Could Casual Gaming Save PSVR?
Sony has been in the virtual reality game for almost a decade, first with PSVR on the PlayStation 4 and now with PSVR2 on the PlayStation 5. Despite the latest hardware offering technical prowess, it hasn’t yet captured mainstream attention. PlayStation users still prefer to play in the traditional way – with their control pad while looking at a game on a screen.
The question now is whether PSVR can be saved, or whether it will fade into obscurity as a failed attempt at disrupting the sector. Sony could consider different strategies to boost PSVR’s chances, such as a greater focus on casual gaming.
PSVR Still Failing to Take Off
According to recent figures, Sony has only shipped under two million PSVR2 units so far, and it’s way behind other leading VR headsets such as the Meta Quest. On top of that, it’s lagging behind PlayStation 5 sales massively. Sony has shipped more than 75 million units of the console itself, highlighting how there’s a much greater interest in the standard form of PlayStation gaming.
There are various reasons why PSVR2 isn’t attracting mass audiences, but one factor could be to do with the lack of game diversity for the headgear. Sony has focused on high intensity genres such as horror and action, and these don’t appeal to everyone. There’s an argument that Sony should seek to expand its VR offerings into more casual experiences that can reach a broader audience.
Real World Experiences Likely to Be Popular for VR Users
One of the most notable things about the rise of VR in recent years is that it isn’t going to be solely for fictional experiences. Indeed, there’s a huge portion of the market that want content grounded in the real world, so that they have a new and different way to experience it. Fishing is a prime example, with myriad games and VR offerings based on the pastime.
This is something that has been seen time and time again in the online casino market. Big Bass Splash, for instance, gives players a relaxing way to enjoy fishing themes from home, and has proven popular enough that it’s been used in conjunction with free spins no deposit bonuses for players joining a site for the first time. Of course, which casinos have welcome bonuses is an important consideration for sign-ups, but the selection of games is often just as important, and these more casual themes being catered for has become a crucial part of many sites’ success.
Fishing themes have proven to be popular in the VR market as well, despite there being relatively minimal options for PSVR players. Real VR Fishing is one of the best examples of this, and its relaxing gameplay has made it a hit for the Meta Quest.
Sony should look to follow in the footsteps of Meta with its PSVR2 catalogue and include more real world experiences such as fishing. There are plenty of other options that would likely be popular in VR as well, including farming and cooking.
Sony needs to do something to save the struggling PSVR, and breaking into casual gaming could be the answer. By offering pastimes like fishing for the hardware, Sony could reach a much larger audience.
