Earlier this month Sony launched its PlayStation VR headset into the wild, sporting a large launch lineup of games from the pulse-pounding competitive shooter, Rigs, to the white-knuckle racer, Driveclub VR, and an excellent assortment of smaller games such as Thumper, Bound, and SUPERHYPERCUBE. There is assuredly something for most everybody on PS VR already. And it appears that diversity and quality has translated to strong popularity thus far.
“PS VR is off to a great start at GameStop, having already exceeded our early expectations,” senior VP of merchandising Bob Puzon said in a press release. “Due to the popularity of the system with our customers, we have received additional units for holiday.”
For anyone that’s been paying attention, the surge of demand should come as no surprise. Not only did PS VR sell out at GameStop faster than any other hardware of all-time, but it’s already been hinted to be in the “many hundreds thousands” range to date in terms of total sales. After the headset released, coverage from media outlets nearly doubled that of the Rift and Vive.
The press release also indicates that “demand remains high” for the unit, which should help to spur adoption and market growth into next year. As it stands, Sony’s flagship headset is in a great position to drive mainstream adoption of VR.
PlayStation’s VP of Marketing views the headset as a step towards achieving the “holy grail of gaming,” and while we are definitely fans of the device, it isn’t quite there yet. Whether or not they can sort out the often pesky tracking issues and continue to deliver on the promise of consistent, high-quality software will be the biggest signs of whether or not the HMD has what it takes to go toe-to-toe with its more powerful, but much more expensive, rivals in the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift.
h/t: Daniel Ahmad and GameSpot
Source: PS VR Demand “Exceeded” Expectations, GameStop Ordering “Additional Units For Holiday”
