With yesterday’s announcement by Sony that the PlayStation VR will ship at a very reasonable $399, this created a certain buzz among gamers and tech fans alike — and of course, the PlayStation LifeStyle staff.
Is the price good enough even knowing that there’s an added cost for the PlayStation Camera, which most of us don’t own? How will Sony package its bundles for the PS4 and PS VR later this year? This and more are discussed in today’s Now Loading entry.
What do you think of that PlayStation VR price? Are you OK with or could Sony have done better? Perhaps, more importantly, who among will buy it (or even pre-order it) at that price? Sound off in the comments and let us know.
Now Loading is a recurring staff-driven feature where PlayStation LifeStyle discusses anything video game-related under the sun (yes, even non-Sony platforms).
Essential Reading:
- Now Loading…Will No Day One The Division Review Affect Your Buying Decision?
- Here’s What You Get Inside the PlayStation VR $399 Retail Box
- PlayStation VR Worlds, Tumble VR Announced as PlayStation VR Exclusives
Now Loading... PS VR
-
Now Loading...What Do You Make of That PlayStation VR Price?
-
Cameron Teague
That is exactly the price I think all of us were hoping for.
-
Paulmichael Contreras
Yeah, this has definitely put Sony in a great position. Whereas the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive both require rather beefy PCs in order to run properly, all the PS VR headset requires is a PlayStation 4, something millions of gamers of all kinds already have access to. But the other platforms have the advantage of massive marketplaces, and Sony's track record with supporting accessories has been...lacking, to say the least. Quick, what's the last PS Move killer app/game you can remember? Exactly. I'm cautiously optimistic, as I usually seem to be with all of Sony's PlayStation spin-off products. Price is a large differentiator, and on that point, Sony has taken a decisive jump to the front of the pack, but we will see how it all pans out. -
Stephen Bitto
Sony has set themselves up to be THE name in VR. Undercutting the competition at $399 while undoubtedly offering solid content makes their VR package far more attractive to the average gamer. Not to mention there are already 36 million PS4s in households making the barrier to entry that much lower. Sony's head start in this race will put PlayStation VR in the hands of non-gamers as well. This is where the ultimate victory comes. When people, gamers and non-gamers alike, tell people about their VR experiences they will tell people they played "PlayStation."
-
Michael Briers
Huge. My gut instinct had PSVR pegged at $500 minimum, and I know that the headline-stealing $399 doesn't look as appealing once you factor in the price of the PS Camera (mandatory) and PS Move controllers (optional). Even still, with today's announcement, Sony is in pole position based on install base and now price point. PlayStation VR had my curiosity, it now has my attention -- and pre-order, just as soon as they go live.
-
Zarmena Khan
I think that's a decent price tag for the device and I'm excited to see it drop this October. But I won't be an early adopter. As someone who suffers from motion sickness (albeit occasionally and usually when traveling) I need to see some initial reports before I jump in. I'm also not too keen on buying one from an early batch due to possible breakages and the fact that I haven't seen a game I want yet. So yeah, I'm still on the backseat for a while but rooting for PS VR.
-
D'yani Wood
This exactly the price they needed. I'm so glad Sony is at the forefront of accessible VR. I think they can deliver the best experiences with it--we all know they deliver the best gaming experience already. I just hope they pump out lots of good quality content. VR is here to stay, from what I can see, so they don't have to try and milk the fad as fast as they can. Hopefully that means more amazing things to do in VR, with stuff that isn't your usual "video game" mixed in there too, like digital trips to famous places in the world for those who could never dream of traveling to those places. I'm just really excited and happy to be halfway to VR by being a PlayStation fan already.
-
Chandler Wood
$400 is a fair price point. Any cheaper and it makes PlayStation VR seem like a cheap knockoff version of VR, which gives the wrong impression of the tech, and any more expensive and you would have a hard time selling it to consumers. Let's be honest, if I showed you two cars, and one was half the price of the other, you are going to assume there is something lesser about the vastly value priced var. This gives Sony an edge against Oculus without undercutting it so much that it just seems cheap. I've already seen a bunch of people saying that they are going to pre-order and get it day one, and while words aren't actions, it seems like the interest is there at this price.
I know that I will definitely by getting one at launch simply because I believe in the tech, and if I want developers to continue to support it, I have to show my support for it as well. I'll consider an investment for the future of virtual reality technology. Imagine if nobody had bought the original PlayStation when it came out because it was priced wrong or they thought the idea of disc based games would flop? We would have never gotten here to the PS4. If you have half an interest in seeing a future in VR, contribute to the foundation and show support for the development of the future of the technology. -
Alex Co
I once told a friend that I think the PS VR will launch at somewhere around the $350-$500 price point and it would be considered a "win" for Sony given how expensive the competition is pricing theirs.
Well, my prediction rang true and I couldn't be happier! Of course, once you factor in the camera and the Move thingies, that price balloons a bit, but hey, it won't add $150-$200 to the overall price, right? Bear in mind that Sony will most likely sell bundles with all the necessary stuff with a lower price, too.
What I worry about is just how PS VR will be a game-changer or be seen and used as a gimmick. But that's a conversation for another time.
If Sony can structure the PS4+PS VR bundle to cost around $650-700 later this year, then that would be a good test if the public will actually bite VR. I mean, at that price, it's lower than just the standard VR devices from the competition and should be low enough for tech enthusiasts to dive right in.
Overall, happy with the PS VR price and I can't wait to get one the moment it's available.
-
Mack Ashworth
Ooft, what news to wake up to! A great price, and releasing in October!
I'll no doubt be picking one up as a "business expense," and I'm sure at $399 many other PlayStation enthusiasts will be all aboard the VR train.
