This week, Sony confirmed the release date and pricing details for its upcoming DualSense Edge PS5 controller. The premium pad appears to be PlayStation’s answer to the Xbox Elite controller, but its sky-high price has me very worried about the cost of PSVR 2 when it launches next year.
A recent post from the PlayStation Blog (opens in a new tab) confirmed that the DualSense Edge will launch in January and initially retail for $199 / £209. That price was immediately met with backlash, as interested PS5 owners balked at the idea of spending more than a third of the price of the next-gen console itself on a single controller.
With Sony placing the DualSense Edge at the high end of the luxury controller market, I’m beginning to fear the same fate will befall the PSVR 2 in 2023. And an off-putting price could have a detrimental impact in the long run . virtual reality headset potential, not to mention my own bank account.
Sony isn’t afraid to be unpopular on price
A quick look at Sony’s own announcement post when the DualSense Edge price was confirmed tells you everything you need to know. Sony won’t be afraid to charge a hefty premium for its luxury controller at launch.
The comments section of the PlayStation Blog post is filled with PS5 owners less than impressed to be asked to shell out $200 for a controller.
The comments section of the PlayStation Blog post is filled with PS5 owners less than impressed to be asked to shell out $200 for a controller. Granted, the DualSense Edge is a controller with a lot of extra bells and whistles, but it’s still a high cost of entry.
It’s worth noting that we can’t judge the overall value of the DualSense Edge until we’ve tested it ourselves, but pre-release optics at such a high price aren’t exactly good.
Additionally, earlier this year, Sony took the almost unprecedented step of raising the price of the PS5 in select markets approximately 18 months after the console’s initial launch. In regions like the UK, buying Sony’s flagship console today is actually more expensive than it was in 2021. This is the direct opposite trend that tech products typically follow. Usually they get cheaper over time, not more expensive. Although this trend has become more common in the last couple of years.
Thankfully, the PS5 price hike hasn’t arrived in the US yet (likely due to the relative strength of the US dollar), but it’s further proof that Sony is feeling optimistic about pricing. of its PlayStation products.
PSVR 2 will likely be seriously premium
Earlier this year, the full PSVR 2 spec sheet was revealed, and it’s set to blow its predecessor out of the water, and more. It is becoming not only one of the most popular VR headsets on the market, but also a very powerful headset.
specification | PSVR | PSVR 2 |
---|---|---|
Display | OLED | OLED |
Resolution (per eye) | 960×1080 | 2000×2040 |
Refresh rate | 90Hz, 120Hz | 90Hz, 120Hz |
Field of view (approx.) | 100 degrees | 110 degrees |
Cameras | None | Four integrated helmet cameras |
Feedback | None | Single built-in motor |
Link | USB-A, HDMI | USB-A, HDMI USB-C |
audio | Built-in microphone and stereo headphone jack | Built-in microphone and stereo headphone jack |
The PSVR 2 headset will deliver dramatically improved visual fidelity with 4K resolution, HDR support and a 110 degree field of view. It will also pack an OLED display, with an expected resolution per eye of 2000×2040 (a massive leap from the original PSVR’s 960×1080 per eye). The headset will support a refresh rate of up to 120Hz.
Foveal rendering, which reduces asset detail in your peripheral vision to maximize available power, has also been confirmed. The device will offer headset-based controller tracking via an integrated camera built into the VR headset itself and will also be eye-tracking capable.
The PSVR 2 also packs an impressive array of sensory features. Headset feedback is the biggest addition, with a single built-in motor adding vibration to the headset. This can, for example, simulate the sensation of an object passing close to your head. This will be complemented by 3D audio technology, and the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers offered by the PSVR 2 Sense controller will be included in the PSVR 2 Sense controllers.
Given all these improvements, it’s hard to see the PSVR 2 selling for less than $399, but I personally think $499 is more likely.
Given all these improvements, it’s hard to see the PSVR 2 selling for less than $399, but I personally think $499 is more likely. This would position the headset at the same price as the PS5 console itself, and $100 more expensive than the Oculus Rift S.
However, with Sony’s current aggressive pricing strategy, there’s a real possibility in my opinion that it could go for an even higher price, perhaps $549 isn’t out of line. Regions like the UK that are currently experiencing higher commodity costs seem particularly likely to see an inflated price on the PSVR 2.
A high price could hold back the PSVR 2
My biggest concern with the PSVR 2 releasing at a price of around $499 isn’t just that my bank account would be drained by a pre-order. Such a prohibitive price could prevent the headset from picking up enough steam to keep developers interested in making games for it.
For PSVR 2 to be continuously supported with new software for years to come, it obviously needs to have a large enough player base to justify the cost of developing games for it. If PSVR 2 is just too expensive for most people to buy, it may see less software overall, which will lead to fewer unit sales, and then the cycle will repeat itself until PSVR 2 ends up like the PS Vita – a great device that was ultimately overlooked and left for dead by Sony.
Of course, Sony seems fully committed to VR games and has even recently acquired new studios specializing in VR software to bolster its own development arm. Flagship exclusive VR games like Horizon Call of the Mountain and The Walking Dead Saints & Sinners 2 have already been confirmed. Additionally, a port of the popular VR game Half-Life: Alyx has been rumored for a long time. So, at least during the launch window, it’s highly unlikely that PSVR 2 will have a software glitch.
Sony is making another big bet on virtual reality, so it seems very likely that the PSVR 2 will have a shorter lifespan than the PS5. Still, I hope the high price of the DualSense Edge isn’t a harbinger of things to come for PSVR 2.