For a while, Sony has been teasing gamers with glimpses of the PSVR 2 which will mark the next generation of the company's virtual gaming. Though the PSVR provided heaps of fun, several areas needed improvement, and they seem to have been addressed with the upcoming headset. While many gamers may be itching to get their hands on the PSVR 2, upon launch, they may be thwarted by scalpers.
During the launch of the PS5, scalpers caused problems for legitimate gamers trying to get a console for themselves. It is possible that they could do the same with the PSVR 2. Fortunately, Sony has taken some steps to fight back against scalpers and ensure that gamers who want a headset get one.
Sony Takes Measures Against Scalpers
The release of the PSVR 2 crawls nearer, and although a release date has yet to be given, gamers can expect it in early 2023. Much like its console counterpart, the PS5, the PSVR 2 is highly anticipated, which means that scalpers likely have their eyes on it already. If they manage to get their hands on it before legitimate customers do, it could mean that gamers will suffer from supply shortages once again, and desperate folks will have to pay exorbitant prices to get the headset off scalpers.
One of the factors that lead to scalping is scarcity. This was seen with the PS5 when the global microprocessor chip shortage caused supply shortages of the console. Scalpers took advantage by using bots to buy consoles in bulk before regular customers could, then reselling the consoles, with their markup added, of course. If the demand for the PSVR 2 exceeds what Sony can produce, it could lead to another situation where the market is perfect for scalpers to exploit gamers.
It appears that Sony has learned from its past mistakes, as it has been reported that the company plans to produce two million PSVR 2 headsets by March next year. This should cover a best-case scenario for Sony, as the PS VR took seven months to sell one million units. There have been over 21 million PS5 units sold, but it is difficult to gauge what percentage of these gamers will purchase the upcoming headset at launch, as the price has yet to be revealed. However, with two million headsets being produced, the odds of scalping are considerably lowered.
The Demand For PSVR 2
There is no use in scalping products that are not in high demand. Sony has been hard at work trying to drum up excitement for the upcoming headset. This has been done by showing off its design and how it sits beautifully alongside the PS5. Gamers have also been shown some games they can expect when the headset launches, including AAA franchises like Horizon and Resident Evil.
The PSVR was Sony's first foray into virtual gaming, and while the headset did not sell too well, it was proof that the company was capable of taking its gaming experiences to the virtual world. Since then, other headsets such as the Quest 2 and the Valve Index have been released, introducing more gamers than ever to virtual gaming. The market has grown larger, and the demand for Sony's headset will likely be far higher this time around. This could attract scalpers, though the heavy production should help to combat their effect.
The upcoming headset shows promise, as it features many of the capabilities of the DualSense controller, including adaptive triggers. When the PS5 launched, a lot of gamers who wanted to jump into the next generation of gaming were unable to due to supply shortages which scalpers exploited. Hopefully, the steps Sony has taken prevent the same events from occurring with the PSVR 2.
PSVR 2 is expected to release early in 2023.