A gamer tests the PlayStation VR technology. (Photo : GettyImages/Christian Petersen)
Sony has gained the praises from industry watchers lately due to the low price of its latest gadget to be launched soon, the PlayStation VR headset. Game companies have also praised the company for focusing more on games for this new gadget.
Recently Sony has announced that its PlayStation VR headset has a price of only $399, according to Venture Beat. This announcement made the gadget the cheapest virtual reality headset in the industry today. Industry analysts expect that this move will become a $30 billion market by 2020.
Joost van Dreunen, an analyst from SuperData research, has expressed his liking for the price. He also points out that the gadget will still need other components like the camera and the controller. He expects Sony to be announcing a bundled version of the gadget soon, which will have all components for the gamer.
Dreunen also pointed out that the demos were good but it did not have "the allure of being the critical killer app." He speculated that assistance from big game companies like EA will be a huge help. Sony's support for indie games on its VR system will be an important part of its success, Dreunen added.
Brian Blau, a Gartner analyst, has said how the price makes the PlayStation VR more attractive for all gamers out there. He noted that it is a lot lower than the competitors in the industry right now. With the millions of fans of the PlayStation 4, this gadget will do well, Blau forecasts.
An analyst at Macquarie Research, Ben Schachter, said that the news from Sony is "very positive for the development of more mass-market friendly VR ecosystems." He also noted that bundles might go up to $700 with the contents of the VR headset, camera, PlayStation Move, controller and a PS4.
In other news, the PlayStation VR headset will not be a seated or standing experience because users will need space to move around, according to Polygon. The area is suggested to be roughly 1.9 by 2.4 meters. Chris Norden, senior staff at Sony, wants developers "to have the freedom to do what they want to do."
Check out the PlayStation VR trailer below:
