John Paul M. Joaquin Tech 03.30.2023 05:Mar AM EDT

Sony’s PSVR2 Sales at Sputter to ‘Disappointing’ Level

Sony's dreams of outselling the PlayStation VR are off to a slow start.

The International Data Corporation (IDC) recently revealed that Sony is expected to sell fewer than 300,000 PlayStation VR2 (PSVR2) headsets in its first few weeks on the market.

Sony was hoping to use the PSVR2's apparent success to take a leading role in developing the metaverse, per Bloomberg.

Sony PSVR2 Sales Figures

The IDC, a research firm, mentioned in its report that Sony is likely to sell about 270,000 PSVR2 headsets between its Feb. 22 release and Mar. 31, but consumers have other things to spend their hard-earned cash given the economy.

IDC's Francisco Jeronimo, vice president of data and analytics, mentioned that VR headsets like the PSVR2 are not at the top of consumers' list worldwide under the economic climate, as evidenced by the rising costs of living, interest rates and the numerous mass layoffs happening.

While a Sony spokesperson declined to comment on the IDC's findings, the numbers the research firm reported are a disappointing start to Sony's ambition of taking the lead in the development of the metaverse. However, this turnout is far from surprising.

Sony priced the headset at $549, the same price it placed on a brand-new PlayStation 5, which it needs to properly function. With such a price tag, consumers struggle to justify splurging that much considering the current economic climate, especially those who wish to enjoy the headset's features but don't have a PS5.

Consumers' hesitance to buy the headset was reflected in the number of pre-orders Sony received for the PSVR2. You may recall that the company was expecting fewer PSVR2 sales due to the disappointing amount of pre-orders in late January - so low, in fact, that Sony reportedly halved its forecast for shipments of the PSVR2 on Feb. 22 to about a million units at least.

The company previously planned to make two million PSVR2 units by March 2023 to complement its decision to increase its production of PS5 units, allowing those who want a PS5 and a PSVR2 to get one easily following years of supply chain issues and shortages.

Jeronimo suggests that Sony may have to do a price cut on the PSVR2 soon to avoid "a complete disaster" of their new product.

Sony's Hopes For The Future

Sony's hopes to lead the development of the metaverse is not the only one affected by the PSVR2's sales figures. It also affected the company's hopes of outselling its predecessor, the PlayStation VR (PSVR) headset for the PlayStation 4.

Sony executive deputy president and CFO Hiroku Totoki said that there is a good chance for the PSVR2 to outsell the PSVR, considering that the PSVR laid the foundation of what consumers could expect from the PSVR2, per The Nerd Stash.

Totoki also added that if his predictions are accurate enough, then there is "good potential" for the VR/AR market and "good potential of technology development" in that field, with Sony's PSVR2 taking advantage of this opportunity to outsell the PSVR.