There are just a few weeks left until the launch of PlayStation VR, the virtual reality glasses with 4K capability and retina tracking for PS5. At the moment, the device can only be used with SONY’s next-generation console and a PC version is not expected, at least officially. The latest news? A jug of cold water, since PlayStation has cut sales forecasts for its PSVR 2.
When SONY launched its PS5, many of us mistakenly thought that after the low sales of the first PlayStation VR experiment that they were going to never try it again. However, they have not been intimidated by this and that is why, learning from the mistakes of the first virtual reality helmet, they have created a new version with completely new technology, among which not only its 4K panel stands out, but also its ability to track the user’s eyes.
SONY halves PSVR 2 sales forecasts
The source of the news comes from Bloomberg, so it is not a primary source and, therefore, we are going to take it with a grain of salt. According to them, SONY reportedly cut sales forecasts for its PSVR 2 from 2 million for the launch quarter to 1 million. In any case, it must be clarified that if this were true, the number of units manufactured would not have decreased, but we are talking about an objective figure that has to do with the speed of sales.
Recently, they gave us PC users some bad news by denying that Gran Turismo 7 is going to have a version for computers. Although it cannot be said that I will never drink this water. The reality is that one of the applications where virtual reality makes a difference compared to other media is precisely in driving games. We were already disappointed when GT Sports for PS VR was a track and thank you.
Sales of the PS VR 2 are expected to be modest, let’s not forget that to use them it is necessary to shell out 1200 euros in total, games aside, and it is not something that everyone is willing to pay. As if that were not enough, a Killer App is necessary, which promises to be Gran Turismo 7 in VR. Although after the controversial decisions made by Polyphony in the console version, we wonder if this can not play more against the version for virtual reality.
Will we see a wireless version one day?
One of the things that is putting many users back is the dependence on a cable to power the PSVR 2, however, this has an explanation. The inclusion of a battery would be much more expensive and we have to take into account that the latency added by using a wireless interface would require a much higher power on the side of the console and, therefore, a supposed PS5 Pro, hardware that despite the rumor mill and gossip on the net have no signs of appearing in the short or long term.
What does seem like a mistake to us from the PC side and from NVIDIA, AMD and their partners, is the removal of USB-C video output from many graphics cards. If it is maintained, we could possibly use this HMD on our PC and the sales forecasts for PSVR 2 would be better.
