Sony has dramatically dropped the price of its PSVR2 headset, which has had an unfathomable impact on the peripheral’s commercial fortunes. Cynics may point to non-existent numbers to begin with, but a 2,350 per cent increase in sales is not to be sniffed at, regardless of the baseline. It shows that there is still life left in the virtual reality device, it just needs to be more affordable to convert prospective purchasers. So is now finally the right time to purchase the PS5 accessory?
A lot will be made of the Japanese giant’s own support of the device, and it’s true that in terms of first-party exclusives, the future looks bleak. The platform holder appears to have zero interest in creating its own library of internally developed software for the system, as evidenced by even Astro Bot’s omission. Team ASOBI, which shot to fame with virtual reality games The Playroom VR and Astro Bot Rescue Mission, diplomatically said its new game was never designed to support PSVR2; the truth is it thinks it can reach a larger audience by focusing on pancake play with its anticipated upcoming platformer.
Sony, then, is relying on developer relations to ensure it secures all of the big third-party content for its format. And to be fair, it’s finding success: noteworthy upcoming titles include atmospheric sci-fi horror shooter Alien: Rogue Incursion, first-person fantasy game Behemoth, and underground survival foray Metro Awakening. All three titles are being developed by established studios known for making some of the biggest and best virtual reality releases, so the pedigree is there.
It’s a thin list for a peripheral that, even with discounts to $349, is still fairly expensive. However, the platform holder will also be hoping that forthcoming PC support adds value to the peripheral outside of the PlayStation ecosystem. You will need to purchase an adapter to connect the headset to your computer, but doing so will allow you to use the device with Steam, so you can play exclusives like Half-Life Alyx et al. This may not appeal to everyone, but it does give the peripheral versatility and add value to the purchase.
And it wouldn’t be fair to focus only on upcoming software, because PSVR2 has assembled a tidy selection of must play releases over the years. Standouts include hybrid experiences, like Resident Evil 4 and Gran Turismo 7, the latter of which is arguably at its best when enjoyed with the headset attached. The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners, Synapse, No Man’s Sky, and even Horizon Call of the Mountain come recommended as well.