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One Million VR Headsets Ship In A Single Quarter For The First Time
While many in the gaming industry thumb their nose at VR, the hardware is doing better than ever, shipping over one million units in a single quarter for the first time.
The news comes from market research firm Canalys, which also breaks down the market by platform. PlayStation VR shipped the most, with over 490,000 units in the third financial quarter of the year, which includes July, August, and September. Oculus shipped 210,000 units, while the HTC Vive solid 160,000 units.
While the PSVR is still the most popular, Oculus saw a spike in sales, which Canalys attributes to the headset's recent price drop to $400. “VR adoption in the consumer segment is highly dependent on price, and Oculus’ strategy of lowering prices has definitely helped drive adoption,” Canalys Research Analyst Vincent Thielke said in the company's analysis. Japan's "VR experience zones," which let non-owners play with VR headsets, also helped boost sales of the PSVR in the country.
Canalys also expects the market to grow in 2018, thanks to Oculus' release of a $200 standalone headset and Microsoft's entry into the market with its own Mixed Reality products.
[Source: Canalys via VentureBeat]
Our Take
I can't say I'm too enthused about the continued popularity of VR, personally - I enjoy the occasional dive into virtual reality, but I wouldn't say I've had an experience with it that justifies having one in my home quite yet. But, if the platform continues to be popular enough for developers to invest in, maybe they'll make a game that will speak to me at some point.
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