Sony PlayStation VR was a big hit among gaming fans during the recently concluded Electronic Entertainment Expo or E3 2016. Following the media-hyped introduction of its VR units, Sony PlayStation executive is quite unsure if the Japanese tech giant could manufacture enough VR headset to meet a huge consumer demand in October.
After an overwhelming warm reception at E3, Sony announced the roll-out of its much-awaited VR headset on October 13, 2016. The company is anticipating a burgeoning demand leading up to its launch later this year which may cause a shortage of supply.
"We have growing confidence that we'll be supply constrained with this product, but we'll do our very best to meet demand," PlayStation executive Andrew House said in an exclusive conversation with CNBC. "Virtual reality is a medium that's in its infancy. With such a nascent, very new form of storytelling, it's difficult to predict what user uptake is going to be."
In its E3 2016 announcement, House said that the price of PlayStation VR games should fall within the $20-$40 although some games may be priced higher or lower than the predicted cost range. Also in its Monday briefing at the event, PlayStation VR requires PlayStation 4 and a PlayStation Camera. The headset alone would cost $400 (starting price). But a reasonable deal is in store for those who are planning to buy a bundle that includes the VR headset, 2 PlayStation Move controllers, a PlayStation Camera, and the PlayStation Worlds game for all for $500, Game Spot reported.
Meanwhile, the Japanese electronic entertainment giant will reportedly offer VR headset demos at more than 30 Best Buy and GameStop locations across the US, CNET reported. The number is also set to increase to about 300 locations in the US and Canada from June 24.
Before the slated release in October, Sony will have five games for the initial demos and probably more as the countdown to its launching begins. The initial five demo games include PlayStation VR Worlds, EVE: Valkyrie, Headmaster, Battlezone and SuperHyperCube.
