Sony believes there’s a “good probability” PSVR 2 can outsell its predecessor, in response to its Chief Monetary Officer.
Following a high-profile launch late final month, Sony hasn’t launched PSVR 2 gross sales figures but nevertheless it’s already speaking up favorable comparisons to the unique headset. Launched in 2016 for PS4, Sony final reported that PSVR offered 5 million items as of December 31, 2019 and, unsurprisingly, chief monetary officer Hiroki Totoki believes its new PS5-powered headset can exceed this.
Talking in a fireplace chat on the Morgan Stanley Expertise, Media & Telecom Convention final week (reported by VGC), Totoki was questioned about PSVR 2 launch and gross sales expectations. “We’re very completely happy to launch VR2 on PS5,” he said, not revealing any specifics. “VR1, we offered over 5 million items, and I believe we now have probability to exceed that quantity with PlayStation VR2.”
It might ease fears following Bloomberg’s January report that Sony was upset within the headset’s pre-orders, resulting in lowered shipments. Sony later denied this report, claiming “we now have not minimize PlayStation VR2 manufacturing numbers” in a ready assertion to UploadVR. Whereas Totoki’s assertion about PSVR 2’s possibilities is imprecise, it’s price remembering that the market has modified considerably since 2016.
PSVR 2 arguably targets the upper finish VR market from 2023, with options like eye-tracking assist and superior haptic suggestions. It additionally sells for a better introductory value at $550 – greater than the PS5 console itself, which begins at $400. The unique PSVR was designed throughout fashionable VR’s infancy and developed over previous few years of PS4’s lifecycle. It made use of controllers from the PS3 period and initially offered for $400.
The unique PSVR headset was cheaper than competing Rift and Vive headsets, and it wasn’t competing with Meta Quest 2, both. Although Meta and Sony are focusing on totally different ends of the market, Meta’s not too long ago leaked inside roadmap confirmed that Quest has offered almost 20 million items, placing Quest as a platform considerably forward of PSVR. Most PSVR 2 launch video games are additionally accessible on Meta’s flagship headset, barring first-party exclusives like Horizon Name of the Mountain, so convincing VR consumers to choose PSVR 2 as an alternative of Quest 2 is difficult process for Sony.
Totoki’s statements didn’t finish there. Discussing the broader VR market, he reportedly known as it “one of many largest development areas” within the media and leisure sector for the primary half of this decade. Claiming there’s “good potential” for the VR/AR market, VGC’s report additionally cites Totoki stating there’s “good potential of know-how growth on this subject as properly”.
