PlayStation VR2 Marks Its Price Milestone at $399: A New Era for Gaming Comfort
More than two years after its debut, the PlayStation VR2 is receiving a price reduction: commencing in March, the VR headset will be offered permanently at $399.99 in North America, €449.99 in Europe, £399.99 in the UK, and ¥66,980 (or $447.19) in Japan.
This represents the primary discount for the accessory, which was initially priced at $550 when it launched in February 2023. Sony has touted its sales success compared to the original PlayStation VR, yet reports shortly after its release indicated that the console manufacturer halted production until it could sell through its initial inventory.
Price reductions for PlayStation hardware have been quite rare and short-lived in this console generation. Overall, prices have generally been increased—a preliminary response to a component shortage that impacted several regions, including Japan— or the hardware, like the PlayStation 5 Pro, was released at a high price point.
At launch, the PSVR2 featured around 20 titles, many of which were ports of previously released games such as Resident Evil Village or No Man’s Sky. Prior to launch, Sony confirmed that the headset was not backwards compatible with the library of the original PlayStation VR.
Last year, Sony introduced PC compatibility for the PSVR2 through a wired adapter, enabling it for various new applications. As per its latest financial report from mid-February, Sony has not revealed specific sales figures for the device.
What lies ahead for VR games?
The forthcoming price reduction for the PSVR2 coincides with a series of challenges facing the VR segment of the gaming industry. Recent months have seen layoffs or shutdowns at several VR-focused developers, including XR Games and Toast Interactive.
At various intervals, developers like FuturLab have scaled back their development for the VR adaptations of their games. Last year, Meta simultaneously launched a brand-new version of its Quest 3 headset while discontinuing three older models: the Quest 2, Quest Pro, and an earlier version of the original Quest 3.
A recent 2024 survey indicated that 56 percent of developers believe the VR gaming market is either in decline or facing stagnation. With the PSVR2 now having a reduced price, it may help rekindle interest in the medium.
About the Author
Contributing Editor, GameDeveloper.com
A native of Kansas City, MO, Justin Carter has penned articles for a wide array of websites including IGN, Polygon, and SyFy Wire. In addition to Game Developer, his work can also be found at io9 on Gizmodo. Don’t ask him about how much gum he has chewed, as the answer is likely to be more than he is willing to admit.