The PlayStation VR2 (PSVR2) may not be as in-demand as Sony initially thought it would be.
The Japan-based tech giant recently reduced its expected revenue for the initial launch of its PSVR2 headset following the rather disappointing pre-order sale of the device.
Sony previously announced it is launching the PSVR2 on Feb. 222 for $549.99, with many PSVR2 compatible games releasing on the same day for gamers to enjoy.
Sony PSVR2 Sales Reduction Details
Sony reportedly halved its forecast for shipments of the PSVR2 on Feb. 22 to about a million units at least due to poor pre-order sales, according to Bloomberg's anonymous sources, who are familiar with the company's deliberations.
The publication's anonymous sources asked not to be named as the company decided not to go public with its decision.
The company previously planned to make two million PSVR2 units by March 2023 to complement its decision to increase its production of PlayStation 5 units within the next few months, allowing those who want a PS5 and PSVR2 to get one easily following years of supply chain issues and shortages.
As a result of its poor pre-order sales, Sony not only told one of its supply partners to expect a reduced amount of display panel orders, it is now planning to ship around 1.5 million units between April and March 2023, though Sony can still adjust this number in response to public demand.
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Consumers worldwide were found to have taken to VR less rapidly than initially hoped due to a lack of games that can showcase the technology, though demand for them is expected to grow, per IDC estimates.
According to the IDC's findings, demand for augmented and virtual reality devices is expected to grow 32% to 12.8 million units in 2023, with Meta Platforms Inc.'s Quest range dominating the market with nearly an 85% share.
Although Sony's PSVR headset didn't even get a single percent market share, it hoped that demand for its PSVR2 would beat its predecessor with launch titles such as Horizon: Call of the Mountain and No Man's Sky enticing people to buy its new VR device.
However, another anonymous Bloomberg source said that any excitement for these games waned due to the headset's price, which is just as expensive as a PS5 unit if not more.
A Sony spokesperson declined to comment on the information Bloomberg attained as the company does not discuss its product inventory.
What's New With The PSVR2?
Aside from titles the PSVR doesn't have, the PSVR2 comes with new hardware that promises to help players become better immersed in the game they're playing with haptic feedback on its controllers - the same ones on the PS5's DualSense controllers.
PSVR2 users can experience 4K resolution with a 90 to 120HZ refresh rate and a 110-degree field of vision. It will also use inside-out tracking within the headset instead of a camera to track its user's movement.
Last but not least, the PSVR2 will utilize foveated rendering, which makes processing easier for the PS5.
Related Article: 5 PSVR2 Games You Should Look Forward to in 2023
