Sony looks to commercial markets after ‘slower than expected’ PSVR sales

PlayStation platform holder Sony is investigating ways to take its PlayStation VR headset to new commercial sectors, a report has claimed.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Sony has established a new ‘location-based entertainment’ unit to head up a commercial VR charge after what it describes as slower than expected” sales of the device since its launch last year.

Sony added that it doesn’t currently have plans to run its own VR facilities, though would like to install PSVR at places such as theme parks and arcades, with Japan being the initial focus.

Ultimately, the aim is to spread awareness of VR as much as possible, and get as many people as it can to try the tech for themselves.

The WSJ report seems at odds with an interview given by SIE boss Andrew House in February where it was claimed that PSVR sales had passed 900k and that the headset was on track to hit its 1m sales target by this month.

You literally have people lining up outside stores when they know stock is being replenished,” House said of demand. Certainly PSVR went through long periods of limited availability in the UK. Even now, while it’s possible to find the device on the High Street it still seems to be in short supply.

Of Sony’s internal estimates, House added: It’s the classic case in any organization — the guys who are on the front end in sales are getting very excited, very hyped up,” House said. You have to temper that with other voices inside the company, myself among them, saying let’s just be a little bit careful.”

Sony announced a new slate of VR titles from Chinese developers last month as it looks to stem the criticism of limited software availability for its device.