Sony’s PlayStation VR2 headset has been far from a smashing success. It was released just over a year ago and has made no noticeable impact. So it should come as no surprise that Sony is actually pausing production of the PSVR2 in order to clear out its excess inventory. While that may not sound ominous, it does have me wondering if the end of the PSVR2’s run is near.
Sony’s Bad Track Record
Sony had a very good track record for releasing top-tier games throughout the last decade. However, their grip on the gaming industry has loosened drastically over the last few years. The PlayStation 5 does not have enough games and that is not going to change anytime soon as Sony already announced they have no first-party titles planned for the near future.
However, the most prominent of Sony’s failures is the PS Vita. The handheld console came out shortly before the PlayStation 4, and few people recall how fast it was abandoned. The console was a successor to the wildly popular PSP and featured numerous innovations, including an OLED display, 3G connectivity, and a rear touchpad. Surprisingly, the Vita lived on through 2019, but Sony had long abandoned the console. Now, it looks like the PSVR2 may see the same fate.
Is Sony Discontinuing the PSVR2?
Despite some sensationalized headlines, Sony has not abandoned the PSVR2 yet. However, a report from Bloomberg News does indicate that Sony has a massive surplus of headsets that they need to clear out. Therefore, Sony is pausing production of the PSVR2 until they can clear out some of that stock.
It’s been pretty obvious that the PSVR2 is not performing well, in part because few games are available for it. The headset also comes with a high price tag and has limited capabilities compared to other VR headsets, like the Meta Quest. One shocking fact is that Sony has not reduced the price of the PSVR2, nor has it been on sale. However, this is likely due to the headset’s high production costs.
What Is Happening to the PSVR2?
As of right now, nothing is changing with the PSVR2. Sony is not planning on getting rid of the headset and is instead adjusting their inventory to align with the current demand. This could also signal that Sony is planning on releasing a revised headset with some minor improvements and wants to get rid of the original model first. It did something similar with the original PSVR, but that seems unlikely here.
What’s Next for the PSVR2?
The PSVR2 has been in the news lately as the main game developer for its VR games closed. Sony recently laid off 900 employees and shuttered its London studio. This studio was responsible for making most of the first-party VR titles. Fortunately, there is some good news for PSVR2 owners, as Sony also recently announced plans to make the headset work on PCs. Hopefully, this will make the device more marketable and appeal to a wider audience.
