use a price cut. It is a fantastic headset, but one that needs a better chance to grow. Currently, outside of a few exclusive experiences likeHorizon: Call of the MountainandGran Turismo 7’sVR component, PSVR 2’s library is lacking. At least compared to cheaper, standalone headsets likeMeta Quest 2andPico 4.
Rhys is TRG’s Hardware Editor, and has been part of the TechRadar team for more than two years. Particularly passionate about high-quality third-party controllers and headsets, as well as the latest and greatest in fight sticks and VR, Rhys strives to provide easy-to-read, informative coverage on gaming hardware of all kinds. As for the games themselves, Rhys is especially keen on fighting and racing games, as well as soulslikes and RPGs.
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