PlayStation boss thinks it’s too early to write off PSVR 2 - and I agree
Give it time… and a price drop
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PSVR2 may not have lit the world on fire asSonyhoped, but the Japanese manufacturer remains optimistic about its long-term success.
Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan has shared his own thoughts onPSVR 2’s first few months on sale. In an interview withFamitsu, Ryan stated that “PSVR 2 has just been launched, so it may be a little early to judge its popularity, but we are happy to see many positive reactions from users and the media.” (viaVGC).
Ryan’s comment follows a slew of bad news for thePS5headset’s opening months. Its reportedlypoor pre-order performanceprior to launch hinted a lukewarm consumer reaction to its eye-watering price point. Additionally, month one salesappeared to fall below Sony’s targets, despite Sony CFO Hiroki Totoki expressing confidence thatPSVR 2 could outsell its predecessor.
Despite a slow start off the blocks, I do agree with Jim Ryan that it’s far too early to judge PSVR 2’s sales performance. Some of thebest PSVR 2 gameshave already seriously impressed me, particularly its exclusives inHorizon: Call of the MountainandGran Turismo 7’sexcellent VR support.
May 24’s PlayStation Showcasecould also bring the goods, with new PSVR 2 announcements confirmed to feature at the presentation. However, I firmly believe these will need to be all-new exclusive games to impress, not just existing games we’ve seen already on some of thebest VR headsetsout there. That said, I wouldn’t mind a cheekyHalf-Life: Alyxport.
Ultimately, I still believe thatPSVR 2 needs a substantial price cutin order to pick up sales and remain competitive in the VR space. It doesn’t help that unlikeOculus Quest 2, Sony’s headset isn’t standalone, and requires a PS5. While the technical specs of the PSVR2 are much higher than the Quest 2, it’s a bitter pill to swallow when you’re currently looking at a $1,000 / £1,000 plus investment, and that’s before you’ve even bought any games.
Sure, PSVR 2 isn’tValve Indexlevels of expensive. But there are larger libraries on cheaper, more accessible headsets like Quest 2 andPico 4. Upcoming releases likeResident Evil 4’sVR suite will likely impress, but at PSVR 2’s current price point that experience will remain inaccessible for the vast majority of consumers.
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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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