I am of the belief, based on what I have heard on the current crop of VR consoles that the PlayStation VR has the most going for it. The following are why I think the PlayStation VR will become the dominant VR of the initial VR consoles

Price Unlike the oculus rift the PlayStation VR only requires a PS4 to operate where the oculus rife requires a high end PC. While the PS4 currently cost $350, and likely less by the time PlayStation VR comes out, while a high end pc has been estimated by some media outlets as costing upwards of $800. The oculus also cost by itself $600 so if the PS4 comes in at $400 or less it will have a huge advantage. I also expect other VR consoles like the Vive to cost the same if not mote than the oculus given their current specs.

Brand The PlayStation VR has a simple name that packs brand recognition. The morpheus was a horrible name in my opinion and needed changing to something that offers clarity to the consumer. PlayStation VR not only has VR in the title but PlayStation which is a huge boost given how hot the PS4 is currently doing. While google and valve are also big names they are not in the names of their respective VR devices.

First Party Game Support In the beginning when companies are testing the waters to see the potential profits to be made from VR big commitments from first party development are a must. Sony can offer the best support when it comes to developing video games for VR. Before the mainstream is willing to jump on board gamers will likely be the first big investors in VR and games are what will draw them in and make them the evangelist for whatever VR console they chose.

Install Base Sony currently has at least 36.1 million PS4's sold and likely allot more by the time PlayStation VR comes out with bundling the two a likely probability in the futue. While I'm sure there are more high end PC out there we know that all PS4 owners are into gaming and only require the headset to start playing VR games. Even if only 10% of current PS4 owners purchase a PlayStation VR later this year that's still 3.6 million VR sold, enough to get the new medium off to a good start.

Look and Feel While this is last and least among my point in favour of the PlayStation VR it may have a small impact. The PlayStation VR is the sleekest looking among all the VR headsets in my opinion. I have also heard that the weight distribution of the PlayStation VR headset is the most comfortable of the VR headsets.

In short I think the PlayStation VR is in a good place, final price pending, and expect it to sell the fastest out of all the new VR consoles.

What do you think?

I have two issues with PSVR taking off.

First off: cost. How are you going to convince people to lay down another 300+ dollars for a device that has limited use for a system they had to pay 350+ dollars for? That's a hard sell. Sure they can bundle it but would Sony actually make money off of that?

Last: audience. Is your average joe that buys the PS4 going to be interested in VR? If the interest is not there then that already isn't a good start.

If Sony can solve these sorts of hurdles then I feel VR could secure it's own niche (though who knows how big). And for how long Sony will deem it worthwhile to cater too.

I see the merit of your two points are here is my response.

VR is the new frontier of technology and media consumption right now and many people are going to be willing to lay down a few hundered to get in on that even if it's just because they want to be part of the trend. VR has also been getting positive coverage and I believe curiosity and the experience will convince more than a few to put down the money. PSVR is also likely to be the cheapest VR headset out there.

The PS4 is not your average joe, they are for the most part gamers , especially those who invested early on in the gaming generation in getting a new console. And amoung those gamers there are going to be plenty who are into gaming enough to jump on the VR bandwagon. Even if it's only 10% of the current install base that's a few million, which is exactly the kind of numbers their looking for in this new and untested medium.

I do agree that VR will start of niche but if it does go big it will most likely be because of PSVR im my opinion.

It dosnt matter if it has an huge installed base, if the interest isnt simply there.You need to remeber that the PS4 is the popular console of this generation.That means that most gamers there are casuals, and casuals will not be willing to spend around 400 more on a pheriperal that will have little use, and even little number of games that truly use it in a really good way.Plus the PS VR, while cheaper, is limited to the PS4(as far as i know), while the Oculus Rift is more brand in use, even if it way more expensive.
That is my theory, but i believe that Sony knows that VR wont take off now, in which i mean they are expecting 500k to 1 million units sold in a year time frame(around that anyway).I believe this is a long time investment, to get people accustomed to VR and market it for future generations, so that it becomes a easier sell later on.

Edited the title as it was violating forum rules

I think that thread titles in Caps-Lock are annoying and aren't allowed. Please change the title.

Edit: Thanks, StarOcean.

The assumtion that the console with the largest install base is the home of casual gamers does not hold weight.

If we were to judge fanbase of a console and how into games they were we would have to look at the attach rate of games to console.

The PS4 currently has an attach rate of 5.82 per console while the Xbox One is only 0.05 games per console higher at 5.87 despite being 16.6 million consoles behind. The Wii U has a lower attach rate of 5.8 games per console despite selling barely over a third the console the PS4 has sold. From these attach rates you can see that selling more console does not mean that the fanbase becomes diluted as a result.

And while the PSVR is limited to the PS4 it is also gauranteed to work with it. The requirement for a high end gaming pc will take away certainty and increase the cost barrier of the Oculus. 

My apologies for violating the forum rules and wasting your time.

Regards

SlayerRondo

Sorry about that.

I initially posted this topic on another site that for some reason defaulted to all caps for blog titles and I forgot to correct it.

Will not happen again.

Also, what do think of the prospects of the PlayStation VR in relation to other VR headsets?

The requirement of a high end pc will not take away the ceartainty of the Oculus working with it.It just means if you have a powerful pc, as powerful as they instruct you to have, it will work.It is not different as someone who want to game on pc nowadays.You just have to be concient of your pc limitations, as always have been the case, so your argument about that dont hold water.And since Oculus will be more powerful than the PS VR, the enthusiastics will most likely buy the Oculus over the PS VR because they will want a better experience.Having that said, I always saw the PS VR being marketed and targeted at the people who want just looking at a new experience but not willing to spear head it.I just simply dont think there is enough people out there that fits those criteria and are willing to spend an extra 400 dollars on a phjeriperal.