PSVR 2: Why sales could soon be on the rise
Sony has announced the retail availability of the PSVR 2, an important step in the distribution of the VR headset.
If you want to buy a Playstation VR 2 in most countries, you have to order it online from PlayStation Direct. Sony's own online store has been selling the VR headset exclusively since its release in February. This exclusivity is about to end, which could boost sales significantly.
PSVR 2 coming soon to local retailers
Sony itself has announced via its own Twitter account that the PSVR 2 will soon be available in stores. So far, this has only been the case in a few countries that are not served by PlayStation Direct.
PlayStation VR2 will soon be in stock at local retailers, in addition to https://t.co/y9oEB5aBse. Check your local retailer for availability.
More on PS VR2: https://t.co/TiSFxroszM pic.twitter.com/79g8PsDCye
AdAd— PlayStation (@PlayStation) April 27, 2023
It is not known which retailers will specifically offer the PSVR 2 in the future, nor when the VR headset will be available locally. Sony's tweet only says that interested parties should check with their local retailers.
Retail sales have benefits for VR
Sales of the PSVR 2 have not been as strong as expected. According to estimates, Sony had only sold around 270,000 units by the end of March. US media speculated about production cuts due to low pre-orders. Sony denied this.
Retail distribution could have a significant impact on sales. In addition to easier availability, retail sales have another big advantage: Retailers can demonstrate the VR headset on site and let potential customers try it out.
Virtual reality is all about the experience. This is what makes the immersive medium accessible to many people. Trailers, images, or advertising can hardly convey the benefits of VR.
Sales of the PS5 via retail strongly increased
The PS5, which is required for PSVR 2, has also benefited from retail sales. Sony recently announced the latest sales figures. According to them, the next-generation console sold 6.3 million units in the last quarter. In the same period last year, Sony sold only about two million units.
Since its launch two years ago, Sony has faced supply shortages due to the Corona pandemic. As a result, the consoles were mainly sold through online retailers and were regularly limited to certain quotas. According to Sony, the supply situation has now returned to normal.
The PS5 has been widely available at many retailers since the beginning of the year, resulting in a sharp increase in sales. Sony has sold a total of 38.4 million PS5 consoles so far. So, there would be enough potential PSVR-2 users.
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