Update 1/31: In a statement to GamesIndustry.biz, Sony has denied reports that it has cut PlayStation VR2 production numbers.
Original story follows.
Sony has significantly reduced the output of the PlayStation VR2 headset following disappointing pre-orders. Since PlayStation's debut in the video game industry, Sony has expanded its brand to provide home consoles as well as a variety of accessories, including VR headsets. The PlayStation brand has some of the best-selling consoles ever and became a major staple in the industry in the nearly 30 years since its initial debut.
The PlayStation brand is a major influence in the gaming industry and currently holds the record for best-selling home console to date with the PlayStation 2. While PlayStation has made itself a household name internationally, the company still strives to develop cutting edge technology and new ways for players to experience its products. Sony dipped its hands into the virtual reality market in October 2016 with the release of the PlayStation VR headset, formerly known as Project Morpheus. Not long after the release of the PlayStation VR headset, Sony announced that the sales of the headset had far exceeded expectations.
Though the original PlayStation VR headset may have exceeded expectations, it seems as if the PlayStation VR2 headset may not be following in its footsteps. A report from Bloomberg confirms that Sony had to cut expectations for the headset after disappointing pre-orders. Originally, Sony had forecasted 2 million units to be sold over this quarter and has now halved that prediction to 1 million units. The company is currently planning to ship roughly 1.5 million units by spring of next year.
The major contributor to the reduced output of the PlayStation VR2 seems to be the price of the headset itself. The PlayStation VR2 launches at $549.99 retail price, which is actually more than the cost of the PlayStation 5 console itself. The virtual reality headset comes in a bundle with two PlayStation VR2 Sense controllers and stereo headphones as well. Another reason noted for the decline in demand is the overall lackluster momentum for the virtual reality gaming sector as a whole in today's market.
Despite the hefty price tag, the PlayStation VR2 headset is currently one of the cheapest modern VR headsets on the market. PlayStation VR2 also has a diverse lineup of launch games, including a spin-off of the iconic Horizon series with Horizon Call of the Mountain. Still, fans do not seem ready to commit to such a large investment for a VR experience in 2023, and it will be interesting to see how Sony and other market leaders adjust to that decline of interest in VR gaming over the next few years.
Source: Bloomberg
