PSVR 2 Pre-Order Announcement Could Be Right Around the Corner
In April, Sony finally announced that they’re releasing a new version of the PlayStation VR headset, tentatively called PSVR 2. The announcement didn’t reveal much else about the headset, but they did promise that more details were coming in Fall 2018 (which we’re right in the middle of). Now, there’s some new evidence that suggests we might see an announcement as soon as this month! Here’s what we know so far.
Sony Exec Comments on PSVR 2
In an interview with German website Gamestar, Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Andrew House commented on PlayStation VR 2 (PSVR 2). When asked about a possible 2018 launch date for PS2, House refused to comment. That said, he did state that Sony is very pleased with PSVR sales so far and feels like it has been positively received by gamers around the world. And although he didn’t make any official announcements about future products, he also admitted that Sony is working on them. According to House: We will talk more about it [PlayStation VR] and our vision at a later date. With E3 just weeks away, hopefully we’ll learn more soon.
Sony CEO on PlayStation VR Success
Sony hasn’t announced how many PlayStation VR units it has sold, but recently said that it’s exceeding internal expectations. The reaction we have gotten is beyond our wildest dreams, and we are just at the beginning, Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida said in an interview with The Financial Times. Despite its success so far, Sony still appears to be gunning for further gains with what is expected to be a successor to PSVR. According to analysts at CCS Insight and Benzinga, pre-orders for a rumored PSVR 2 could come as soon as late August.
Market Analysis Shows Consumer Interest in Virtual Reality Devices Is Strong
The recent market analysis from Piper Jaffray shows that consumer interest in virtual reality devices is far stronger than many anticipated. In their survey, more than half of those who were surveyed said that they expected a VR device to be released in 2016. This expectation was not just for mobile VR devices like Google Cardboard or Samsung’s Gear VR, but also for console-based units like Oculus Rift or HTC Vive as well.
How to Buy a VR Device
If you’re in need of a new VR headset but don’t know where to start, we’ve got some advice for you. Whether you decide on an Oculus Rift, Samsung Gear VR or Google Daydream View, be sure to keep these factors in mind before hitting ‘purchase.’
When to Buy a VR Device
It depends on what you want to do with your VR device. If you’re buying a PSVR or HTC Vive, those are definitely gamer devices. They’re expensive and they require high-end PCs or gaming systems to run. If you’re looking for something that’s less tethered, Cardboard or Daydream might be more your speed; both of them use a smartphone as their display, so all you need is an inexpensive headset and your choice of controller to get started.
Why They’re Good Investments
VR headsets are still a relatively new technology—and one that’s likely to improve exponentially as time goes on. For example, Sony’s recently announced new VR headset, PS VR 2 (or whatever it ends up being called) will likely be lighter and more affordable than its predecessor. This is a trend we can expect to continue as technology improves over time.
A Note on PC Based VR Devices, Like HTC VIVE, Oculus Rift, and Windows Mixed Reality Headsets
If you’re looking to get into VR in a big way but don’t want to spend that much money, your best bet is going to be one of those PC based VR devices. In order for those devices to work, you’ll need a powerful desktop computer (or laptop) with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon RX 480 GPU, as well as an Intel Core i5 processor. If you’re not quite ready to make that sort of investment right now, however, PSVR could be for you. Stay tuned for our hands on review coming very soon!
