Sony is reportedly lowering its funding in digital actuality gaming, with the writer mentioned to have solely two first-party video games in growth for its PlayStation VR2 headset.
In a brand new report from Android Central, sources near the outlet claimed that Sony is “making deep cuts to funding for VR video games,” making for “only a few alternatives” for in-house VR video games sooner or later. Android Central’s report additionally claimed that solely two first-party video games for the PlayStation VR2 are in growth.
Sony didn’t instantly reply to IGN’s request for remark.
If the declare that Sony is slashing funding in VR video games is true, the corporate wouldn’t be the one one pulling again help on VR. In February, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot revealed that the writer didn’t plan to extend funding in further VR video games as a result of disappointing gross sales efficiency of Murderer’s Creed Nexus VR.
PlayStation VR2’s bumpy street
The PlayStation VR2 was launched final 12 months, although the headset has seemingly misplaced momentum since. Regardless of the PSVR2’s spectacular technical options, akin to eye-tracking, its steep value, the requirement to personal a PS5, and the shortage of recent VR video games that aren’t ports, non-compulsory VR modes, or multiplatform releases, are sometimes cited as explanation why folks is not going to make investments when headsets just like the Meta Quest 2 or Quest 3 are extra competitively value, don’t require further {hardware} to run, and have a number of first-party exclusives.
In March 2023, Bloomberg reported that the PSVR2 received off to a sluggish begin regardless of Sony allegedly making two million items earlier than launch. In December 2023, Sony Interactive Leisure’s head of world enterprise, Eric Lempel, instructed the Monetary Instances that VR was “a little bit of a difficult class proper now.” Then, in March this 12 months, Bloomberg reported that Sony had paused manufacturing of recent PSVR2 items because it tried to maneuver unsold items it had but to ship.
In the meantime, well-known PSVR builders First Contact Leisure and London Studio have closed. Earlier this 12 months, I reported that it appeared Sony had deserted the PSVR2, with one supply at a developer of at the least one main PSVR2 recreation telling me that Sony would solely market their recreation solely by means of posts on the PlayStation Weblog, and any further advertising needed to be completed by the developer or the writer.
Whereas Sony introduced final month {that a} PC adapter for the PSVR2 can be accessible on August 7, letting PSVR2 gamers play PC VR-exclusive video games like Half-Life: Alyx, a number of of the headset’s signature options, akin to eye-tracking, HDR, and adaptive triggers is not going to be accessible. The adapter does not include every thing required to plug in and play.
In our 9/10 assessment of the PSVR2, IGN wrote: “With top-notch visible high quality and immersively tactile Sense controllers, PlayStation VR2 represents a quantum leap over its predecessor, setting a brand new normal for console VR gaming.”
Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You may comply with her on Twitter @TayNixster.