As a dedicated fan, I’m disheartened to share that this week, Beat Games, the mastermind behind the beloved rhythm action game, Beat Saber, has decided to discontinue support for both the PSVR2 and PSVR versions.
The news is grim for Sony’s headset: although the PS4 version of the game has become somewhat outdated, the PS5 edition remains a fantastic means to experience one of the top-tier virtual reality games on the market today.
According to the monthly sales rankings on the official PlayStation Store for May 2025, this specific title placed third in the U.S. and sixth in Europe within the PSVR2 category. Remarkably, even though it is one of the top-selling titles for the PSVR2 peripheral since its launch, it still managed to secure these positions.
To clarify, Beat Saber isn’t disappearing completely: multiplayer mode will be terminated in January 2026, but you can still buy and play the game, along with its various content packs, for as long as they are available. However, it won’t receive any new DLC or updates from now on.
It’s important to note that Beat Games, which we were previously unaware was owned by Oculus Studios, is now part of Meta. Given this new relationship, some might argue that the company has less motivation to continue supporting a product that could potentially compete with their line of Meta Quest virtual reality headsets.
On the contrary, if Beat Saber is experiencing substantial playtime on PSVR2, it might not be necessary for the developers to halt their support. The number of players buying and regularly playing the game each month would likely be evident to them, and we suspect that the total number could still be quite small.
It seems this situation might signal the end for PSVR2, an excellent device that never quite managed to find its niche.
Initially, the original PlayStation VR wasn’t just an inexpensive novelty; it was also backed robustly by Sony, boasting crucial first-party games such as Astro Bot Rescue Mission, Blood & Truth, WipEout Omega Collection, among others.
Sony has not given the same level of backing to PSVR2 as they did to its predecessor. Although Horizon Call of the Mountain was an impressive debut for the hardware, it didn’t deliver any significant follow-ups. Gran Turismo 7 is astonishing in the headset, but it’s one of the few instances where a first-party studio has effectively utilized the hardware’s capabilities.
The firm has commendably encouraged third-party developers to back the peripheral, resulting in a number of high-quality games being developed for the headset, such as Resident Evil Village and Resident Evil 4 from Capcom.
Although we anticipate a continuous flow of content for the remainder of the generation, with games such as Lumines Arise on the horizon, it certainly feels more like the start of the conclusion rather than the middle.
It seems there were some issues, mostly stemming from the initial launch price of the peripheral being higher than the PS5 console itself. Given that the console market is highly competitive, pricing it this way was always going to be a difficult proposition. Even though the hardware quality, such as the more accurate controllers and improved screen resolution, could potentially warrant the cost, it wasn’t an appealing option in a tougher economic climate.
The first PSVR had basic issues and was far from perfect, but its price point of $399 made it a much more budget-friendly option compared to the $549 cost of PSVR2. Additionally, back then, the original PSVR seemed like a real novelty item; Sony actively marketed it through events like mall promotions and gaming expos, something they didn’t continue with its successor.
The self-sufficient Meta Quest has indeed made a strong impression, which makes the cost of a PS5 and PSVR2 a significant obstacle to surmount for many. Some critics have even suggested that the wired design of the PSVR2 may hinder its popularity.
As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but feel that software will always be the heart of any hardware device, and it quickly became clear that Sony wasn’t fully committed to supporting this particular piece of hardware. With their first-party studios predominantly focused on creating traditional games, and a seemingly hesitant approach towards funding innovative content from external studios, PSVR2 seemed to be facing an uphill struggle right from the beginning.
It appears that the widespread popularity and success of virtual reality (VR) as a form of entertainment that was anticipated a decade ago has not materialized as expected, with companies such as Meta Quest and others focusing on niche markets instead. However, it seems that Sony is no longer viewing VR growth in the same way they once did.
Regrettably, PSVR2 seems to be winding down its journey, given its significant improvement over the original PSVR, correcting many of its initial flaws. However, as the novelty fades, the lack of substantial first-party software support and the high cost have made it less accessible for many consumers, giving the impression that this chapter may be coming to a close.
Read More
- Masters Toronto 2025: Everything You Need to Know
- We Loved Both of These Classic Sci-Fi Films (But They’re Pretty Much the Same Movie)
- The Lowdown on Labubu: What to Know About the Viral Toy
- Street Fighter 6 Game-Key Card on Switch 2 is Considered to be a Digital Copy by Capcom
- Mario Kart World Sold More Than 780,000 Physical Copies in Japan in First Three Days
- ‘The budget card to beat right now’ — Radeon RX 9060 XT reviews are in, and it looks like a win for AMD
- Valorant Champions 2025: Paris Set to Host Esports’ Premier Event Across Two Iconic Venues
- Microsoft Has Essentially Cancelled Development of its Own Xbox Handheld – Rumour
- Gold Rate Forecast
- Karate Kid: Legends Hits Important Global Box Office Milestone, Showing Promise Despite 59% RT Score
2025-06-20 22:36