PlayStation VR is still officially due out before July, but we don't think that anyone believes that at this juncture. Our understanding is that the hardware's finished, but Sony's waiting for the software to catch up. And perhaps recognising that developers are still a fair few months off, it may have delayed its ambitious headset into the fall.
That's what US uber-retailer GameStop thinks anyway, as CEO Paul Raines let slip during a FOX Business interview that the PlayStation 4 peripheral may yet be a few months away. "We're getting ready for [virtual reality]," he said. "We'll launch the Sony product this fall, and we're in discussions with the other two players."
Raines could very well be mistaken, but considering the importance of this launch for both Sony and his company, we very much doubt that he'd get it wrong. Fall typically spans September through until late December, and we could definitely see PlayStation VR launching during those months. If nothing else, it would define the Japanese giant's Christmas push.
But can you wait that long? From our perspective, it's very important that the platform holder has a strong software lineup for the headset, otherwise it's going to struggle to convince consumers to shell out for the accessory. Games, obviously, take time to develop, so if a delay results in a stronger portfolio of titles, then we can wait a few more months.
How about you?
[source youtube.com, via vrscout.com, vrfocus.com]
Comments 18
Did Raines happen to mention NX? It maybe pushing the conspiracy envelope a bit too far, but I wouldn't be compeltley surprised if Sony has had internal discussions about launching VR in the fall to counter NX. Though the lack of software makes the most sense. But I think it's just a price issue, anything over $200 needs to be launched near Christmas. See $249 Merch 3DS $169 by August. If Sony launched VR in June people might be expecting a price cut by November if it isn't selling well b/c people just expect things that launch in June to be on sale Black Friday. And if it's over $200 in June it won't be selling well in August or September after the early adopter rush.
@rjejr Nah, he doesn't mention NX. And unless NX is going to be a virtual reality thing, I'm not sure why Sony would try to counter it to be honest. I know they're ultimately all still competing for dollars, but a New Console vs. New Accessory are pretty different things really.
@rjejr Not trying to play the fanboy card, seriously, but I don't think Sony has anything to worry about with the NX, let alone delay one of their major launches to try and "counter" it.
I just want one good game, thats it. Something that is not "aim by looking, but otherwise mostly stationary" (Like EVE: GunJack), and something that is not "well, this game could have been done outside of VR without much of a difference, but, hey VR!" (Like nearly every VR game I have played on my GearVR so far).
I wan't quality over quantity, but the "VR craze" seems to be going the other direction.
I always like new gadgets just before Xmas. Makes choosing xmas gifts easier plus around that time of year lots of family and friends get to try out the gifts. Hype is bigger too. Apple do it and their gadgets create fanboy mania. sorry to mention fanboys, but it's usually fans that evangelise a product. Better to delay and launch with 1 or 2 blockbuster long lasting 40+hour games than rush with mediocre games (looking at you occulus!)
@MadAussieBloke Would love Star Wars on VR!
I heard another report that it would launch in April just after E3. I feel it's just best to wait till after it is announced rather than listening to rumors that will either make us feel down or hype us up too much.
So if this is true, then Sony's whole E3 presentation will be focusing on this.
@NomNom You do know that E3 is in June, which comes after April, right?
@get2sammyb It needs to launch in time for this.
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/02/16/sports-illustrated-swimsuit-issue-will-have-virtual-reality-feature.html
@sinalefa that was the (unfounded) worry at e3 2015
I have a feeling Sony are delaying this to try and get unit costs down...
@Dodoo Or waiting for launch software to catch up..
I think they are waiting for No Man's Sky to get its act together on the peripheral. If they can have that as a launch title that would be strong
@kyleforrester87 Yeah. More than likely both!
@thedevilsjester Sony likely still sees Nitneod as a competitor, I doubt they so soon forgot the Wii selling 100m to PS3's 80m, even if PS4 is currently destroying Wii U. And I'm sure there are some at Sony who still see Monster Hunter on 3DS as a main reason for Vita not having as strong of sales. So if NX is a portable w/ a decent launch line-up this holiday it could steal Sony's thunder, but Sony could use VR as a counter measure.
Until we know what NX is I think it's really hard to predict it's fortunes, and Sony always seems to have an eye out for it's competitors. I still hold PS2 responsible for the Dreamcast's, and Sega's, demise. I'm sure Sony wouldn't mind doing the same thing to Nintendo in a head to head battle over the holidays - drown out NX w/ VR - just to make sure Nintendo doesn't rebound.
@rjejr I agree with some of your points, but I don't think we need to know what the NX is to make an educated guess about its chances. I bought a WiiU, Wii, a GC, an N64, a SNES, and a NES (and to that end, every iteration of their handhelds except the pre-lite DS); yet no matter what the NX is, it doesn't matter if its more powerful than the current systems, at a cheaper price, with the most mind blowing features ever conceived of and full of 3rd party support. I want absolutely nothing to do with it. I may (or may not) be in the minority (anecdotally I feel like I am not, because most people I talk to in real life feel the same way). The reason we feel this way is because the WiiU was floundering, only devoted Nintendo fans owned one, so what did Nintendo do? Burn it and start focusing on the successor. Instead of trying to right the ship, they thought it best to just sink it and move on. I hope they fail, I hope they get what they deserve.
Even those that are not spiteful, or those that didn't get a WiiU, are likely to go "What? ANOTHER Nintendo system? Didn't they just release one?" Consoles should not be on the smart-phone upgrade cycle.
Sorry if this comes off as attacking you (I am not) I am just very angry at Nintendo.
I would much rather have all summer long to play with a smaller launch line up. And I'll buy the games as they release. I don't need to be convinced to buy it I just want it sooner.
And people say you look stupid playing the Wii. We don't know what Nintendo will cook up yet, and it's just a rumour btw. We don't know if it will really will come out in 2016. The NX that is. Either way, I'm buying neither. NOT BUYING. If I haven't already made it clear enough a billion times. Excuse me. No I'm not angry. It's just kinda meh. To me. I had this childish idea that it would work like SAOs Nerve Gear and then I was like "You have to use a controller". I dunno where I got that dumb idea from. Jesus. We're just not there yet. YAwn.
@thedevilsjester Didn't take it personally, understand completly where you are coming from. I'm likely done if ti's a home console, but if it's a handheld w/ tv out that can play 3DS games on my tv I still need to play several of those - Kid Icarus, FI:Awakening, Luigi's Mansion 2 - so I'd pick 1 up for $200. If NX is a handheld and a home console that just play the same games I may not get either. But I'm strangely optimistic that Nitnedo will pull off something good this gen. "Nintendo Fusion" has a nice ring to it.
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