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[Victor Omega]

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@33:04 - The thing about VR right now it's kind of a shame - since half-life alux, ... it's tough to make money in large budget VR games. This is the platform that's been flooded with basically VR shovelware .... it's just not being taken seriously anymore...

Are we expecting VR gaming to be any more than just "experiences"?
Do you think VR gaming is still in its infancy? Will it ever mature?
Do you think Sony can produce several "Half-Life Alux" ala AAA VR games with its IPs in the long run?

 

[ManaByte]

Are we expecting VR gaming to be any more than just "experiences"?

"experiences" like NBA League Pass/NextVR/Oculus Venues is what is pushing VR to mainstream acceptance. You tell a NBA fan they can have a courtside seat to the Lakers with a $300 headset and they're sold. I have a friend who was hospitalized with COVID and he passed the time watching Lakers games on his Quest 2.

 

[DeepEnigma]

"experiences" like NBA League Pass/NextVR/Oculus Venues is what is pushing VR to mainstream acceptance. You tell a NBA fan they can have a courtside seat to the Lakers with a $300 headset and they're sold. I have a friend who was hospitalized with COVID and he passed the time watching Lakers games on his Quest 2.

Agreed. More virtual experiences like that, travel destinations, museums, etc..

 

[SteelCurtain 59]

"experiences" like NBA League Pass/NextVR/Oculus Venues is what is pushing VR to mainstream acceptance. You tell a NBA fan they can have a courtside seat to the Lakers with a $300 headset and they're sold. I have a friend who was hospitalized with COVID and he passed the time watching Lakers games on his Quest 2.

Yeah but at the end of the day VR's going to need big mainstream games to gain any real traction. Sure these "experiences" are helpful for getting users, but that's about it. If they're just trying out those experiences it's not really contributing to VR gaming, rather just non-gaming uses for VR

 

[R6Rider]

WTF is this thread title.

Anyway, the biggest push for VR in the gaming section will be through PSVR2.

 

[ManaByte]

Anyway, the biggest push for VR in the gaming section will be through PSVR2.

People are seriously overhyping themselves for PSVR2. PSVR only sold ~5M on a console with more than 100M units sold. VR, especially console VR, is going to remain pretty niche.

 

[reksveks]

I think it's hard for third-party devs to justify the cost unless platform holders are paying for it

 

[R6Rider]

People are seriously overhyping themselves for PSVR2. PSVR only sold ~5M on a console with more than 100M units sold. VR, especially console VR, is going to remain pretty niche.

Nope. PSVR2 is going to be fantastic.

More like people are trying to downplay it.

 

[BennyBlanco]

People are seriously overhyping themselves for PSVR2. PSVR only sold ~5M on a console with more than 100M units sold. VR, especially console VR, is going to remain pretty niche.

I doubt PSVR2 does Quest 2 numbers.

 

[ManaByte]

Nope. PSVR2 is going to be fantastic.

More like people are trying to downplay it.

No one was saying it wasn't going to be impressive, but it's an expensive headset that requires an expensive console that's impossible to buy. People expecting it to be this huge seller that changes the world are going to have a real reality check.

 

[R6Rider]

No one was saying it wasn't going to be impressive, but it's an expensive headset that requires an expensive console that's impossible to buy. People expecting it to be this huge seller that changes the world are going to have a real reality check.

Yeah, I'm not saying it'll change the world or sell a shocking amount.

 

[BackBackPunch]

This is the platform that's been flooded with basically VR shovelware

Truth. I don't see this changing anytime soon, either

 

[John117]

Why Digital Foundry doesn't speak about Lone Echo 2?!

 

[Markio128]

As long as a good collection of must have games are released for PSVR 2, then the gamers will naturally come. Quest 2 helped build a VR audience, and I imagine PSVR 2 will push things even further. I just think it will need more AAA games than were released for the original PSVR.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

only Sony can save VR (for AAA games).
PCVR is for VRChat.
and Meta is whatever.

 

[K2D]

People are seriously overhyping themselves for PSVR2. PSVR only sold ~5M on a console with more than 100M units sold. VR, especially console VR, is going to remain pretty niche.

5 million on practically a piece of beta hardware..

Reperpoused Eye toy controller, camera, break out box.. I love demoing PSVR to people, but I caution them to not buy it for themselves until the new iteration comes around.

 

[R6Rider]

5 million on practically a piece of beta hardware..

Reperpoused Eye toy controller, camera, break out box.. I love demoing PSVR to people, but I caution them to not buy it for themselves until the new iteration comes around.

Don't forget that it didn't come bundled with the controllers at first. Leading to a mess of games that supported either the Moves or DS4 and limited the potential customers in that regard. PSVR2 will have (proper VR and with DualSense features) controllers that come with every headset.

 

[DZ_b_EZ]

What a thread title...

I've been pretty against the VR "demos" that the entire market is constantly pushing out. I'm tired of these short "experiences". If not even Sony Studios can deliver more Half: Alyux games for their own hardware, than VR as a viable gaming platform will be dead eventually.

 

[Little Chicken]

Devs can't even get games out in a timely manner right now let alone catering for the niche VR market. The price of PSVR2 outside of the US will be abhorrent.

 

[Skyfox]

The best thing about vr is vr porn and psvr made that borderline impossible.

Imagine the ps2 came out and 18s movies didn't work.

Soooooooooo dumb how many vr users have missed the killer app. It was a game changer.

 

[Crayon]

It's pretty much up to sony at this point. Hopefully they come through. And even if they do that, a semi-steady stream of higher budget games will only be on that one system and tied to how much it sells. idk. I'm there for it, though. psvr1 has a good library.

Some people consider anything under alyx to be an "experieince" tho. So there's always going to be that complaint.

 

[jaysius]

DF finally asking a real question. Nobody is going to invest big money into VR games because it's not something that's going to garner a ton of sales, not what the industry "needs" in 2023 at least.

 

[reksveks]

The price of PSVR2 outside of the US will be abhorrent.

Yeah, there is no chance Sony isn't going to use the new conversion rates.

 

[ResurrectedContrarian]

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

DF finally asking a real question. Nobody is going to invest big money into VR games because it's not something that's going to garner a ton of sales, not what the industry "needs" in 2023 at least.

Is that a question?

 

[Salty Popsicle]

"experiences" like NBA League Pass/NextVR/Oculus Venues is what is pushing VR to mainstream acceptance. You tell a NBA fan they can have a courtside seat to the Lakers with a $300 headset and they're sold. I have a friend who was hospitalized with COVID and he passed the time watching Lakers games on his Quest 2.

Those types of VR experiences can be done with a smartphone and sub-$200 VR hardware. I think the people who own a PS5 and are being asked to splurge another $500 on PSVR2 are looking for more software based (AKA video game) experiences to justify the money they are spending here.

 

[Thief1987]

If there won't be Sony's take on a Beat Saber with an enormous music library in their possession, then i don't understand anymore how this industry working

 

[IntentionalPun]

Depends on how many people buy the device.

It's gonna have plenty of shovelware either way, but if it's a big enough market, then bigger budget games will come.

Particularly "VR Versions" of existing games.. full on VR games where nothing you are doing is using assets from a regular non-VR game? Yeah those aren't going to be AAA blockbusters.

But if companies get better at translating games from non-VR to VR, that would be great.

 

[CS Lurker]

"The VR generation doesn't start until we say it does," says Shuntaro Furukawa

 

[ManaByte]

Those types of VR experiences can be done with a smartphone and sub-$200 VR hardware. I think the people who own a PS5 and are being asked to splurge another $500 on PSVR2 are looking for more software based (AKA video game) experiences to justify the money they are spending here.

But then you're limited by the hardware. You'll have plenty of sitting games, standing stuff like beat saber and maybe Crytek's The Climb, but more room scale stuff is going to be difficult to do with that cable.

 

[The Stig]

hey guys the quest 2 got me into VR.

The fact that I use it entirely for steamVR (except supernatural) is another thing entirely

 

[Putonahappyface]

Devs can't even get games out in a timely manner right now let alone catering for the niche VR market. The price of PSVR2 outside of the US will be abhorrent.

This is my concern.

 

[Impotaku]

The irony of bringing shovelware up i don't ever remember PSVR having shitty jumping burrito & burger "games" there were plenty of quirky fun games in vr not everything has to be some AAA cinematic bloatfest.

 

[R6Rider]

But then you're limited by the hardware. You'll have plenty of sitting games, standing stuff like beat saber and maybe Crytek's The Climb, but more room scale stuff is going to be difficult to do with that cable.

I'd say for the vast majority of players, walking around their room wouldn't be an option even if they had a wireless headset.

Most games have the bulk of movement done with the controller with closer/immediate movement done for some actions.

 

[poppabk]

They don't even need to make new stuff, playing RE2 remake with a fan made VR patch is pretty awesome in of itself. The problem is that companies want to make a premium on the VR version of games so they won't give free upgrades, they'll want to upcharge for a VR version.

 

[ManaByte]

I'd say for the vast majority of players, walking around their room wouldn't be an option even if they had a wireless headset.

Most games have the bulk of movement done with the controller with closer/immediate movement done for some actions.

Ok then you're just playing a game on a big screen in front of your eyes.

Room scale VR is the closest you can get to a holodeck, and if you can't do that with PSVR2 then it's still limited VR. Again, it's going to probably remain pretty niche.

 

[ManaByte]

They don't even need to make new stuff, playing RE2 remake with a fan made VR patch is pretty awesome in of itself. The problem is that companies want to make a premium on the VR version of games so they won't give free upgrades, they'll want to upcharge for a VR version.

Capcom actually made a full Resident Evil 4 VR just last year:

 

[R6Rider]

Ok then you're just playing a game on a big screen in front of your eyes.

This is completely wrong. What is your VR experience with PSVR? Or VR in general.

Even in sitting games, VR is NOT simply playing with a big screen in front of your eyes.

 

[ManaByte]

This is completely wrong. What is your VR experience with PSVR? Or VR in general.

Even in sitting games, VR is NOT simply playing with a big screen in front of your eyes.

I have a PSVR and I have a Quest 2 that I use both room scale and wirelessly with Steam VR. I use it almost weekly.

 

[R6Rider]

I have a PSVR and I have a Quest 2 that I use both room scale and wirelessly with Steam VR. I use it almost weekly.

Then I don't know why you made that statement above. Unless you worded it incorrectly or misread what I was saying.

 

[ShaquilleOatmeal]

PlayStation would be mad to not be in talks with Valve to get Alyx on PSVR2.

To be honest, I'm shocked they haven't said it's happening yet - which gives me major concern.

I don't trust that the PSVR2 titles we've seen thus far will come close to Alyx levels.

 

[poppabk]

Capcom actually made a full Resident Evil 4 VR just last year:

Yeah and it's still $30 at least on the oculus store - when I just picked up RE0,1,2,3,4,5,6 and 7 for the same amount.

 

[R6Rider]

PlayStation would be mad to not be in talks with Valve to get Alyx on PSVR2.

To be honest, I'm shocked they haven't said it's happening yet - which gives me major concern.

I don't trust that the PSVR2 titles we've seen thus far will come close to Alyx levels.

They've stated they will have 20+ launch titles and have only officially announced a few so far. The rest have been developer or publisher announcements or reveals.

But they haven't had their main PSVR2 showcase yet, so no need to worry. Hopefully it will be next month.

 

[ResurrectedContrarian]

Room-scale is everything for VR. I've enjoyed some sitting titles too, but it barely even qualifies as VR, that's just a 3D game amplified a bit further. VR requires the full feeling of being inside that world, which means not using gamepad-type controls and instead using your grip and arms / hands, plus moving around in that space freely.

 

[yurinka]

Are we expecting VR gaming to be any more than just "experiences"?

There already are good VR games in existing devices, and they already announced several exciting games for PSVR2.

Do you think VR gaming is still in its infancy? Will it ever mature?

Yes. Yes.

Do you think Sony can produce several "Half-Life Alux" ala AAA VR games with its IPs in the long run?

They already shown multiple 1s and 3rd party AAA games for PSVR2 like Horizon CoM, RE Village, RE4 Remake, Call of Duty MWII or No Man's Sky. No shovelware or 'experiences' have been announced for PSVR2 (but I assume it will end getting both).

The leak that included basically all the PSVR2 specs mentioned that Sony's goal was to include in PSVR2 more normal/flat tv AAA games with full VR support or something like that.

 

[I Love Rock 'n' Roll]

People really care about those guys opinion? They need them to get an opinion? Really? For real?

 

[Impotaku]

Room-scale is everything for VR. I've enjoyed some sitting titles too, but it barely even qualifies as VR, that's just a 3D game amplified a bit further. VR requires the full feeling of being inside that world, which means not using gamepad-type controls and instead using your grip and arms / hands, plus moving around in that space freely.

Unfortunately most peoples homes are not designed for room scale, i doubt many can make a dedicated room to do it properly so you are going to be moving furniture and the rest to make it work. Hell i could barely get enough room to even use my PSVR i had to be very creative in how i set up the camera to get it to give me enough space to play.

 

[ZehDon]

Nope. PSVR2 is going to be fantastic.

More like people are trying to downplay it.

I loved PSVR1. It was a great piece of kit, and proved VR was viable for the mainstream. However, in this economy, with current Sony's monetisation strategies, I seriously doubt PSVR2 is going to do Quest 2 numbers.

 

[poppabk]

Honestly even stuff like Pavlov Shack, which is running on the Oculus alone looks kinda amazing even though it also looks crap. Being in VR pretty much ramps up the visuals by itself. What you really need is episodic content, either literal episodes or a game structured around short sections.

 

[RoadHazard]

Alyux? No.

Alux? Doubt it.

Alyx? Maybe.