Eddie-Griffin
Banned
VR has been in a rut lately, and apparently 1Q23 isn't looking to hot either so far from reports I'm seeing, but I wonder if the mistake has been a lack of pack-ins, top software bundled with a headset?
I mean think about it, one or two software with mass appeal that make a headset(s) attractive (sorry Alyx) could be a gateway, then if producing more quality content, the consumer will then buy those as well. But the idea is to get people to "jump in" to VR, then back that up with software once they do so they stay on board in the long run.
Example, ~18 million Quest headsets sold, software sales are terrible. Best selling software? Beat Saber. Software with most money spend on it? Horizon Worlds.
While we don't know what HW sold, we know it's failing, we DO know the successful Beat Saber sold over 4 million in 2021, and is around 5 million by now across all headsets, mainly on Quest 2.
Now people were all in on the Beat Saber hype. It was a fad that could sell headsets. But imagine how much more Beat Saber could have sold and how many more headsets it could have moved, if from DAY 1, it was bundled with every Quest 2 headset? Or maybe even a double bundle with Beat Saber and another software, maybe a social app? If it's appealing enough that consumers pull the trigger or right on the edge of doing so, that can make a world of change. Because now you have more people joining the VR market because of software and all makers would have to do is have more stuff in line to keep them interested.
For example, imagine if HTC headsets were bundled with Job Simulator and some exclusive social gaming app. Or imagine if PSVR1 came bundled with Super Hot VR which sold 2 million copies across the board. Which was also a big hit for a time.
Many of these games stalled, because only a few people really got them. They died off and were replaced by other marketed software, or could only reach so far because the software required you to take a chance on the hardware to even find out if they existed or were worth playing, and those who did loved them. Now, the only time we usually see appealing (to general consumers) software bundled with a headset is during desperation sales. I think this needs to change.
But if you remove that barrier and make it so that something a consumer is interested in, will be available to them right at the start, then they are buying the headset for that software, and not just to take a risk on an experience.
Imagine Beat Saber, ~25 copies sold with 25 million Quest 2 headset sales, instead of ~18 million headset sales with bad general software sales, and only 5 million Beat Saber sales.
I think that there needs to be a push to entice the consumer to enter the VR market, then appeal to them and get them to stay, instead of going over board trying to get/convince the consumer to take the risk on bare hardware, then get access to the software they may find appealing later. If they find that software, if not then we end up in the current situation they drop the headset in the closet after a week.
With this simple change, not only do I think VR will finally grow, but I also believe that we will have more competition among VR headset makers, instead of consolidation to one leader.
I mean think about it, one or two software with mass appeal that make a headset(s) attractive (sorry Alyx) could be a gateway, then if producing more quality content, the consumer will then buy those as well. But the idea is to get people to "jump in" to VR, then back that up with software once they do so they stay on board in the long run.
Example, ~18 million Quest headsets sold, software sales are terrible. Best selling software? Beat Saber. Software with most money spend on it? Horizon Worlds.
While we don't know what HW sold, we know it's failing, we DO know the successful Beat Saber sold over 4 million in 2021, and is around 5 million by now across all headsets, mainly on Quest 2.
Now people were all in on the Beat Saber hype. It was a fad that could sell headsets. But imagine how much more Beat Saber could have sold and how many more headsets it could have moved, if from DAY 1, it was bundled with every Quest 2 headset? Or maybe even a double bundle with Beat Saber and another software, maybe a social app? If it's appealing enough that consumers pull the trigger or right on the edge of doing so, that can make a world of change. Because now you have more people joining the VR market because of software and all makers would have to do is have more stuff in line to keep them interested.
For example, imagine if HTC headsets were bundled with Job Simulator and some exclusive social gaming app. Or imagine if PSVR1 came bundled with Super Hot VR which sold 2 million copies across the board. Which was also a big hit for a time.
Many of these games stalled, because only a few people really got them. They died off and were replaced by other marketed software, or could only reach so far because the software required you to take a chance on the hardware to even find out if they existed or were worth playing, and those who did loved them. Now, the only time we usually see appealing (to general consumers) software bundled with a headset is during desperation sales. I think this needs to change.
But if you remove that barrier and make it so that something a consumer is interested in, will be available to them right at the start, then they are buying the headset for that software, and not just to take a risk on an experience.
Imagine Beat Saber, ~25 copies sold with 25 million Quest 2 headset sales, instead of ~18 million headset sales with bad general software sales, and only 5 million Beat Saber sales.
I think that there needs to be a push to entice the consumer to enter the VR market, then appeal to them and get them to stay, instead of going over board trying to get/convince the consumer to take the risk on bare hardware, then get access to the software they may find appealing later. If they find that software, if not then we end up in the current situation they drop the headset in the closet after a week.
With this simple change, not only do I think VR will finally grow, but I also believe that we will have more competition among VR headset makers, instead of consolidation to one leader.
