Weak PS VR2 Preorders Leads To Large Production Cut – Report

Sony’s PS VR2 is launching soon, but it seems that the company is already tamping down expectations for its new VR headset. According to a new Bloomberg report, Sony has reduced sales projections by half for PS VR2, which releases on February 22, primarily due to preorders falling short of expectations.

The report suggests that Sony planned to have 2 million headsets ready for consumers this quarter, but has now reduced that production run to 1 million. It further states that Sony expects for ship around 1.5 million from April 2023 to March of 2024, but that those numbers may be adjusted upward or downward in response to demand.

The report also notes that most stores are still taking PS VR2 preorders without a wait list, which is not usually the case with in-demand tech items in 2023. Several analysts reviewed for the piece said that the headset’s price of $549 is unattractive to consumers, especially at a time when the cost of living has increased in recent months. The PS VR2 is also only compatible with the PS5, making it an expensive double-dip that likely only appeals to consumers that already own the console.

Such factors have hit the VR market hard, with Meta announcing slow sales of the Quest 2, as well as cutting jobs across the board. Last year, Meta increased the price of the Quest 2 to $399 in response to market conditions, a move that was widely viewed as a surprising but seemingly unavoidable.