Research firm SuperData has said that virtual reality is 2016’s “biggest loser” in terms of sales thus far.
Speaking with GamesIndustry, SuperData said that a “relatively fragmented title lin-up and modest marketing effort” has hampered VR sales. As such, the firm has downgraded 2016 sales expectations — with PlatStation VR in particular — from 2.6 million units to just 750,000 units.
SuperData furthers that Sony has had “supply inconsistencies and [a] lack of marketing” when it comes to the PlayStation VR headset.
“[Sony] did not offer any first-party deals this weekend, restock bundles or market the device, pushing instead for the PS4 Pro,” SuperData’s Stephanie Llamas said.
“They have also pointed out that VR looks even better on a Pro than a standard or slim PS4, so the message to most gamers is: get the Pro now, then the PSVR later. As a result, we won’t see them break 1M shipments until well into the new year.”
It’s not all bad news for Sony, though.
“[Sony] can afford to take it slow since they have no competition for now, so their supply and sales will rise steadily into 2017 as opposed to riding the seasonal wave,” Llamas added.
We reviewed the PlayStation VR headset — and on a PS4 Slim, no less — here.
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