25 Developers Reveal their Hopes on PlayStation VR’s Price; 66% Think VR Won’t Become Mainstream

25 Developers Reveal their Hopes on PlayStation VR’s Price; 66% Think VR Won’t Become Mainstream

Giuseppe Nelva February 14, 2016 1:37 PM EST

The latest issue of Weekly Famitsu had two interesting surveys on VR, one among readers and the second among 25 game developers, including the likes of Tekken’s Katsuhiro Harada, Senran Kagura’s Kenichiro Takagi and Resident Evil: Revelations‘ Masachika Kawada.

Developers were asked seven questions, that you can check out below

Are you interested in VR?

Yes – 94%

No – 6%

Are you developing or researching on VR?

I am – 67%

I am not – 22%

No comment – 6%

Will you release VR software in the future?

I’m considering it – 61%

No – 22%

Yes – 11%

No comment – 6%

What do you think of the price of Oculus Rift?

It’s High – 88%

No Comment – 12%

What are your hopes for the price of PlayStation VR?

50,000 – 59,999 yen ($441 – $529) – 11%

40,000 – 49,999 yen ($353 – $441) – 6%

30,000 – 39,999 yen ( $264- $353) – 27%

20,000 – 29,999 yen ($176 – $264) – 22%

10,000 – 19,999 yen ($88 – $176)- 17%

No comment – 17%

Incidentally, Katsuhiro Harada was among those who responded “no comment” to this question. This is just my personal speculation, but with Summer Lessons in the works and Tekken 7 that will support the headset, it’s quite possible that he knows more than the average developer about Sony’s plans, which would also mean that he’s under strict NDA.

Kenichiro Takagi hopes that the headset will retail at a price between $264 and $353.

Do you think VR will become mainstream in the gaming industry?

Yes – 33%

No – 66%

What do you think will be most important in the popularization of VR?

Compatible content – 37% Price – 26% Marketing – 7% Gameplay environment – 19% Form factor – 4% Other – 7%

The survey for readers had slightly different questions, and you can read them below:

Have you experience VR?

Yes – 20%

No – 80%

Do you plan to buy Oculus Rift?

Yes – 8%

No – 65%

I’m considering it – 27%

What’s your impression of the 83,800 yen ($736) price of Osulus Rift?

It’s high – 86%

It’s good value for the money – 13%

It’s cheap – 1%

What kind of game do you want to play in VR?

Adventure FPS/TPS RPG Action Racing Simulation Shooting Sports Other Fighting

What are your hopes for the price of PlayStation VR?

10,000 – 19,999 yen ($88 – $176) – 13%

20,000 – 29,999 yen ($176 – $264) – 24%

30,000 – 39,999 yen ( $264- $353) – 25%

40,000 – 49,999 yen ($353 – $441) – 23%

50,000 – 59,999 yen ($441 – $529) – 10%

60,000 – 69,999 yen ($529 – $618) – 3%

70,000 – 79,999 yen ($618 – $706) – 1%

More than 100,000 yen ($883) – 1%

Do you think VR will become mainstream in the gaming industry?

Yes – 33%

No – 67%

What do you think will be most important in the popularization of VR?

Compatible content – 33% Price – 29% Marketing – 14% Gameplay environment – 11% Form factor – 7% Other – 6%

It’s interesting to compare the hopes for the price of PlayStation VR between developers and readers. Most developers hope for a quite cheap price under $353, which is quite understandable, since the more the technology will spread, the better their possible future games will sell. Readers (which in this case are mostly hardcore console gamers, which is the main target of Famitsu), are willing to go a bit higher, with most respondent focused under $441.

On the other hand, an overwhelming percentage both between developers and readers think that Oculus Rift’s price is high. Can’t blame them there.