Sony’s PlayStation VR will help the format holder ‘dominate’ the remainder of the console cycle, reckons Ben Schachter, an analyst with Macquarie Securities.
“Sony has launched multiple video game consoles over the past 20+ years. It knows how to align retailers, developers, publishers, and others. It also knows how to market to consumers and deliver an experience that consumers love,” he said.
“While HTC and Facebook are focusing on a broad adoption of VR across social, entertainment, and enterprise, Sony’s PlayStation team is laser focused on games and entertainment. Having EA’s Star Wars Battlefront as an exclusive VR title is a positive and highlights Sony’s experience in gaming.”
The analyst went on to say that his firm expects Sony to sell in the region of eight million PS VR units in its first two years on the market, with multiple VR and software options available to consumers by the end of 2016.
In particular, Schachter noted that Microsoft’s lack of response to Sony’s efforts in the VR space will give the PlayStation console maker the edge in the console war.
“A big open question is, what will Microsoft do to respond?” he said. “Without a response, we would expect Sony to utterly dominate the rest of the console cycle.”
PlayStation VR is scheduled to arrive in October 2016 priced at $399/£349, with 50 titles expected to arrive in stores before the end of the year. Futhermore, Sony will be selling the headset at a profit when it arrives this fall, and has confirmed over 200 developers are working on software for the device.
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