Sony Halts PS VR2 Production: Report

Sony Group Corporation (SONY) has reportedly decided to halt production of its virtual reality headset for the PS5 due to slow sales and excess inventory. According to a recent report by Bloomberg, ...

RTT Staff Writer•Monday, March 18, 2024•1 min read

Sony Group Corporation (SONY) has reportedly decided to halt production of its virtual reality headset for the PS5 due to slow sales and excess inventory.

According to a recent report by Bloomberg, despite producing over 2 million units since its release in February 2023, the PSVR2 headset has not been able to generate significant consumer interest, resulting in a decline in sales each quarter.

The VR headset’s high price tag of $550 has contributed to its lackluster performance, as it struggles to compete with the full PS5 console. The PS VR2’s limitations, such as its exclusive compatibility with the PlayStation 5, limited selection of VR games, and higher price compared to the base console, have all contributed to its declining sales. The device’s bulkiness and tendency to induce motion sickness in some users have also been factors working against it.

Additionally, the lack of compelling content available for the system, with only a handful of major games like Horizon: Call of the Mountain and Gran Turismo 7 in its library, has been identified as a primary issue by Bloomberg. Furthermore, recent layoffs of employees involved in PS VR game development suggest a potential decrease in hardware support.

To expand its customer base and offload excess inventory, Sony plans to test official PC support for the PS VR2, with hopes of introducing it later this year. This move could attract customers interested in the hardware but not keen on purchasing a PS5.

However, this development reflects the broader VR market, where the competition, such as Meta’s Quest series, has also faced challenges. Although Meta outperforms many competitors, the VR market remains a niche compared to the dominant realms of console, PC, and mobile gaming.