Putting Sony’s 4.2 million PSVR sales in context

Headset's attach rate is somewhere in the Sega CD/32X range.

[AspiringProGenji]

Why not put it into the context with ts competitors and not some old peripherals?

[Cupid_Viper_3]

Lol, you know why. If you were trying to downplay an F1 car, you could easily bring up fighter planes and say they break the sound barrier.

[darthv72]

Well... technically Sega was a competitor with Sony at one time. Plus you cant compare this to the kinect. You could compare the PS4 camera to xbo kinect like you could the ps3 camera to the 360 kinect or the ps2 eyetoy to the xbl vision camera.

When comparing expensive add-ons that are meant to change the way you play then... this comparison is correct. VR changes the game for PS4 just like the CD and 32x changed things for the Genesis.

[Godmars290]

And "technically" Sega ran themselves into the ground, out of making consoles, specifically because of moves like the Sega CD trying to keep up with Sony.

And you can't compare the PS4 camera to Kinect because at Kinect's "height", it was mandatory. You were forced to buy it, until you weren't, and it died soon after where the camera remains an optional thing.

[JackBNimble]

**

[AspiringProGenji]

When I said competitor I meant Oculus and Vive.

[rainslacker]

SegaCD didn't really change the way you played the games. It just changed the medium the games were delivered on in the case of SegaCD, and the power available to the game in the case of 32X.

They are expensive add-ons for sure, but that is about the only place the similarity ends.

Sony seems to deem the PSVR a success. They are supporting it with games. Developers are making games for it. I'm sure Sony, and even the devs would like to sell more, but they said long ago that they knew it wasn't going to sell huge numbers. But, given the reports that have come out, it is selling lots of software, and if it does that, it's making people money, which is really what makes it a success. Plus, the recent 4.2 million indicates that it's selling faster YOY....so it's picking up.

[RDF]

What?

[rainslacker]

Seems like comparing it to other VR of old would be more prudent. I mean, do we not have Virtual Boy numbers?

OTOH, it's a new tech in it's current form, and there is no real baseline to compare it to. The context of it's sales are that it's exceeded expectations of Sony, and many other people. Just there are still people that want to downplay it by setting higher expectations, but I know there were those who said it would fail, and quickly be forgotten, and that obviously hasn't happened yet, and it seems to be selling quicker than it did before if you go by recent numbers.

[opc]

it's still early days but eventually simply selling more than another brand that is also not selling well won't be enough. After a while investors will want these numbers to be much higher so that publishers start making more games for VR.

[KickSpinFilter]

The only thing you can compare today's VR is to is 90's VR booths in Cyber Cafes that's it.
PSVR is like the Blackberry of VR's time. Not many had Blackberry's but those who did knew that it was a game changer, and that led to the iphone/// iphone X. Sony when building knew that PSVR was not going to sell like PS4 or anything close to that. This is the first step. People poo, pooed the wheel at one time in history also. Who knows... it might not be Sony 10 years down the line with the top VR headgear, but VR is not going away.

[KickSpinFilter]

The only thing you can compare today's VR is to is 90's VR booths in Cyber Cafes that's it.
PSVR is like the Blackberry of VR's time. Not many had Blackberry's but those who did knew that it was a game changer, and that led to the iphone/// iphone X. Sony when building knew that PSVR was not going to sell like PS4 or anything close to that. This is the first step. People poo, pooed the wheel at one time in history also. Who knows... it might not be Sony 10 years down the line with the top VR headgear, but VR is not going away.
On top of that lets talk about price point, I can easily sell you a $60 Kinect with a whole bunch of claims and advertising saying it's the next big thing. Or try to sell you a $400 PSVR with not much claims other than were trying something out new, with grassroots word of mouth. Sony knew from the start it would be hard to sell VR, unless ya get a unit on someones head. Hell I was even a little leery of PSVR even though I was able to try VR back in the 90's. I was able to try PSVR and was instantly sold.
With Battlezone, Res Evil 7, Beat Saber, Astro Bot, Super hot, Firewall Zero, Drive Club, Tetris Effect, Wipeout, Playroom, Creed, Ace Combat, Megaton Rainfall, Super Hyper Cube all prove VR is expanding and growing. Everyone who fears this thinks it's going to take over flat screen gaming, it's not... it's going to coexist

[bluefox755]

You don't get as many clicks that way.

[Zeref]

Because that doesn't matter. 4 million sales is not enough for devs to profit. how many of those are even ACTIVE users?

VR in general is just not profitable for Devs right now.

There needs to be a breakthrough for VR to become mainstream. I think the problem is mostly that you're connected to a console/pc, headsets are still too bulky/ugly and it's not wireless.

[ApocalypseShadow]

Ridiculous. I read the article when at first I was going to ignore it.

Sony announces 4.2 million sold and that the headset sells between $200 and $450 (depending on bundles, extra accessories, sale prices, etc) and the downplay articles show up overnight. But we're told these articles don't exist and we're just imaging it.

Posting BS numbers and said it was unfair, but did it anyway to make the unfair comparison.

Before PSVR, Oculus and Vive were on the market, there were no high end VR headsets on the consumer market. None. And to be even more unfair, some compare the entire 90+ million PS4 fan base to PSVR's sales numbers when the platform came out when Sony was about 50 million in PS4 sales already. It didn't launch in 2013. It launched at the end in 2016 and wasn't cheap. Still isn't cheap. But sells over 100,000 a month on average. Any comparison to old CD attachments or Kinect cameras or Move controllers is ridiculous.

PSVR is selling. Many games are selling and hit a million like job simulator or Beat Saber. Many more games are coming. Core games are being made beyond simple things we saw on Wii or Kinect. Even Move had core games supported like Killzone. But PSVR murders even Move.

Keep downplaying if it makes you feel better. The naysayers thought it wouldn't sell. Wouldn't survive on consoles at a price higher than the console itself. You were wrong. It's getting exclusives that gamers thought it wouldn't but it is like Firewall, Astrobot and upcoming licensed games like Iron Man. The denial of its success won't stop VR from growing. Get used to it.

[sprinterboy]

What I don't understand is why the naysayers want vr to fail? seriously I use mine every week and after playing Metro exodus I was like I can't fucking wait for something like that in vr, simply put Insane.

[wwinterj]

It's just a shame. With more full VR games on the system and a lower price point it could be so much more better in sales numbers. You have a VR headset and clearly feel very passionate about it but for me personally and for a lot of the PS fanbase the need to rush out and buy one isn't there.

[Silly gameAr]

"Ok, guys. We have to put this in context, so people will think that VR is not doing well, and crashing and burning. Be creative guys. We have a job to do!"

[salmonade]

Context? There has been nothing like VR before. Sega Saturn is a console, like the Atari 2600, like the NES. STOP trying to compare VR to a console that you play on a TV from across the room.

VR is totally different and a different experience. There is really is no comparison to be made, other than VR systems and their total sales, that is out right now. I won't read the article because the headline is trash.

[Italiano1234567]

What other VR headset sold more.

[MoonConquistador]

None, but stop asking questions to which you know the answer to.

That's nearly as pointless as this article which claims it's putting things into context

[MetroidFREAK21]

Idk, I'm still not sure how to feel about VR. I do have some interest in the new Oculus Rift S they are releasing... Just one man's opinion of course

[MoonConquistador]

Have you tried any sets so far?

With the right headset and right game for your tastes, I'm struggling to think why anyone would be on the fence about it other than affordability.

[MetroidFREAK21]

Honestly no I haven't. I'm personally afraid of getting sick from it. I don't know how comfortable I will be with something that close to my eyes. I can barely handle the 3D on the 3DS so I'm kind of nervous. Interested at the very least

[uth11]

@metrois- best thing is to take the headset off if you start to feel discomfort and aim for a longer session next tume. eventually most people become acclimated to it.

not everyone experiences VR sickness and some only have mild symptoms

[xX-oldboy-Xx]

MetroidFREAK21 - By your comment it sounds like you might be susceptible to motion sickness. Unless you have a decent PC, I'd wait for next gen to make a purchase.

Check them out or try them if you can by all means, my mate loves PSVR but it still makes him ill - so has a little buyers regret. Personally - I love it and think it has big future ahead.

I can't wait for PSVR2.

[MetroidFREAK21]

I think I might. It kicked in right after I got out of the Marine Corps so I have no idea what caused it. I do have a pretty decent PC, but I guess I may not purchase it. Probably better to save money personally

[The_Sage]

Metroid... I get motion sick really bad and easily. I was worried about VR too. I tried it for the first time a couple weeks ago. I played 6 games, and to my complete surprise, only one made me slightly nauseous. It was called paranormal something. The difference with that one was that you had to use the controller to walk, instead of just blinking to where you wanted to be. It still wasn't bad, but I would take Dramamine if I was going to play for more than a half hour.

[RavageX]

This article is stupid. How many games were marketed for the 32X?

How many games are available for PSVR?

PSVR is doing great, simple as that.

[MoonConquistador]

That's not the only reason it is stupid either

[sprinterboy]

Gen 1 numbers have been great, I predicted 10m lifetime sales before psvr released so I think I won't be too far off.

[rob-GP]

Would have expected this kind of article from Gaming Bolt, not Ars Technica tbh...

[MoonConquistador]

Yeah, first thing I thought when I read it too

[magicted]

My opinion is it looks like Sony is off to a great start in the VR market. Seeing all sorts of great games and future releases have got me all hyped up to invest in one real soon.

[MoonConquistador]

My first go of dirt rally in VR also drove me to a steering wheel and a seat.

Don't play dirt rally lol, things could get expensive.

You'll have a plentiful selection of good games to try if you eventually get one.

[Latex74]

I know what u mean love my set up

[uth11]

and they just announced a bunch of new PSVR games, including NMS and release dates for some of the more anticipated tites. VR sales should see a decent bump in the next quarter or two

[Sm00thNinja]

Honestly the VR is amazing and I'm glad I jumped in but for 100 million consoles sold 4.2 million isn't groundbreaking but a GREAT ENTRY point to say hey, it's worth investing in towards the future and I can't wait to see them go wireless for the VR2. Im sure Sony is happy with these numbers. I think VR is definitely a possible path for the future of gaming and Sony will be it's trailblazer if Microsoft continues to take a wait and see approach.

[Veneno]

It could have been higher had they put PSVR in retail kiosks for people to try out. They do this with all of their consoles. They did it with PS Move. Why not with PSVR? I haven't bought one for that very reason. I don't want to drop hundreds on a product that I am not sure on. Sony really missed out on the possible buyers who wish to try before they buy.

[Phoenix76]

I personally would say that you are wrong there Ven as there was a time when it was on shop floors. I tried the PSVR at the now closed down GAME store in Dartford, UK before going next door into Argos to buy up a set as it was slightly cheaper.
However, you are also correct, it does need more kiosk display time for people to try it out. Word of mouth alone makes it a hard sell. It's mostly when people have actually tried it themselves do they understand why it's so popular among the VR community.

[Christopher]

Probably due to how much the retail outlets were asking for managing and supporting those sort of displays.

[MoonConquistador]

This is definitely the area where MS run rings round Sony is in pushing and marketing their own products.

Can't argue that if more booths were visible sales would be even better than they are.

[akbennyewu]

The only reason to have a Sega CD was for night trap.

Someone please make night trap VR.

[Last_Boss]

?

[rainslacker]

Lunar as well.

[akbennyewu]

Working designs games were amazing.

[Thundercat77]

Ars-technica.com : Hey, there are news about Sony 4.2 million PSVR sales. Remember the PSVR? The technology EVERYONE said it was dead on arrival, it was not going to sell anything and Sony was not going to support it?

It turns out it proved everyone WRONG! and now Playstation fans are happy and celebrating this victory.

Let's write an article to try to spin this.

[Kumakai]

Pretty much what I said on the article touting over 4 million as a win. I even mentioned that the Kinect outperformed it and was still discontinued... naturally to a ton of disagrees. There’s no such thing as objectivity on the subject of ps4 within the comment section of n4g and that’s a bummer cuz there’s no true debate - just teams.

[ApocalypseShadow]

What was the price of Kinect compared to PSVR at launch? I'm guessing you're saying Kinect cost more than Xbox 360. And, Kinect 2 cost more than Xbox One.

Let's compare the games of PSVR to Kinect or even Kinect 2's games.

Let's compare the controls of The Moves, DS4 and the Aim to Kinect or Kinect 2.

Let's compare the dancing Star Wars game to that one single Start Wars Battlefront VR mission in PSVR?

Should we debate this and be objective about it? Or would there be some type of bias?

[MasterCornholio]

It’s pretty much accepted that Kinect is trash for core games. PSVR on the other hand has proven that’s its capable of producing games that the core can enjoy.

[MoonConquistador]

Lol, owned.

Nice rebuttal

[MasterCornholio]

So will Sony stop supporting VR?

[thexmanone]

Yep

[Christopher]

Kinect's problem was software support and attach rate. That does not seem to be a problem with PSVR at this time, but it could become one next generation.

[Tross]

Percentage wise, perhaps, but that still translates to many more units sold than the CD/32X. Why is there a need for context anyways?

[MoonConquistador]

There isn't lol, but ars technica in their infinite wisdom try to provide us some anyway.

And failed lol

[Malice-Flare]

oh, you mean the subjective "context" of what a success is? heh, the only real context of its success is in comparison with the other VR platforms in the VR market...

[FallenAngel1984]

I was expecting comparisons to other VR devices

[franwex]

Well it’s doing better than the Virtual Boy, which is a stand alone console-not a peripheral.

I actually own a Virtual Boy and not a PSVR. Wow, I gotta re think some decisions.

[FyBy]

You have to compare to same devices. If you compare it to other VR devices, PSVR is huge success. Yes, its niche market. And I dont think it will substitute for tvs in years to come. But thanks Sony for bringing in PSVR! Its not must have, but its a great start. VR is not about hype. 3D was also not only about hype. But there was too small number of adopters to let it live.
I hope Sony will continue with PSVR successor on PS5 with better resolution and better motion controls. And if all of that will be backward compatible, its day one buy for me.

[Sirk7x]

VR is such an amazing and different experience. The more it sells, the more investors will be willing to back bigger games for the platform. It's not going away now.

[rainslacker]

Install base from all the options is getting to the point where some good higher end mid tier games could be made exclusively for it and do well. However, from an investors point of view, making a traditional game with just some vr features may be more appealing....if they just dont go full GaaS.

It's coming along though, and Sony is doing well. So are the other options considering many felt it was not going to do so well before they all launched, and quite a few felt that psvr would perform the worst of all.

[Good-Smurf]

You don't compare PSVR to Sega CD/32X one is failed attempts at stretching the life off of aging console and the number stopped there other is a niche but increasingly popular tech peripheral and it still selling.
A dead discontinued product should be compared to another dead ones not the ongoing product.

[Deeeeznuuuts]

For an accessory that costs nearly the same as a console I don't think that's a bad number at all, I don't know why the kinect is being compared, seeing as when the kinect launched it was only $150 and only got lower so of course it would sell a lot, also Microsoft don't even support the kinect anymore and to be honest it was another fad, VR on the other hand looks like it's here to stay and will only improve over time

[Youngindy21]

The Kinect was also bundled with some consoles.

[Youngindy21]

For VR to ultimately be a success, I think Sony needs to release a new headset with higher resolution, better graphics, and less wires. I also believe developers need to change the types of games they make for VR. There are way too many Mech, Horror and Gun gallery simulators for PSVR. The best games Wipeout, Moss, AstroBot, Rez Infinite, Tetris Effect, etc fall into none of those categories and I believe we need more games like that and less of the former games I mentioned. Just my 2 cents.

[Einhander1971]

Nice picture I have the PSVR and MEGA CD:) great systems.

[Xavi4K]

well it's not a console so what they expect the sales to be ??

yet if we compare the number of units sold of PS4 and PSVR I see what they mean there.

[bluefox755]

Considering it's an accessory, and a relatively expensive one, in the infancy of it's technology, this is pretty damn impressive.

[Artemidorus]

It's not groundbreaking but let's see the next gen ideas.

[ps5fanboy]

like a new man united kit every week , sony will start implementing updates , as now they know , v.r is a growing market, and like pc nerds , v.r fans are going to be splashing out for psvr.2.3.4 etc , i already sold mine in wait for p5 v.r heheheh ..

[ps5fanboy]

the currant psvr makes me ill

[Nacho_Z]

These articles are funny, I assume someone's cage is rattled.

[Jayszen]

Why compare the attach rate to something that existed 20 years ago when PSVR's competitors are Oculus and Vive? Because the article is more about downplaying the success of PSVR and Sony.

Sony never expected the headset to sell as well as it has done especially given it had supply issues in the first year.. Considering that the headset is not cheap, the PSVR has been selling at an average rate of about 100,000 each month and with total sales of 4.2 million, it is easily the best selling headset of the three major releases of 2016. There are already many games for the PSVR and more are being released each month, The fact is that one has to applaud Sony for doing as well as it has done. There is no reason not to expect an eventual upgrade, a version 2.0 and I look forward to it!

[Horseygamer]

some of those are now on the second-hand market

[Hedstrom]

Imagine the attach rate of occulus and vive!

[Mr_Luke]

Haters and who didn't play Moss (and other beautiful VR games) can't and won't understand that PSVR is a great device. Maybe overpriced for someone, but good.
I see so many negative comments about it. You don't like it? Ok. You don't like it because it's from Sony? No, it's not ok.
Are people that don't even own it praying for it to fail? Why something so stupid?

[Dfooster]

4.5m is still impressive given most playstations will have been bought for cod or fortnite zombie kids by their parents. When the technology next gen catches up it will become more mainstream. The driving sim community is already there waiting for that extra leap in resolution and horsepower, and with firewall zero hour being a success it wint be long before the zombie kids will be asking mum and dad for psvr2 fir Christmas in a few years time.

[Vetgamer]

It's got a long way to go but psvr is a great start. Would like to see a stream lined version when tech allows. I think 4.2 million and growing is okay, not wow! numbers but not sure I'd call it a failure either.

[rainslacker]

I'd like one that can just be put on like a pair of glasses. Strap isn't an issue, but something that is easier to get adjusted on ones head. This may not be an issue for people who dont wear glasses or contacts, but it takes a bit more time putting it on, and after taking a break. Not a deal breaker, just an observation I have when using mine.

[Gunstar75]

Purple101
Kinect sold 35 million.
Now, don't you feel silly?

[Gunstar75]

Wow.... I've never see as many banned comments on this Sad Site as this before.

Someone riled the diehards

[rainslacker]

People from both sides were being flagged. Some with comments I'm not sure were really inappropriate considering the topic is all about comparisons, but whatever.

[VariantAEC]

The inappropriate flag is often misused. At least from what I see here often. If there were consequences for misusing it it probably wouldn't be abused so frequently.

[QuickdrawMcgraw]

Why would any gamer want VR to fail...And then be so happy if it did?....