Last Updated: March 20, 2024, 08:00 IST
The digital actuality headset pairs up with the PlayStation 5 console.
The PlayStation VR2 was launched in February 2023 as an adjunct for the PlayStation 5 because the market expands the attain of digital actuality headsets.
Due to reducing gross sales, Sony has halted manufacturing of its present technology digital actuality headset, the PlayStation VR2. According to sources accustomed to the corporate’s plans, the headset’s inventory has been increase all through Sony’s provide chain since its unveiling round a yr in the past. Since its launch, the PSVR2, which is suitable with the PlayStation 5 platform, has seen shipments fall in each quarter, with over 2 million items produced.
Sony now has an extra provide of headsets that it seems to need to promote earlier than producing new ones. As per Bloomberg, the key problem for the PSVR2 is a scarcity of content material and leisure choices on the platform. While the headgear is suitable with a couple of AAA video games, its excessive value level has raised client expectations.
Meanwhile, Sony’s current layoffs, together with the closing of its London Studio and the shrinking of its Firesprite studio, have additionally influenced groups engaged on VR merchandise, Bloomberg stories.
To deal with the paucity of content material, Sony has revealed intentions to check PC assist for the PlayStation VR2. The headset’s performance for PC video games continues to be unknown, however it’s anticipated to reach later this yr.
Even if Sony can present recent content material for the PSVR2, the excessive price of VR know-how would be the largest obstacle to its enlargement.
The excessive value of VR {hardware} acts as the primary hurdle for its enlargement,” Macquarie analyst Yijia Zhai mentioned as quoted by Bloomberg. “Currently, there are limited games that support VR devices, and that will also lead to a lack of motivation for players to purchase VR hardware. This limited content also has a reason – the development cost for VR games is substantially higher than normal titles,” Zhai provides.
Despite the prevailing hurdles, International Data Corporation (IDC) predicts that the VR market will enhance by a mean of 31.5 % every year between 2023 and 2028. According to analysts, Apple’s entry with its Vision Pro headset helps to speed up this rise.
The PSVR2 isn’t the one Sony product experiencing weak demand. Sales of the PlayStation 5 platform have additionally been declining in current quarters, and Sony is getting ready a brand new “Pro” gadget, the PS5 Pro, within the hopes of reversing the pattern. The new Pro console is slated to be obtainable later in 2024, across the vacation season.
