Sony plans to release 2 million PlayStation VR2 headsets during the launch period of the new headset, it has been claimed.
Bloomberg reports that the manufacturer expects to have 2 million units ready by March 2023, suggesting that it expects the PS VR2 to sell out faster than its predecessor.
By comparison, the original PlayStation VR, released in October 2016, took seven months to sell 1 million units.
Although VR2 has yet to receive an official release date, Sony has announced that it will launch in “early 2023”.
According to Bloomberg’s source, mass production of the PlayStation VR2 headsets began last month and have not yet been affected by supply chain constraints.
The current shortage of PS5 consoles is expected to improve somewhat by early 2023, with Sony hoping the release of the PlayStation VR2 will boost sales of both the headset and the console.
Sony said earlier this year that it would have over 20 games ready for the PlayStation VR2 launch.
“Right now, huge amounts of money are being spent partnering with independent and third-party developers to secure a massive pipeline of engaging VR content when PlayStation VR2 launches,” SIE President Jim Ryan said in May.
“This energy, this effort and this money will continue to grow as the installed base of PlayStation VR 2 headsets also grows.”
PlayStation VR2 owners won’t be able to play existing PlayStation VR games, however, after Sony revealed last month that the new headset won’t be backward compatible.
Speaking on the PlayStation Blog Podcast, Senior Vice President of Platform Experience Hideaki Nishino said that “PSVR games are not compatible with PSVR 2 because PSVR 2 is designed for deliver a true next-gen VR experience.”
He added: “PSVR 2 has much more advanced features like all new controllers with haptic feedback and adaptive triggers and indoor-outdoor tracking, in-helmet eye tracking, 3D audio of course.
“So that means developing PSVR 2 requires a totally different approach than the original PSVR.”
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