Sony’s new PlayStation VR headset is selling terribly

SONY’s PlayStation VR2 headset is apparently not selling well, with many predicting that a price cut could be on the way. 

A new report from Bloomberg has said that Sony’s flagship PlayStation 5 VR headset will sell less than 300k units by the end of March. 

It was previously reported that Sony was manufacturing 2 million units for the headset’s launch window, but it looks like it will fall very short of that goal. 

It was also reported that Sony had slashed VR2 production after disappointing pre-orders, but Sony denied the claim.

The original PlayStation VR headset sold about 5 million units across its entire lifespan, but was much cheaper than the VR2. 

The PS VR2 costs an astonishing £529.99, compared to the much more popular Meta Quest 2, which retails for £399.99. 

In order to play games on the VR2, gamers also need to have a PlayStation 5 console, which only adds onto the cost. 

A disc-based PlayStation 5 console costs around £480, while a digital-only console will set you back about £390. 

All up, gamers who want to play PlayStation VR2 games can expect to pay upwards of £1000 in some cases, which many think is the reason for such poor sales. 

Another potential reason for the PS VR2’s slow start is the lack of backwards compatibility, as games for the original PS VR can’t be played on the VR2. 

That said, a number of games have been given free upgrades from the PS VR version to the PS VR2 version. 

Games industry analyst Francisco Jeronimo said that the rising cost of living is in part to blame for the lacklustre sales. 

Jeronimo said: “Consumers around the world are facing rising costs of living, rising interest rates, and rising layoffs.

“VR headsets are not top of mind for most consumers under the current economic climate.” 

He also said that Sony will need to cut the price of the PS VR2 if it wants to avoid a disaster, as consumers won’t buy it at its current price. 

The PS VR 2 launched with just 32 games last month, and while more games are on the way, it might be a while before they are released. 

Written by Oliver Brandt on behalf of GLHF.