We all know that jumping in to Virtual Reality – at least while the tech is new – is going to be expensive. The Oculus Rift is set to cost $600 when it’s out later this year, and that’s on top of the beefy PC you’ll need to run it all, which would likely cost you another $1500 if you don’t have an existing machine.
It’s biggest PC-centric competition, HTC and Valve’s Vive has no pricing just yet, but as it’s in many ways technologically superior to the Rift, it’s expected to cost at least as much. The hope for affordable VR comes in the form of Sony’s PlayStation VR.
Famed industry analyst and professional guesser Michael Pachter predicted that Sony’s implementation of VR will end up costing around $400.
“I think Morpheus (PlayStation VR) is highly likely to be 400 bucks. It’s gonna be hard… — if you actually look at the headset, there’s a lot there. So, I think it’s gonna be hard to price it below 300; it’s possible… if they believe they’re gonna make enough of them.”
“A lot of people don’t have a really high-end PC laying around, so I think the PlayStation 4 crowd has a huge advantage. Sony’s got an install base, as of November, of thirty million of them. So, I can see Sony planning to sell ten million Morpheus units. I doubt that they will sell those in the first year, because there probably won’t be a lot of content, but I can see them planning to sell 10 million over time.”
That may be the case in the US, but it looks like PlayStation VR will cost quite a bit more in Europe. Not one, or two but three Swiss retailers have listed PlayStation VR for prices hovering between 450 and 500 Euros. That’s not dissimilar to the Rift’s pricing, coming in at around $100 less.
Of course, it’s very likely that these are nothing more than placeholders and guesswork, but I think VR fans on all platforms need to brace themselves for a pretty high buy in, especially here in South Africa, where our currency seems set on a perpetual decline.
How much are you willing to pay to buy in to Virtual Reality, especially on consoles where your experiences are more likely to be carefully curated?
Last Updated: January 19, 2016
Original Heretic
January 19, 2016 at 11:52
….
VampyreSquirrel
January 19, 2016 at 12:02
https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3319/3611379059_390c590a5b.jpg
VampyreSquirrel
January 19, 2016 at 12:05
Wait! This one’s better!
http://media.philly.com/images/600*450/090814-Simpsons-scotland.jpg
Original Heretic
January 19, 2016 at 13:11
No Scot can ever be better than groundskeeper Willie!
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 19, 2016 at 12:00
I’m willing to pay nothing.
RinceThis
January 19, 2016 at 12:02
No change there then…
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 19, 2016 at 12:22
Well duh. If I don’t pay anything I don’t get any change back. Well spotted, Captain Obvious!
Ottokie
January 19, 2016 at 12:01
http://i.imgur.com/kuGWAyr.gif
RinceThis
January 19, 2016 at 12:01
I’m willing to pay https://media.giphy.com/media/QrvRiHPzlVY6Q/giphy.gif
Ottokie
January 19, 2016 at 12:04
I only had my eye on Oculus Rift, but thanks to MARK FUC*** SUCKA DICKABERG that’s not gonna happen.
Ottokie
January 19, 2016 at 12:07
For that price you can get a nice big 27″ 2K screen or 27″ 1080p 144hz screen.
Hammersteyn
January 19, 2016 at 12:08
Or another PS4 and a very decent bottle of whiskey
Ir0nseraph
January 19, 2016 at 12:10
Confirmed no VR in my house this year.
Hammersteyn
January 19, 2016 at 12:14
I’m putting my Vita in a cardboard box and strapping it to my head. Jobs done
Ir0nseraph
January 19, 2016 at 12:18
XD
O let your brother take a pic , the group needs a new Group Pic 😛
Hammersteyn
January 19, 2016 at 12:53
XD
Hammersteyn
January 19, 2016 at 12:07
http://i.memeful.com/media/post/lMzzzLM_700wa_0.gif
Jan Prins
January 19, 2016 at 12:12
Eina. My beursie raak toe sommer bewoë
K1FF J1MB0B (sizzle edition)
January 19, 2016 at 12:12
I’m not interested in VR at all, but it is effectively another display, and people are comfortable with dropping 10k+ on a TV, so I don’t think it’s THAT unreasonable.
Hammersteyn
January 19, 2016 at 12:13
10k+ on a TV? Which TV did you buy?
K1FF J1MB0B (sizzle edition)
January 19, 2016 at 12:13
A big one 😉
Hammersteyn
January 19, 2016 at 12:15
One of those that can only be knocked over by an iceberg?
VampyreSquirrel
January 19, 2016 at 12:15
People have 10k+ extra lying around for a TV?
Hammersteyn
January 19, 2016 at 12:16
I don’t even have the 1K I need for traffic fines O_o
VampyreSquirrel
January 19, 2016 at 12:17
I wouldn’t either.
Ottokie
January 19, 2016 at 12:18
If it’s just a photo they took, take a photo of the total amount of cash and post the photo to them
CypherGate
January 19, 2016 at 13:25
Ill help you in that department lol
Hammersteyn
January 19, 2016 at 13:33
How?
CypherGate
January 19, 2016 at 13:36
I have this awesome chick who reduces all my fines. Saved my pocket quite a bit lol the reductions varies though. Depending on whether it passed the due date and court dates usually cost more, but the earlier is always better for her to reduce it. All very much legal ofcourse 🙂 She reduced a R2500 fine last year to about R1300 for me which personally I think isnt too bad. I think she reduced it to R1000 and charges R300 to have it reduced. She sends a receipt etc as well 🙂 Oh been using her for 2 years now and a few of my buddies as well so its nothing shady. Shes an advocate or something like that if im not mistaken.
Hammersteyn
January 19, 2016 at 13:42
I have to pay it be Thursday :'(
K1FF J1MB0B (sizzle edition)
January 19, 2016 at 12:18
10k isn’t chump change but people buy expensive high end TVs all the time.
VampyreSquirrel
January 19, 2016 at 12:20
Yeah, I’ve seen some of them… and they won’t even buy me one as well… cheapskates.
Vernon Jonker
January 19, 2016 at 12:17
just wait it out the price will drop or someone will sell it on gumtree lol lots of sick games coming out to keep you busy anyway
The Grand Admiral Chief Prime
January 19, 2016 at 12:30
xD
BakedBagel
January 19, 2016 at 12:38
R8k??
Yeah ill make my cardboard google VR THANKS THO. :/
HairyEwok
January 19, 2016 at 12:43
The price is what!
http://i.imgur.com/U7Hfw.gif
oVg
January 19, 2016 at 12:45
Will it be bundled with 2 Move controllers and the SONY camera? because those will be mandatory to make it work?
HvR
January 19, 2016 at 12:46
So far cheaper than what I thought
DragonSpirit009
January 19, 2016 at 12:48
Nee wat… Vergeet maar van dit!
That’s basically one months pay for me
D4RKL1NG
January 19, 2016 at 12:51
Norrefok
Hammersteyn
January 19, 2016 at 14:42
LOL!
CypherGate
January 19, 2016 at 13:28
Since I have no PC thats even close to playing Far Cry 4 or Mortal Kombat X, Id have to steer clear of the HTC Vive and the Rift. Then there is the fact I have no console which means the PS4 VR is out of my range as well. Oh well… looks like ill have to buy me the new 3DS and stick to that for the time being lol To think I used to always have the latest tech and now… Im so behind its scary. Hell no ADSL even. Dont ask me how im surviving lol This is what getting married does to you AND being forced to relocate to another province all so that you can make sure your job is secured. Ahhhh…. Adult life…. how i hate you….
aj_nator
January 19, 2016 at 13:50
i have a plan to fix the rand: let’s fire the finance minister and replace him with a new on— oh wait, we already did that, didn’t we :/
Francois Knoetze
January 19, 2016 at 16:05
Choosing between this and a new fridge I think I will take the fridge…My backlog is good for this year and nothing on VR that screams that I must buy it.
iusedtobe(a)regular
January 19, 2016 at 22:47
Uhhhhhhhhhh……………………..no thanks. You can rather ad a few K and get decent enough TV.
Dennis
January 22, 2016 at 13:40
Sorry chaps, your weak R won’t work here. Cheap for the rest of the world