Menu Close

Can PlayStation VR Win The War By Being A Lot Cheaper?

Okay, so as we all know by now, one of the year's anticipated virtual reality devices, Oculus Rift, will retail for $600 .

Sony hasn't announced an official price tag for their PlayStation VR device, but they've said on more than one occasion to expect a retail cost similar to that of a new game console.

Now, that's a good deal less than $600. So, the question should be, if PlayStation VR comes out with a $400 price tag – or somewhere around there – will that price difference give Sony the undeniable edge in the exploding VR marketplace? A recent report estimated that it would sell just shy of 2 million in 2016, while Oculus Rift and HTC Vive would combine for 6.6 million. Well, it appears that gamers are none too pleased with that $600 price tag for Oculus, and as a result, this might leave the door open for Sony.

Hey, let's not forget that one of the biggest hurdles for a new piece of technology is price. In fact, it might be the biggest hurdle. This should remind people of 2006; PS3 had trouble getting off the ground at $600, while Xbox 360 surged ahead at its much more agreeable $400 price point. Granted, the 360 beat the PS3 to market by a year and that won't be the case for PlayStation VR and the other devices, but even so, price is critical. If Sony was accurate before, and their VR tech is really a few hundred dollars cheaper, that could be a gigantic boon for Sony.

What do you think?

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
29 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
MRSUCCESS
MRSUCCESS
8 years ago

Most definitely will give the PSVR a big advantage especially if it's marketed correctly, has great games, and has similar specs.

The Playstation brand has been doing very well for years now and they did a great job adding the Playstation name to it.

All of that being said, I'm still not buying.

tlpn99
tlpn99
8 years ago

I'm not getting one myself.

bigrailer19
bigrailer19
8 years ago

I don't think price will be the biggest selling point. I think it's going to be content. The gaming community will go for Sonys VR before any other because they will know it will have quality games. It's going to have far more support in the industry both from developers and consumers.

I'm not even sure how much support the competitors will have in the industry. I havnt heard of one game coming out for these VR headsets except those Sony has announced. If Sony's does well, I dont see the industry paying mich attention to the others.

I also should mention I'm sure the others will have mobile type games be very popular. But again Sony will have content from the best developers in the world. The experience is bound to be so much better I imagine.


Last edited by bigrailer19 on 1/6/2016 10:40:34 PM

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
8 years ago

Who is gonna make the games for Oculus? Facebook overlords? Sony at least has a centralized place to produce from.

bigrailer19
bigrailer19
8 years ago

That was exactly my point above. I havnt heard of any software for Sonys competitors. Not even anything beyond games.

Of course there's always the fact Sonys software is almost guaranteed to be tons better as full fledged games that consumers want.

big6
big6
8 years ago

Didn't John Carmack leave id Software for Oculus? He's an amazing programmer and open Sony hater. He'll likely develop something amazing for it… just give it a few years.

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
8 years ago

Bigrailer yeah I responded before reading your post and we are sympatico.

Carmack did leave for Oculus and is a top dev but he's not working in a development studio as far as I know. He has to do what Mark Zuckerberg says now, which will probably be making face to face avatar based social networking environments. Years from now there might be some games but that's a long way away.

bigrailer19
bigrailer19
8 years ago

Yep I was just glad to see someone is on the same page as me!

I still havnt heard of any games. I don't think it's good to bet on a game that *could* show up years from now. It's interesting buy I'm not seeing any software except from Sony for this VR stuff.

Beamboom
Beamboom
8 years ago

Then you can't have checked the Steam store, Bigrailer. Project Cars support Oculus, Star Citizen will do the same, and there's plenty of interesting looking, often quite arty, indie games that are already released that support VR (for those who's purchased dev kits).

There's no shadow of doubt that there will be plenty of games for these kits far beyond what ID software will deliver. They were smart in offering devkits for a long time already.

bigrailer19
bigrailer19
8 years ago

Why would I check the steam store?

I think you took my comment as this is a crap shoot idea, and that's now what I meant. However, I noticed you said those games would *support* it. That's not what I meant either. Regardless I still havnt heard much if anything in the way of software.

Beamboom
Beamboom
8 years ago

Well no wonder you haven't heard if you don't pay attention where they are announced, is it? But now you have. They are there, and there are many.

And that should be no surprise, since devkits (early versions of the OR) have been out for years now.

bigrailer19
bigrailer19
8 years ago

Just so you know I was asking a rhetorical question because I have no reason to visit the steam store.

However I did some research and looked up those games. Admittedly there is a bigger list than I had knew of offering native support.


Last edited by bigrailer19 on 1/7/2016 6:20:16 PM

Beamboom
Beamboom
8 years ago

I only wanted to inform you guys that it's odd to think there'll not be any games for Oculus. It's already been in developer circles for years and have a lot of titles on the market even before it was officially released.

Not to say I'm not optimistic for Sonys solution – I am indeed. Very much so.

BikerSaint
BikerSaint
8 years ago

I think the Sony VR will do great, especially at the $350-$400 price-point, & since Sony has already set it up with a lot of upcoming games.

Plus I'm thinking that that other HTC Vive VR headset is going to be close to the Occulus Rift in price, so that will also help Sony's VR.

Anyways, I know that I will the PSVR, once I figure out how to get the extra funds for it(and I'll already have 2 sets of Move controllers charged up just awaiting it's arrival here).


Last edited by BikerSaint on 1/7/2016 1:01:23 AM

Temjin001
Temjin001
8 years ago

I think VR needs to be accepted by gamers before any war can really begin. It may hurt PSVR with Oculus pricing itself out of the picture. This whole venue may be widely considered not worth it in any area it exists by many for some years yet. Which could mean a major flop on Sony's hands.
And I see little of anything worthwhile on PSVR game wise. Sorry but Ace Combat is far from the killer app this sub platform needs.


Last edited by Temjin001 on 1/7/2016 1:31:52 AM

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
8 years ago

I still don't think it will be accepted as a main gaming thing but as one of the best peripherals for hardcore console fans.

Kinect was the promise unfulfilled, VR could fulfull it.

Dukemz_UK
Dukemz_UK
8 years ago

I believe because the PS4 is so popular, and because people are laughing at the ridiculous cost of Oculus, Sony are in an absolute prime position to get ahead very quickly in the VR market, provided they can market PSVR very well, price it to knock the socks off the competition, and provide a couple of brilliant games for PSVR in 2016 to add to the hype.

big6
big6
8 years ago

Anything $400 an under, and it's mine.

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
8 years ago

Me 3

ethird1
ethird1
8 years ago

Price is ALWAYS the number one factor.

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
8 years ago

Kinect promised light sabre battles but with VR and a PS Move in hand they could be a reality. The only hurdle is there would be no forceback resistance but there is a good way around that. If the Move rumbles you can make it rumble hard so the player knows to press harder and if swinging through a saber is unsuccessful based on a strength check then you'd just clash and stagger/disengage.

Own Star Wars and the force will be with you.


Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 1/7/2016 11:05:26 AM

Beamboom
Beamboom
8 years ago

I think they might grab a verty decent share with that price point. Also keep in mind that the system specs for the Oculus are really quite high. So for a very large share of the PC gamers out there, a hardware upgrade will be required. That further adds to the relevance of considering the PS4.

Ogibillm
Ogibillm
8 years ago

I'm stuck wondering with both occulus rift and playstation vr – why should i shell out hundreds of dollars for those headsets when i can buy a google cardboard for $20?

Beamboom
Beamboom
8 years ago

Why buy a gaming machine when you can play on your mobile?

big6
big6
8 years ago

Why have a 65" 4K tv when your old 42" 720p LCD still shows moving pictures?

Why have an iPad when you already have an iPhone?

So, so many questions…

Ydobon
Ydobon
8 years ago

Both of those prices can beat it. 400 and 600 are still too high just for a gaming add on. It better come bundle with a laptop/pc or console.

trumpetmon65
trumpetmon65
8 years ago

That 600 price tag is only if your computer is strong enough to run it.they also have a 1500 bundle in case you dont…

RobN
RobN
8 years ago

I think a lot of people here are underestimating the price difference, and I think it gives Sony an ENORMOUS advantage if they don't screw it up.

So let's say Playstation VR is $400, as the article guesses. Add a $300-350 PS4 if you don't have one already, and you're still at $700-750 – which would be an AMAZING comparison to the $650 Rift headset, even if you own a gaming rig capable of using it without any upgrades.

Remember, $650 is the cost for the Rift itself – but it needs a computer with high-end graphics, which is another $600-1,000 if you don't have one, or at least $300-400 if you're upgrading an existing system with a high-end video card. The real price for Rift a lot of people who aren't high-end gamers is probably going to be at least $1k, and $1,500 is more likely for most.

Couple that with the news today (elsewhere on this site) that Sony knows of 100 games in development for the Playstation VR, and you've got the price point and the library to pull it off. *IF* VR is really ready for prime time now, Sony is positioned to win this first generation handily. If it's not yet ready, they could take some losses…but in the process they'd probably get a lot of PS4s in customers hands, and that may not be that bad a loss from their perspective (certainly not as harmful as it would be to Facebook/Occulus).

clue
clue
8 years ago

Amazon has leaked the price of the playstation VR at being $800 US. news of this was posted on youtubes NCIX tech tips Jan 7th page.

29
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x