According to a reputable VR analyst, PSVR 2 is unlikely to meet its sales targets.
For Francisco Jeronimo, VR analyst at IDC, PSVR 2 is expected to sell just under 300,000 units by the end of March 2023. In a statement (opens in a new tab)To Bloomberg’s Takashi Mochizuki, Jeronimo explained why this PS5 headset might underperform in terms of sales.
“Consumers around the world are facing rising costs of living, interest rates and layoffs,” says Jeronimo, “VR headsets are not a priority for most consumers in the current economic climate. “.
Jeronimo also states that a reduction in the price of PSVR 2 might be necessary if Sony wants to “avoid complete disaster”.
Exclusive: Sony’s PSVR2 is not doing well. IDC’s @fjeronimo expects sales of just 270,000 units by the end of March. “I suspect a price cut on the PSVR2 will be needed to avoid a complete disaster,” he says.https://t.co/pzmNKsnTjIMarch 30, 2023
This report comes shortly following Sony Chief Financial Officer Hiroki Totoki expressed confidence that PSVR 2 will surpass the five million units the company achieved with the original PlayStation VR headset.
It’s perhaps premature to curse the PSVR 2 when it’s only been on sale for a little over a month. However, the PS4’s PlayStation VR managed to sell nearly a million copies. (opens in a new tab) during its first four months on the market. It is true that the original headset was much cheaper and therefore easier to buy, especially when compared to the exorbitant price of 599 euros that Sony’s latest VR headset costs.
Does PSVR 2 have a future?
We’re fans of PSVR 2, but we’re worried regarding its future if these predictions turn out to be accurate. Ten years ago, when the commercial failure of the PS Vita, Sony hastened to put an end to the existence of this fantastic portable device. We hope that the PSVR 2 will not meet the same fate.
But it’s easy to see why the PSVR 2 wouldn’t meet Sony’s sales expectations. We’ve said it before, to the point of sounding like a killjoy, but it’s always going to be hard to sell a VR headset that costs even more than the console you’re buying it for. From a business perspective, many consumers take this reality seriously and simply shy away from the proposition.
We recognize that the PSVR 2 would need a price drop. It’s a fantastic helmet, but needs a better opportunity to develop. Currently, apart from a few exclusive experiences like Horizon : Call of the Mountain and the VR component of Gran Turismo® 7, the range of PSVR 2 games is insufficient. At least compared to cheaper standalone headsets like Meta Quest 2 and Pico 4.
