The PlayStation 4 has been a resounding success for Sony, with the system selling over 100 million units since launch. Past that, PS4 has also sold over 1 billion pieces of software, no small feat.
The core pillar of this success has been first-party support, with a wealth of quality exclusive consistently releasing on the PS4. The PS4 has also been in a unique position as the only console with VR, something that has helped the system feel even more unique.
With Sony shifting their focus onto the PS5, there's a big question as to what they'll do with PSVR. The PS5 stands poised to make PSVR better than ever, and Sony should double-down on making it a centerpiece for the new system.
The Importance of PSVR
PSVR was introduced years into the life cycle of the PS4, which put it at a bit of a disadvantage. It's easier to push extra hardware in bundles, which would have been perfect at launch. Still, the PSVR saw huge success, grossing Sony over $2 billion to date. The headset itself has sold roughly 4.2 million which is, of course, only a fraction of the overall sales of the PS4. Still, the PSVR helped diversify PlayStation from its competition, which is invaluable. On top of this, it provided a more affordable option for fans that might want to try VR but don't want to break the bank, or simply don't have a PC strong enough to handle it. PSVR helped forward the brand, and now that it's been established, Sony can take advantage of PSVR
PS5 Needs to Improve PSVR
The drawback of PSVR is that it's far less powerful than the other VR headset on the market, understandable because of the power constraints of the PS4. That's something that the PS5 can address with its upgraded specs. The SSD and CPU upgrades could make VR much more viable on the system, and improve the fidelity of VR games. On top of this, there are reports that the DualShock 5 will support haptic feedback, which could be a serious game-changer for PSVR games and immersion. Sony should make the current headset immediately compatible with PS5, and maybe even put it on a discount. This could lead up to the rumored PSVR 2 that improves the experience even more. Get fans to jump on board early with PSVR, then provide a new iteration down the road.
Sony needs to have messaging from the get-go that makes PSVR an essential part of the PS5 experience. Part of this is providing unique software, which one studio is uniquely suited to do. Sony recently acquired Insomniac Games, makers of Ratchet & Clank and Sunset Overdrive. Insomniac also has quite a bit of experience with VR development with Edge of Nowhere and Stormlands. It seems likely that Sony would have at least a team at Insomniac developing a big VR exclusive. Even if it's not ready at launch announced an Insomniac VR game at launch and gives fans a taste of what's coming. Announcements can help sales just as much as available products. Sony has been quiet on the PS5 in general, let alone talking about the future of PSVR. Still, the new system could do incredible things with VR, and it'd be surprising if Sony doesn't have big plans in the works.