The most expensive PS5 is more expensive than the virtual reality headset. It is still too much money.
Virtual reality is on the verge of a new era. Sony will be releasing PSVR2 in February, and Apple is rumored to be releasing a virtual reality headset very soon. The generation that it feels like I should be joining is the one that I am about to purchase a virtual reality headset for. I am getting a sticker shock now that I know the actual prices for them.
The minimum cost to use PSVR2 is $950 if you add the starting PS5 price of $399.99. The Quest Pro is a headset that can be used for virtual reality. With Mark Gurman reporting that it could cost more than $2,000, don't expect Apple's headset to be cheap.
These headsets are loaded with the latest technology. The PSVR2 is a big upgrade over the first PSVR, with features like an OLED screen, four built-in cameras to track your movements, and vastly improved controllers compared to the PS3-ea Move wand. You can see full-color passthrough video with the Quest Pro and it has inward-facing cameras. You may be able to make payments with your eyes, if Apple's headset is true.
A more mainstream price is needed for virtual reality to go mainstream.
Companies will need to pair all that fancy tech with a price a normal person would pay if virtual reality goes mainstream. The original price of $299 was more reasonable. It is capable of being a stand-alone virtual reality headset that you can use for things like games and fitness.
As of June, it had sold over 15 million units, according to the International Data Corporation. Sony just said it has sold 25 million PS5s, which means a product in a relatively new category isn't that far behind the most coveted console on the planet. Meta recently raised the price of the headset by $100, but it's still easier to swallow than the grand you'll have to invest for the next generation.
Meta is positioning the Quest Pro as a work focused device, not something for the average consumer; for most people, the Quest 2 is the Meta headset they should buy. Is it really necessary for tech companies to push high-tech and high-cost virtual reality devices? I understand that they need to push the boundaries to bring costs down, but is the Quest Pro worth more than the Quest 2?
For people who want to try higher end headsets, these companies are asking for a lot of money. Meta continues to use a "build it and they will come" approach to innovation on the platform, and it has snapped up quite a few notable virtual reality studios along the way. The team that makes the movie doesn't use it. This is not like Nintendo, which makes weird hardware but obvious ways to use it, or Apple, which is famous for matching great hardware and great software. Usually. We will have to see if the company has a good pitch for its headset.
In spite of the high cost, I think the PSVR2 will be a success. Sony went out of its way to make great games that made sense, and I think it will do the same with PSVR2. My colleague, Victoria Song, was enamored by Sony's PSVR2 title, "Horizon Call of the Mountain", which was built specifically for Sony's hardware. The games will probably be good because of Sony's commitment to make video games for a video game focused virtual reality device.
PSVR2 isn't compatible with the many games for the original PSVR, so you'll have to start from scratch with your PSVR2 library. You are taking a big bet on the future of the platform if you purchase it at launch.
After seeing the cost of the PS Edge controller, I was prepared for the worst, but I am surprised at how much it will cost. It seems like it could be worth the price, so there's a good chance I'll get a pre-order on November 15th, even if I don't like the price. I already own the PS 5.
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