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[Seanspeed]

A DK2 is $350: https://www.oculus.com/order/

The PC you need for it is much more expensive than a PS4 tho...

This seems to be a popular thing to bring up ever since that ridiculous thread, but the reality is that these headsets will be targeted towards *existing* owners of these platforms primarily. At least in the short term. They're the ones who they expect to buy these products in quantities.

Mass market penetration will take time, regardless of price point(which will come down).

 

[coughlanio]

Definitely a placeholder. If they're charging 399, I shudder to think what the HTC Vive is going to cost.

 

[Bgamer90]

Some of the aspirational figures people are banding about.. £150. $200. That isn't happening.

I can't see it being a huge success if it's anything more than $200. It's already facing a pretty hard battle in my opinion because you can't accurately show what the experience of playing a game with the headset on would be like via TV advertisements. Motion control didn't have this problem last gen.

I highly doubt that anyone outside of very hardcore gamers will buy an accessory that's close to the same price of the console that it's for.

 

[Guerrilla]

how anyone can believe sony could sell this anywhere below 299 is beyond me. There will be very little market penetration for morpheus in the beginning either way. It's not like half of the ps4 owners are going to run out and buy it. They won't sell it at a loss and not at cost. They want to make a profit with this, and due to limited mass appeal (for now) the only way to do this, is selling the product with a profit. My guess is 349.- or above.

 

[Kyoufu]

Put me in the "not placeholder" camp.

 

[Seanspeed]

I highly doubt that anyone outside of very hardcore gamers will buy an accessory that's close to the same price of the console that it's for.

This is exactly why I said what I did earlier.

They have to get across this is not just 'an accessory'.

They won't sell it at a loss and not at cost. They want to make a profit with this

Based on what? Why? I don't get it.

 

[Busty]

I honestly wouldn't be surprised if the Morpheus came out at that price. This feels just like the PS3 before the (bonkers) price was announced at E3.

There were threads were people were confidently predicting that the PS3 would cost no more than $250. And then came the gasp inducing announcement at their conference.

I could honestly see the same thing happening here.









..., FULL DISCLOSURE - I have zero interest in VR. At all.

 

[Seanspeed]

..., FULL DISCLOSURE - I have zero interest in VR. At all.

It is any surprise that people who believe the price seem to be in the same camp?

It's almost like people who already weren't interested are just looking for reasons to justify their lack of interest....

 

[Kyoufu]

It is any surprise that people who believe the price seem to be in the same camp?

It's almost like people who already weren't interested are just looking for reasons to justify their lack of interest....

I'm very, very interested in VR (I own a DK2) and I believe the price. These things aren't going to be cheap.

 

[lowrider007]

Seems about right to me, I expected around £329 in the UK, maybe £549 for a Bundle.

 

[Bgamer90]

This is exactly why I said what I did earlier.

They have to get across this is not just 'an accessory'.

True but that's what companies should do for any accessory though. As I said in my previous post, it's going to be hard to show why the experience is amazing and better than a typical accessory when all you can really do is show the headset, a person wearing the headset, and (random) clips of video games in TV ads for this device.

 

[Jigorath]

Why would a retailer know the final price a year before it's supposed to come out? I wonder if Sony has even decided on a price yet. Probably just a placeholder.

 

[Busty]

It is any surprise that people who believe the price seem to be in the same camp?

It's almost like people who already weren't interested are just looking for reasons to justify their lack of interest....

Given the technology that is being utilised (and the fact it's the first iteration of such tech for consoles) is already expensive how can you seriously expect Sony to bring out a VR head set for something like $199?!

I'm sorry but that just doesn't feel realistic to me.

 

[thewhitehawk]

Well I guess that's the first nail in the coffin for VR, so much for high hopes unfortunately.

 

[Guerrilla]

Based on what? Why? I don't get it.

The xbox 360 and ps3 were sold at a loss due to being able to get their money back on royalites. However, neither MS nor Sony were willing to do the same this gen. They wanted to make a profit on their hardware. While of course not 100% comparable, with past peripherals, both always sold with a profit afaik.

Why should they change all that with morpheus? They won't be able to collect as many royalties as they do by getting a console into someones home. I can't see them making their money back purely by royalties by having 10% of their userbase buying morpheus (and I think this is generous in the long run).

Bottom line: This is a company that wants to make money. I don't see any other way for them to make money with this other than to profit from the hardware itself. That's why

I still think this is kind of like a kinect approach. Let's test the waters with this thing this gen and have an improved successor ready for launch next cycle and go big with it then. Contrary to Kinect, I do believe though that morpheus will be awesome and will probably still be there day one, even for 349.

 

[Boomstompfloppy]

I think that's going to be the ballpark price, 150 and 200 just dosnt seem like it would make money with a low install.

I'd pay 400 for it, Id like it to be less but that's still not ridiculous.

 

[thomasmahler]

I'm pretty sure Sony is gonna sell it at 350-400.

 

[panda-zebra]

This would be a major flop if true. I'm expecting it to be $200. Anything more would be bad.

Why are you expecting $200? Not many have offered that in anything other than hope, $250-$300 seems to be the kind of level more commonly offered as the reasonable/expected launch RRP/MSRP.

 

[DOWN]

I think even $250 is high. I'd be pleased with $179-200.

 

[silvermember]

Given the technology that is being utilised (and the fact it's the first iteration of such tech for consoles) is already expensive how can you seriously expect Sony to bring out a VR head set for something like $199?!

I'm sorry but that just doesn't feel realistic to me.

I think even $250 is high. I'd be pleased with $179-200.

I would be pleased If it were free, but we both know that ain't gonna happen. Especially yours.

 

[Atomski]

Honestly is it that hard to believe with how much their HMD costs?

http://store.sony.com/wearable-hdtv...-zid27-HMZT3W/cat-27-catid-3D-Personal-Viewer

 

[panda-zebra]

Honestly is it that hard to believe with how much their HMD costs?

http://store.sony.com/wearable-hdtv...-zid27-HMZT3W/cat-27-catid-3D-Personal-Viewer

That has such little in common with the pricing of a closed ecosystem console peripheral other than it being something that you sit on your head.

 

[Dirtyshubb]

Given the technology that is being utilised (and the fact it's the first iteration of such tech for consoles) is already expensive how can you seriously expect Sony to bring out a VR head set for something like $199?!

I'm sorry but that just doesn't feel realistic to me.

Sony have said themselves that they see Morpheus as its own platform, and they know that price is going to either help or kill any chances of it taking off (As well as people having to try VR to truly know what its like).

What i think that means is that they will be willing to lose some money on the actual hardware and make up the money from actual game sales, just like they did with the PS4 when it released (And any other console not named Nintendo). If they can not worry about making a profit and selling it for a slight loss than i cant see why they wouldnt be able to sell it for less than some here seem to think.

Remember what some people were like with regards to the PS4 before it launched, saying that there was no way PS4 would be cheaper than XBO and no way it could have 8GB ram since it would make the console too expensive and SOny are poor? Basically most people have no idea what they are talking about when it comes to productions costs and the companies willingness to see the bigger picture instead of focusing on profit on everything they sell.

 

[Business]

There's no reason it should.

$200 for headset.

$250 for headset+camera+two Move controllers

That is what Sony should be aiming for if they want to see good adoption rates.


Developers are actually excited about VR, unlike those technologies. Many devs are announcing VR support for their games without any manufacturer pressure at all. That should tell you all you need to know about the difference here.

I think thats way too optimistic. 299 for the headset+camera sounds about right.

 

[Bgamer90]

Why are you expecting $200? Not many have offered that in anything other than hope, $250-$300 seems to be the kind of level more commonly offered as the reasonable/expected launch RRP/MSRP.

Console market/console accessory. I don't see it being attractive to anyone except for the type of people who would post on a forum like NeoGAF (haha) if it's close to $300 (or more than that).

I guess I just don't see the point in creating a first party console accessory that's going to cost far too much for people who would actually have the ability to use it (people who own the console).

Edit: If it's really going to be $300+ at launch then Sony should have just waited until the next generation to push VR in my opinion.

 

[BadWolf]

It will be doa at that price.

 

[valkillmore]

I will say my upper limit is $350 Canadian. I'm not paying the same price I paid for my PS4 for Morpheus unless the software at launch is incredibly compelling.

 

[Atomski]

That has such little in common with the pricing of a closed ecosystem console peripheral other than it being something that you sit on your head.

Yet VR has more expensive tech and parts involved than a simple HMD.

I think its obvious right now VR is gona be expensive. Ive always expected it to be 300 and up and laughed when people thought it would be 200 or even below. This is expensive shit.

Which is why I dont think its ready for consoles yet. I think Sony is jumping the gun. They should have just waited till Oculus and Valve work out the kinks and wait for price drops on the tech before pushing it out on their system.

 

[Seanspeed]

Given the technology that is being utilised (and the fact it's the first iteration of such tech for consoles) is already expensive how can you seriously expect Sony to bring out a VR head set for something like $199?!

I'm sorry but that just doesn't feel realistic to me.

Cuz like I said, the technology being used isn't actually super advanced stuff. It's clever, but not necessarily that expensive.

The xbox 360 and ps3 were sold at a loss due to being able to get their money back on royalites. However, neither MS nor Sony were willing to do the same this gen. They wanted to make a profit on their hardware. While of course not 100% comparable, with past peripherals, both always sold with a profit afaik.

Why should they change all that with morpheus? They won't be able to collect as many royalties as they do by getting a console into someones home. I can't see them making their money back purely by royalties by having 10% of their userbase buying morpheus (and I think this is generous in the long run).

Bottom line: This is a company that wants to make money. I don't see any other way for them to make money with this other than to profit from the hardware itself. That's why

I still think this is kind of like a kinect approach. Let's test the waters with this thing this gen and have an improved successor ready for launch next cycle and go big with it then. Contrary to Kinect, I do believe though that morpheus will be awesome and will probably still be there day one, even for 349.

PS4 and XB1 were still more than likely being sold very near cost. It's one thing to not want to lose money on it, but another thing to hold a profit as an important target.

And like any console, the main source of profit will software and ecosystem, not hardware. That doesn't have to be any different with Morpheus. Grow the install base and you've got more money-making potential.

 

[Crono27]

Not gonna be less than 300 thats for sure.

 

[kyser73]

Given the technology that is being utilised (and the fact it's the first iteration of such tech for consoles) is already expensive how can you seriously expect Sony to bring out a VR head set for something like $199?!

I'm sorry but that just doesn't feel realistic to me.

Why does everyone insist on the hardware components being expensive? UnlikeVive & OR, Sony are using single screen which they build themselves. None of the other components are earth-shatteringly expensive either.

Given that Morpheus is actually lower specced than the Rift CV1 model, which we could fairly estimate at $300 based on the '$1500 all in' cost for a from-scratch PC build + headset.

I wouldn't expect US$199 - but I wouldn't expect €400 either for just the headset.

I'm betting $249-299 for a headset+camera package with a headset/cam/move at $350-400.

 

[Chobel]

I'm pretty sure Sony is gonna sell it at 350-400.

DOA then.

 

[dose]

And some random Austrian site would know the price because......?

 

[Omnii-chan]

I don't know how much Australian money is worth but that seems high.[/QUOTE

About $583AU calculated. I'd say at least $600AU on the shelf, probably more.

That is more than the PS4 itself.

 

[Seanspeed]

Yet VR has more expensive tech and parts involved than a simple HMD.

I think its obvious right now VR is gona be expensive. Ive always expected it to be 300 and up and laughed when people thought it would be 200 or even below. This is expensive shit.

You can get expensive with VR. Very expensive. But you don't need to. That was pretty much the entire line of reasoning for Palmer Luckey turning his DIY Rift into something to share with people and then to make a business out of. The fact that consumer VR could be affordable and not require state-of-the-art technology that made costs impractical for widespread adoption is the entire reason this new wave of VR has taken off. The technology was basically there already, just waiting...

If you look at other HMD's, they actually have not been simple at all, and have used expensive microdisplays and everything that drove costs up considerably. Sony's HMZ line, which was one of the best and most affordable HMD's around, cost like $800.

 

[Alx]

I wouldn't expect anything under 300€. 400€ is high, but not inconceivable. Especially if it includes the camera (which is already sold separately for 60€ IIRC)

 

[Pop]

It's got to release at $300 or lower at launch.

 

[Steiner84]

And 399 most definitely isn't affordable - even for enthusiasts.

?
for enthusiasts its cheap.
look at what audio enthusiasts pay for their equipment.
Look at what home cinema enthusiats pays
look at simulation enthusiats (racing, flying)
even for gaming enthuisiasts this is cheap considering high end range gpus easily cost more than that, enthusiast range even more.

 

[Thornton Reed]

I can believe this.

forgive me if i'm wrong, but aren't all reports suggesting that there is another piece of hardware (probably to help with the rendering) which the headset plugs into before it goes through the PS4??

if that is still the case then yes 400 euro's seems about right

 

[Fliesen]

it's curious that people think that a small Austrian retailer knows the price.

To me this screams:

* Loyal gameware customers demanding for a way to pre-order the device so they know they'd be receiving one of the first shipments.

* gameware offering said way, naming some placeholder price that is likely higher than the actual retail price. But they'll just lower the price when it's announced.
Otherwise they'd have people asking them to honor the lower price they posted.

 

[Bollocks]

would buy it for 399€, you cheap bastards its the future of gaming

 

[Dabanton]

That's the sort of price I would expect for an early tech adopter.

Although If this price is out of your range you're in the wrong hobby tbh.

 

[kyser73]

I can believe this.

forgive me if i'm wrong, but aren't all reports suggesting that there is another piece of hardware (probably to help with the rendering) which the headset plugs into before it goes through the PS4??

if that is still the case then yes 400 euro's seems about right

The extra box is solely for reprocessing the image to display a single image on the TV the PS4 is connected to, instead of the now-familiar two-eyed view from OR.

All the rendering is done on the console.

 

[Bradach]

I will be getting some sort of VR when they're all out. I have yet to decide if it's on PC or PS4.

i'd happily pay €400 if I was convinced that the PS4 can run VR games well enough and that there will be good long term support. but I'm not there yet.

I'm hoping that E3 will convince me!

 

[Seanspeed]

I can believe this.

forgive me if i'm wrong, but aren't all reports suggesting that there is another piece of hardware (probably to help with the rendering) which the headset plugs into before it goes through the PS4??

if that is still the case then yes 400 euro's seems about right

The breakout box is simply to provide mirroring, so that people can see on the TV what the headset wearer is seeing in an undistorted view. This is important for social use(cuz people will want to know what you're doing in there!) and also has implications for asynchronous gameplay.

It shouldn't be some costly extra piece of hardware.

EDIT: Beaten.

 

[luffeN]

Seems like a very safe placeholder. It will probably be cheaper and launch in Q1. Now just wait for next week I guess.

 

[Guerrilla]

PS4 and XB1 were still more than likely being sold very near cost. It's one thing to not want to lose money on it, but another thing to hold a profit as an important target.

And like any console, the main source of profit will software and ecosystem, not hardware. That doesn't have to be any different with Morpheus. Grow the install base and you've got more money-making potential.

Yes, true, just as I have said in my post, but still I don't see morpheus install base and software lineup anywhere close to where it could be enough. With the console you got a huge amount of games and services all raking in money. If there are 5 retail morpheus titles within the first year I'll be highly impressed.

 

[Theonik]

Basically this. I don't get why they can't just say Price: TBA and be done with it until the reveal.

Because they want to take pre-orders for it before the price is officially confirmed and if they under-price them, they have to take the loss, or cancel the orders which loses them customers..

 

[Tempy]

Can a VR device actually be sold below the ~$400 range without taking a loss?

 

[Theonik]

Can a VR device actually be sold below the ~$400 range without taking a loss?

Yes.

I wouldn't expect anything under 300€. 400€ is high, but not inconceivable. Especially if it includes the camera (which is already sold separately for 60€ IIRC)

There will be a bundle without the camera probably since they have already sold a ton of PS Cameras already.