As was to be expected, we are already seeing dwindling sales in the VR headset department. Any new technology will go through a rough first few years, and VR is no different in this regard. Unfortunately, it seems the lack of interest seems to be a driving factor for disappointing sales. Manufacturers will not be too pleased to hear this by any means.
Disinterest in VR Hardware Is Problematic
SuperData Research revealed some interesting statistics regarding VR hardware sales. According to the company roughly $1.48bn in sales were generated throughout 2016. That is a more than solid number, but it is still a far cry from what the manufacturers would have liked to see. It is evident consumers are not flocking to VR in big numbers right now, which can be partially attributed to the costs involved. A powerful HMD and a proper gaming PC are still required at this stage.
However, it appears there may be a light at the end of this tunnel. The company feels we will see $12.65bn in VR hardware sales by 2020. It is unclear how companies are expected to hit that number though, as the costs of a headset and associated gaming PCs will not go down anytime soon. Even the newly announced Daydream headsets – the standalone models – will cost around 800 Euro. That is not exactly a bargain by any stretch of the imagination.
Moreover, it appears there are bigger problems that need to be addressed first and foremost. A lot of people simply aren’t interested in owning this hardware in its current state. Unless major upgrades are presented, it is doubtful this year’s hardware will change that sentiment. The correlation between the hardware price and the quality of the components leaves something to be desired. Plus, there is a lack of content as well, which makes it hard to justify such a high expense.
The fact that over 50% of all respondents claim they have no real interest in VR is somewhat disturbing, though. It is difficult to get people excited for something they may not need in their daily lives. We are surrounded by so much technology on a daily basis, one would start to wonder if there is room for something new. For now, that does not appear to be the case. High prices, lack of content, and limited appeal are not helping matters by any means.
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