This year virtual reality will have its long-awaited commercial release with three new products becoming available. While right now a lot of the spotlight is on Oculus Rift, Sony's PlayStation VR holds an important place for its lower cost of entry when compared with the high-end PC powered competition.
During an interview with International Business Times, Oculus VR's Palmer Luckey was asked what he thought of PlayStation VR. He had a lot to say, including the fact that he was aware of Sony's involvement in virtual reality before his famous Kickstarter campaign hit the internet.
He then commented on the PlayStation VR's competitive position:
Both parties want the same thing, and that's for virtual reality to be successful. It has a tough road ahead, though. Creating a headset that provides natural and fluid experiences requires no compromises when it comes to lenses and image production, and that means these headsets are doomed to high prices upon arrival, which was showcased front and center stage with Oculus Rift's $599 MSRP announcement earlier this week.
Many are now speculating that the PlayStation VR will debut at $499, making buy-in much more costly than originally anticipated. It's a tough sell for something that isolates gamers and most likely won't be enjoyable for long gaming sessions, but it does provide an experience that many gaming enthusiasts have desired for decades. It'll be up to strong word of mouth and marketing to encourage enough sales for virtual reality to not only build a profitable segment in the market, but entice developers to support the technology.
