Video: Sony Must Not Allow PlayStation VR to Wilt

I honestly believe that this is where dollars start to take over, and the PSVR goes the way of Kinect.

For myself it was get the Pro or get PSVR. I felt like the Pro was the safer bet.

I'm still interested in PSVR but would never buy it with out trying it first which is easier said than done.

Pulling a Nintendo? More like pulling a Vita...

I really hope PSVR doesn't fade out. I invested in the PSVR in Nov in the US, bought a PS4 Pro a couple weeks ago for better PSVR experience, and other than The Heist and Driveclub VR (terrible graphics but I enjoy the game play) I am still waiting.

I am excited about Ark Park, Far Point, and a couple others, and admit I haven't tried a lot of the games available, but many don't seem that appealing to me, probably because I watched the video of game play instead of hopping in to the gameplay. I have been tossing back and forth on Robinson, only because I have found I can get a little motion sick, especially after playing games like Scavengers Oddysey, and that was one complaint I noticed on many reviews with Robinson.

The Pro does seem to run my VR a bit smoother than my launch PS4, but I will look for those noticeable differences when the games have been optimized for Pro and didn't just receive a patch.

I have read some articles pertaining to devs complaining about the tech. Do you think there is no money in developing games for VR, as some devs have said? I think creating the VR panel to make some things uniform across all platforms is a win win because it'll make development so much easier on these WOW games we're waiting for. I also think it is hard to market VR in the sense that a commercial does it no justice. Things that look completely stupid on a TV are so immersive and awesome in VR, it's literally indescribable. A simple game I like, HoloBall. Watching someone play is like meh, but you hop in to that digital tennis court and it's a blast.

I can say if PSVR is not supported to the level of the $500 I paid for the launch bundle, I will probably never buy another Sony peripheral again. I have owned from the PS2 on (used to be Nintendo fanboy, had to get N64 instead of original PS) including Move, and like you said, it was fun until I realized I dished out $100 for something that never really got supported. I wont compare the 2 though, PSVR and Move arent even in the same realm.

I guess like you, I want this to succeed badly. I am 37, and have been waiting for VR since being a kid and it was almost science fiction. 30 years later, BAM, it's here. I am not too worried yet, but like you have some concerns.

@sinalefa
You totally read my mind. I was typing while you responded. I think the PSVR will be another Vita for Sony. It will get game support by third parties for the hard core fans who have one. Sony will slowly bury it and never mention it. It will get harder and harder to find one. Oh wait it already is.

@sinalefa - I'm pretty sure when he said "pulling a Nintendo" he meant the lack of hardware available to buy like the NES classic.

I feel like they are. Before you close down guerrilla Cambridge have a sale on rigs and see what it does.
These last few weeks have been abysmal for VR releases. Also modern gamers are a different breed 3 weeks of weak content is an eternity. The PSVR is such a great piece of tech and the future can be so amazing if it gets the suport it requires.

Summer Lesson 2.
I just saved VR

I said from the start and will stand by it that it was a dumb idea to release VR to begin with, especially a few years into the console cycle. A mid-gen console refresh? Eh, not a great idea, but I can understand it. The PSVR literally splits the market though. You had about 40 mil PS4 users out there to sell games to and that should be the one and only focus. VR is cool tech but there will always be a group that doesn't want it. If Sony wanted to try and introduce it properly the thing to do was to wait until PS5, when technology is even better, and pack it in with the system so every buyer has access to the headset. The problem with doing what Sony just did is you have to sell the product but you need heavy hitters to do so. That means God of War, Gran Turismo Sport, Resident Evil VII, Horizon, etc, as VR exclusives. If people who are indifferent or have a slight but not overwhelming interest can buy those games on PS4 without the need for extra stuff there is no reason for them to jump on the VR bandwagon. Tech demos and silly, nonsensical spinoffs do not sell $400 products. Of course, if you make those big blockbusters exclusive to VR you piss off the people like myself who have no interest in VR but bought a PS4 expecting GT, RE, God of War, etc. Basically, Sony is damned if it does, damned if it doesn't with this product. The PSVR was a huge mistake and could be a costly one.

VR is interesting, but developers are having a hard time figuring out what to do with it. RE7 being fully VR compatible is huge (and probably the biggest reason that game takes place from a first-person viewpoint), but it doesn't seem to have much utility to more meaningful game experiences yet.

I don't think Sony will dump it any time soon, though: this graphical arms race Sony and Microsoft are in the middle of will become pointless soon thanks to continually diminishing returns, and they need a solid out strategy once that becomes more of a pertinent reality.

Sony clearly doesn't care about portability (and will likely let Nintendo be the guinea pig for the whole hybrid thing anyway), so the only new avenues they have left are PSVR and Playstation Now. It'll be interesting to see where they go from here.

I cancelled my preorder last year to go with the Pro instead and I'm glad I did, the tech looks cool and the experiences quite fun but there doesn't appear to be anything substantial to play for the platform with most games being a couple of hours long at best. The problem now is from a developer standpoint is why put a lot of resources into making a game which has such a small potential user base when there are 50 odd million PS4 owners to sell to. It's not just PSVR either as I never read of anything significant happening with the PC equivalents either.

Overall from the outside looking in it just looks like a cool bit of tech which nobody has any idea what to do with it. Maybe this is where the future of gaming could be, not its current format but the concept in principle. See at the moment we have a new way of seeing these interactive world's but are relying on using controllers which are adapted to the purpose as opposed to being designed from the ground up for the experience, this for me is the key for this technology to really take off.

Im glad I chose the Pro instead of VR as well, although its a great piece of tech i dont think it is ever going to be the "next big thing" until the motion sickness thing is really finally sorted out, until then a massive chunk of people will be excuded.

You also cant mass market the thing, unless you have VR you cant really show off the games to people who dont, I know a couple of people who got it at launch and beyond the inital few weeks when it was shiny and new, it never gets used anymore.

I still think VR as a gaming console is still a couple of console generations away

I'm concerned sure, but then I knew the risks going in. I love my PSVR, I still only have a handful of games for it but love what I have and I would say I put it on at least once a week for a gaming session or experience.

The system itself differs from the Vita and Move in that it delivers an experience I can't get elsewhere and it doesn't feel like a gimmick that will wear out or have tech that makes games more fiddly (like some of the Vita features). Sony have invested an awful lot of money in developing the tech and they did it because the competition are doing so.

My biggest concern is the supply issue and Sony's marketing. People do want it, I have several friends who tried mine and want one but are still on waiting lists. It will always be a niche product and I was expecting a lot of new stock in January but this hasn't materialised with zero comment from Sony. Is this a deliberate strategy? Is there a supply chain issue that isn't being resolved. Is there internal conflict on what to do with it?

I am not sure they would give up on a new peripheral of this scope and ingenuity after only 4 months. It is not like they launched huge and sold zero. They launched small, sold out their stock and then... nothing.

I think we will start to see some ports of third party games into VR. Bethesda are working on Fallout 4 VR (PC only at the moment) and I think with some incentive others may follow suit. It is a good way to make money off an existing IP and game. I just think they will need Sony encouragement - like Capcom with Resi 7 with timed exclusivity to the console.

I would like to see a roadmap of what we are getting in the next 12 months. I actually think the first batch of launch games showed what worked well and didn't work well in VR. I hope developers are concentrating on what it can do. They need games as well rather than tech demos. WIth only a few full length games, people will put it on the shelf if they aren't getting new experiences.

VR as a technology has more potential than most new tech, watching friends playing VR and their reactions show how powerful it is.

But Sony has all the data they need for the development of PSVR2, why would they go on supporting a legacy platform?

I think vr is great, but I opted for the pspro as @Splat did too. Easily the safer bet. VR can be a success, a huge success - but the tech demo launch lineup put me off. Maybe later this year post e3 we will have a better idea of what's to come. Early adoption comes at a cost, you have to change nappies and clean sick off your back for the first 18 months.

VR is dead on arrival. You heard it here first.
VR has a chance if: it's technically matured, lightweight and wireless and affordable (around 250). Also I feel like VR should be a standalone device. Computer and everything IN the headset or at least content streamed to it wirelessly maybe even through your TV and such VR experiences should be actual "channels" on the TV or netflix or whatever. Of course that's a long way off. Before VR reaches maturity we'll all be dust in the wake of WW3. Just my predictions.

I'll be honest I haven't touched my PSVR in over 5 weeks. Lack of games isn't the issue- I've got lots to play. At the minute there aren't any compelling enough games that I would want to play over regular PS4 games.

The other issue for me is that the only time I can game during the week, is before/after work or after I get back from the gym. Last thing I want to do is drop into VR.

I definitely don't regret my purchase. VR is awesome- it's just easier to pick up a PS4 game & play when I have the time.
However I think that's about to change with Resi7. Super excited for that one!

I reckon Sony is starting to treat the PSVR exactly like the Vita and probably had a tough time convincing third parties to make games when the install base is very tiny and sony themselves ain't making games either.
Why would devs waste 3 - 4 years and lose alot money just make a game for the PSVR. All sony can now is tack on VR for every game they make and try again with PS5.

As others, I went with PS4 Pro instead of VR. I'd had the latter on pre-order for a long time but cancelled as it became clear that the lineup was not my cup of tea. Still isn't. I will wait patiently and think increasingly that I might buy into the next generation and skip this one, if indeed there's a second iteration of the device.
Another consideration is I haven't got time to finish FFXV properly, and other games on my TV, let alone something else on another device. Want Switch mainly for Xenoblades, but that might work due to the portability aspect.

I bought one at launch for £350, downloaded all the games I wanted, played them over a 6 week period, then sold it on eBay for £450 B4 xmas, which I put towards a £1200 TV! Its all down to Resi 7 whether or not I buy PSVR again! Find it hard to think they'll maintain creating games for it on a regular level. These peripherals really only work if they're necessary to be used with the hardware. Wiimotes, which were compulsory to Wii games, sold like hotcakes... PS Move, despite being far better than Wiimotes were doomed (at least until PSVR was released). When you fragment a user base, it seldom works. What dev wants to focus on a game for 3 million PSVR users when they can sell to 50 million PS4 users?

@sinalefa Nintendo are notorious for not making enough stock of things to create a kind of fake rarity and thus demand, a strategy commonly used by toy manufacturers with stuff like those beanie babies or whatever they were called. They did it with Amiibo, they did it with the Mini NES, they're doing it with the Switch.

For example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRicuKHmjZA

If your Vita reference was made without realising that, and simply referring to it failing to sell, you should bear in mind that the Vita has outsold the Wii U by over 1 million units. So even then, "pulling a Nintendo" would make more sense. Plus, for years now it's has had a much richer and busier release schedule. Even the 3DS release schedule is usually emptier. Just look on Gematsu and see how many articles there are for each platform.

I bought ps vr at launch and sold it 2 weeks later after trying the games, good device but it's too much hassle to play it, with all the cables and positioning myself in the room. In the end I prefer playing games on tv.

I'm glad I decided to wait (which isn't common for me!). I somewhat sensed that this would happen..... even until now, only RE7 seems like it's implemented support properly. Otherwise, everything else seems like tacked on mini games... even in GT Sport, it won't be a usable feature for the full game!

@Matroska @Splat

I totally understand that. I mention the Vita as Sammy is talking about lack of support or interest, something that Sony did with Vita. No new games, no stock, they just don't seem to care

This is exactly what I was afraid of and predicted before actually trying one,being amazed and thus buying one.
The shortage of stock is just ridiculous and a joke.Sony should of had this sorted out from the start.People that may of wanted one will either give up or if that desperate just give their money to a dodgy ebay seller paying double the price.
I'm still happy with my purchase and still feel amazed every time I put the VR on however I don't actually play it half as much as I thought I would.It's being assed to set it up like a couple here have mentioned especially getting home after work when I'm totally shattered.
Personally I don't think the games are any problem.I have a few and happy with all of them.And there are plenty I'm still interested in.
At this point even if Sony do give up on it which I really hope they don't I still won't regret my purchase unlike when I had the Kinect...because it is just a totally mind blowing experience that is different to everything else out there and good to have when I can be bothered to play it

@sinalefa Sony have definitely ignored it for a long time. It does have a lot of support from Japanese third parties, though. It's in a weird place where it's become a great platform if you like more niche Japanese games but totally pointless if you don't. Because the only people left using it like niche Japanese games and not much else, it's been stuck in a rut for ages. To be fair, for what it's worth Sony have kept Remote Play going. All PS4 games support it so at the very least you can still use it to play FFXV in the bath.

I've had some really nice moments and some really bad moments with PSVR. The bad ones have mainly been caused by the anti-aliasing effect. The strange thing is how it varies from game to game. The Assembly is for instance a no go for me, it can't be healthy. My best experience so far is probably 'Here they lie'. I've also tried Mirrors Edge in cinema mode, and to my surprise there was NO anti-aliasing effect (the only problem is that the screen tend to rotate to the left some times) and it runs very smooth. Why does it vary so much from game to game? The negative experiences with the anti-aliasing effect have made me sceptical of aquiring games without pro support, especially if they are full price games. I don't fear for the lack of psvr support from Sony, but I think a some of the users perhaps could leave the playstation platform to pc or Scorpio in their search for better experiences in the future (The Lenovo windows vr has 1440x1440 resolution and will most likely be used together with the Scorpio). Sony exclusives plus games like Serious Sam and Eve Valkyrie from other platforms will guarantee users enough new game experiences. There's also a shortage of move controllers. The launch date for the new twin pack was in Norway 13th of october, and still they havent managed to get them out on the market. Four months!!! What the f****? They manage to get the Pro out in two months or so(?). Would I have bought PSVR and the Pro again? I'm not sure actually. I know there are some big titles on the way. Resident Evil 7 is in my view the biggest title so far, and I really hope the developers have managed to exploit the power of the pro to make it a comfortable and enjoyable experience. The Kitchen demo lacked pro support and had a lot of anti-aliasing effect.

As usual, most naysayers are ones who haven't tried it - to be expected, as it's something you have to try before you realise just how good it is. A lot of my friends were enthralled when they tried it at Christmas, and none of them even own a gaming console.

The only thing that will prevent PS VR from being a big thing is a lack of available stock, and then a lack of available games / experiences.

All the signs point to it going the way of Vita and Kinect.

Hoping that something changes but im keeping a keen eye on the price offered by CEX as..well.. since at the worst, mid december: Ive not touched the thing and im far from being alone in feeling this way. Its actually had more time showing other people it rather than playing the games because they are so weak.

Thats not a good start to a brand new system whatever way you look at it.

@Eternallover21 Wide open space games like that are just not going to be possible with the headsets resolution.

It'll be a blurry mess once you look 20 or so virtual feet infront of you.

It works fine with battlezone because for the most part its straight lines with a simple colour scheme to the world but foliage, trees etc at a distance will just look horrific.

Driveclub VR levels of visual garble x100.

PSVR is already wilting. It's a non-starter, and Sony must leave it behind or risk the whole PS4 ecosystem with it.

I got a PS4 Pro for Christmas because I could not find a PSVR to buy! I am hoping when Elite Dangerous drops in 2nd Qt 2017 it will support PSVR I does on PC already. I but I need to find a PSVR to buy. I am very worried about everything be tech demos and so short.
So much so I wonder if i really want one at all now!

It's a shame but it was just so.....obvious. PSVR had and has no chance PSvitaREALITY has struck again. I don't think with the price of decent tech Sony will be in a position to release an acceptable VR headset until next gen. We as console gamer's would simply not be prepared to pay the amount it would cost to make a REAL VR playstation headset that play's decent SP and MP game's that would appeal.

Before launch sony really pushed the supposed fact that they have hundreds of games being made. Hope they werent just talking about these silly little demoish games.

It seems evident that VR is struggling to gain traction after its initial hype. I never got around to trying it, but did want to as I think one of its major hurdles was portraying a VR experience in a video. Going on how it seems to be used now on the PC (mainly early access and greenlight games), something needs to happen or it will, unfortunately, go the way of most the other failed Playstation peripherals.

@sinalefa Agreed. As a Vita ex-believer, I was burned. I'd better not be again.

Vita 2 is PSVR...RIP !

Hopefully they support it. It would suck if it went the way of the Move... Also, I don't know what you guys are talking about. The Vita isn't dead, it's just, uh... in a coma, yeah that's it! Me In Denial

VR is tanking hard in my neck of the woods, not been even close to selling out even once. Walmart only has a handful of VR games for sale. Personally this feels like just another Vita to me, the novelty has worn off and now it is time to move on.