In February 2021, Sony announced its highly ambitious sales goal for the upcoming PlayStation VR 2, the successor to its PlayStation VR headset. The company aimed to sell one million units of the VR headset in the first six months of its release, which was expected to happen in the second half of 2022. However, new reports suggest that the company will miss this target by a significant margin, with a number of contributing factors to blame.

Sony’s Ambitious PlayStation VR 2 Sales Goal

The PlayStation VR 2 is the highly anticipated successor to Sony’s original PlayStation VR headset, which was released in 2016. The new VR headset is expected to offer improved graphics, a wider field of view, and enhanced tracking capabilities, among other features. The company’s goal of selling one million units of the new headset in the first six months of its release was seen as highly ambitious, especially given the challenges posed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Competition from Other VR Headsets

One of the primary reasons for Sony’s failure to meet its sales goal for the PlayStation VR 2 is likely the intense competition in the VR headset market. In recent years, a number of other companies have released their own VR headsets, including Facebook’s Oculus Quest and Valve’s Index. These headsets have received positive reviews and have gained a significant following among VR enthusiasts. This has made it difficult for Sony to stand out in a crowded market and attract customers to its own VR headset.

Lack of PS5 Availability

Another contributing factor to Sony’s failure to meet its sales goal is likely the ongoing shortage of PlayStation 5 consoles. The PlayStation VR 2 is designed to be used with the PS5, which has been in high demand since its release in late 2020. The shortage of PS5 consoles has made it difficult for Sony to reach its target audience and sell its new VR headset to PS5 owners.

COVID-19 Pandemic

Finally, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has also likely played a role in Sony’s failure to meet its sales goal for the PlayStation VR 2. The pandemic has disrupted supply chains and caused production delays for many companies, including Sony. This has made it difficult for the company to produce and distribute its new VR headset in a timely manner, which may have contributed to its lackluster sales performance.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it appears that Sony’s highly ambitious sales goal for the PlayStation VR 2 will be missed by a significant margin. While the new VR headset is highly anticipated and has received positive early reviews, a number of factors have made it difficult for Sony to reach its target audience and sell the headset in large numbers. These factors include intense competition from other VR headsets, the ongoing shortage of PS5 consoles, and the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It remains to be seen how Sony will respond to this disappointing sales performance and what steps it will take to improve the prospects for the PlayStation VR 2 in the future.

Also Read: