Sony has reportedly cut the planned release amount of PlayStation VR2 headsets in half.
A new report from Bloomberg suggests that Sony is cutting the production of the upcoming PlayStation VR2 headset below the initial target as the number of pre-orders are failing to meet expectations. Pre-orders for the PS VR 2 were opened back in November 2022.
According to the report, Sony is now preparing to launch 1 million PlayStation VR2 headsets this February, while aiming to release up to 1.5 million units between April and March this year. This amount is subject to change corresponding to public demand. Originally, Sony was attempting to release 2 million units at launch. Supposedly though, the Japanese tech giant has informed a supply partner of a decrease in the number of display orders, an anonymous source claimed to Bloomberg.
PlayStation VR2 is set to be launched on February 22. Although Sony has prepared a strong lineup of games for the platform’s launch, such as Horizon Call of the Mountain, the lack of backward compatibility does create a gap between the two generations of PlayStation’s VR platforms. Even Sony’s own PS VR first-party titles cannot be launched via PSVR 2. Aside from launching new games, Sony will also add VR support for some of the already launched PlayStation 5 titles, such as Gran Turismo 7.
The sheer expense of VR gaming is also expected to be a major factor in unsatisfactory pre-orders, which requires a PlayStation 5 on top of the PlayStation VR2 itself, summing up the cost to at least $950. In addition to this, each first-party VR title will roughly cost $69.99, similar to normal PlayStation 5 first-party games.
While Sony is about to start a new generation of VR gaming with PlayStation VR2, rival companies are also working on new VR platforms to deliver later this year. Meta has already released the Quest Pro as its new generation of VR headset, while HTC recently announced the Vive XR Elite as an all-in-one VR platform that can be used for gaming and other purposes.
Although these headsets cost more than a PlayStation VR2, the fact that they are standalone platforms could make them a better choice for people looking for a VR headset with more portability and more functionalities other than gaming.
