REVIEW: The PlayStation VR 2 is just weeks away from launch and looks like an exciting expansion to the PS5 for those who love virtual reality.
However, it looks like Sony is lowering its sales expectations, with Bloomberg reporting that the PlayStation maker has “halved its PSVR2 shipment forecast” following a disappointing number of pre-orders for the device.
So why is the PlayStation VR 2 struggling with pre-orders, especially since the PS5 console is selling like hotcakes? Here are the top five reasons I think the PSVR 2 isn’t selling as well as Sony had hoped.
The incredibly high price
The PlayStation VR 2 has a retail price of $549.99 in the US and £529.99 in the UK. You can buy a PS5 console for much less than that.
It’s a big price hike on the original PlayStation VR, which was available for $399 in the US and £349 in the UK at launch.
You could say that the PlayStation VR 2 is actually pretty cheap compared to the competition. The Meta Quest Pro offers similar technology such as eye tracking, but was priced at $1499.99 / £1499.99 at launch. This headset was certainly aimed at prosumers and enterprises, but it still has similar specs to the PSVR 2.
That still doesn’t change the fact that the PlayStation VR 2 requires a hefty outlay, which might just put off those who haven’t dabbled in VR yet. The fact that it requires a PS5 to run also increases the total setup cost.
Lack of backwards compatibility
Convincing newcomers to VR to buy an expensive headset is going to be a tough task. Instead, it makes a lot more sense for Sony to try to appeal to those who bought the original PlayStation VR headset.
To that end, Sony is doing a poor job of winning over the existing fan base after confirming that the PSVR 2 will not offer any backwards compatibility. This means you’re going to be forced to build your library of games from scratch, making all those existing PSVR purchases effectively redundant.
To add salt to the wound, the PSVR 2 launch lineup includes familiar games such as Moss, No Man’s Sky and Rez Infinite. All of these titles were available on the original headset, so chances are PSVR owners have already purchased them, but to experience these games on the PSVR 2, you’ll need to spend money on a new purchase. .
As a result, the only major launch titles that weren’t available on the previous headset are Horizon Call of the Mountain, Gran Turismo 7, and Resident Evil Village. Sony will have to flesh out this offering to make PSVR 2 a worthwhile upgrade.
Be a PlayStation Direct exclusive pre-order
Last year, Sony launched its new online store called PlayStation Direct. This allowed the company to sell its hardware directly to fans, without having to give a slice of the pie to third-party retailers like Amazon and Game.
To boost awareness of its new online store, Sony has made PSVR 2 an exclusive pre-order for PlayStation Direct. That means you can’t buy it elsewhere before launch.
While I can understand Sony’s motive for increasing advertising for its online store, it’s no surprise to see this having a detrimental effect on PSVR 2 sales. Potential customers are far less likely to stumble upon the PSVR 2 online and making an impulse purchase.
Sony also needs to remember that a good portion of PS5 owners are casual gamers and are less likely to follow the news cycle. Some people might not even know that PSVR 2 will launch on February 22, especially since retailers like Amazon don’t advertise the product before launch.
Bad time to launch a new VR headset
February is a very strange time to launch an expensive new VR headset. Games consoles usually hit stores just before Christmas, with November having welcomed the release of the PS5 and Xbox Series X. It’s a smart tactic, as they become good options for gifts, while people are also more likely to spend large sums of money. around this time of year.
In February, however, people are likely to be more frugal with their money. Smartphones and laptops are different because people will look to upgrade if their contract expires or their outdated hardware starts to become a nuisance. The PlayStation VR 2 is a luxury purchase and it’s harder to justify a major outlay.
There are a few game consoles that have seen success since their launch in the first half. The original Nintendo Switch is a good example, but the hybrid console has more mass-market appeal and was launched to huge success in Breath of the Wild.
We’ve also seen a big drop in large purchases in general over the last year or so. This is likely due to the financial climate, with energy, gasoline and rent all seeing rising costs. With many people struggling to make ends meet, a purchase of PSVR 2 is probably the last thing they want to think about. This is beyond Sony’s control, but it may well explain why the company had to revise its forecast downwards.
The original PSVR had a disappointing lineup of games
You will often find that the reputation of the previous edition of a games console will have a significant impact on the sales of the successor. For example, the popularity of the PS4 will undoubtedly have had a major influence on the impressive sales figures of the PS5. It’s highly likely that VR headsets can see a similar pattern.
Unfortunately for PSVR 2, most gamers don’t think too much of the previous PSVR headset. There are plenty of reasons for this: its controllers felt outdated very quickly compared to competing headsets and it was still a pain to set up with multiple cables. The biggest issue of all, however, was the lackluster game library.
Astro Bot Rescue Mission was arguably the only major PlayStation exclusive to launch on the PSVR and although there are many other excellent third party VR games such as Beat Saber, Superhot VR, Thumper and Moss they were all available on headsets more affordable ones such as Oculus Quest and Meta Quest 2. As a result, many PSVR owners are likely wondering if the PSVR 2 will face similar issues.
To be fair to Sony, it’s already working to fix those issues by releasing both Horizon Call of the Mountain and Gran Turismo 7, but if PlayStation VR 2 is going to be a big hit, it’s going to need additional exclusives. Hopefully we’ll see VR take on franchises like God of War, The Last of Us, Spider-Man and more.