PS VR 2 pre-orders appear to be falling short of expectations - could that hurt its longevity?

PS VR 2 is expected to launch in less than a month, but a new report suggests that soft pre-order numbers for the PS5 virtual reality headset have forced Sony to revise its initial sales forecast and cut its production order.

Bloomberg (opens in a new tab) claims that Sony has halved its expected first-quarter PS VR 2 shipments, bringing the number of units expected to ship down to one million. Trade reports that Sony originally planned to have two million units ready for launch, but it’s important to note that the Japanese tech giant hasn’t officially confirmed those numbers, so they should be taken with a grain of salt. healthy grain of salt.

This report also suggests that Sony recently contacted supply partners to announce that component orders will be reduced in the coming months. Additionally, it is stated that Sony now expects to ship approximately 1.5 million units in the first 12 months of PS5 accessory sales.

For comparison, the original PS VR headset took around eight months to top the one million mark in sales after its debut in October 2016. So even with these revised sales figures, the PS VR 2 is still expected to surpass its predecessor.

Although the numbers presented by Bloomberg are technically unverified, there is strong evidence that PS VR 2 pre-orders have been somewhat slow. For starters, unlike the PS5, which sold out at all major retailers in just minutes, the PS VR 2 continues to be available to reserve even a few weeks before its launch date.

The headset is currently sold exclusively through PlayStation Direct, the Sony-owned retailer. When pre-orders first went live last September, an invite was required, but that requirement was quickly removed and the headset can now be ordered by any buyer willing to cough up the $599 launch price.

Such a high cost of entry is widely believed to be the main reason why PS VR 2 doesn’t seem to be getting as much interest as expected. And there’s no doubt that a PS5 accessory that costs more than the console itself is a tough sell, especially in times of economic turmoil for many.

A somewhat lackluster game launch lineup has also been suggested as a potential reason why pre-orders aren’t selling out. However, Sony is putting some first-party muscle behind the headset with Horizon Call of the Mountain slated for launch day alongside a few dozen third-party offerings.

The PS VR 2 is due out on Wednesday, February 22 for $599 / £529 / AU$879. If you’re already sold on the VR unit, we’ve got a comprehensive guide on how to pre-order PS VR 2 to help you secure yours in time for launch.

Disappointing PS VR 2 pre-orders could hint at a longevity issue

(Image credit: future)

At first glance, the plentiful supply of PS VR 2 might seem like a good thing. After all, no one wants to endure something similar to the PS5 restocking nightmare that persisted for the vast majority of the console’s first two years on the market. However, this apparent softer-than-expected initial interest could be a grim warning that the headset isn’t cutting itself in the long run.

Without an appropriately high attach rate, Sony’s incentive to fund other first-party PS VR 2 games could dwindle. This would create an unpleasant cycle where the headset struggles to be relevant due to lack of compelling software, but lacks compelling software due to its struggle for relevance. And that could leave early adopters with a very expensive but also very limited accessory that can only boast a few decent titles.

Of course, that’s really a worst-case scenario, and it’s clear that Sony is committed to PS VR 2 for at least the medium term. In recent years, Sony has acquired several development studios with strong VR credentials, including Firesprite, creator of The Persistence and PS VR 1 tech demo The Playroom. Acquisitions like this and the launch of a second generation headset certainly indicate that Sony continues to have high ambitions in the virtual reality space.

Due to its high cost of entry, the PS VR 2 is also currently positioning itself as a luxury buy that only the most dedicated PlayStation fans will buy at launch. In this context, it was never going to be an instant sale item coveted by the general public.

After it has been on the market for a while and perhaps seen its first price drop, interest may increase as more consumers receive appropriate incentives to purchase. Additionally, if the headset is well received by early adopters, positive word of mouth will spread, which could also convince some gamers currently on the fence to jump on board.

Right now, it looks like the PS VR 2 isn’t going to immediately smash sales records or become the next hard-to-find tech item in stock, but that certainly doesn’t mean it’s destined to fail. Sony will view the launch as the start of a multi-year campaign to champion VR with PlayStation gamers, and as with any new hardware launch, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

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