10 Years Ago, PlayStation Almost Changed Gaming Forever
This week marks the 10-year anniversary of the PlayStation VR, a headset which nearly made the case for VR gaming on consoles.
In 2016, the PlayStation VR (PSVR) made its debut, marking a significant moment in the gaming world. The bulky headset was initially seen as a potential turning point for a niche market struggling to gain traction. However, by 2026, the PSVR stands as a relic of a now-defunct trend. The VR craze began in mid-2016 when the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive hit the market, requiring powerful gaming PCs for use.
The PSVR stood out for its simplicity, requiring only a PlayStation 4 and a few cables for setup. Despite this, it took a few years for the PSVR to truly shine, with its initial game lineup falling short of expectations. It wasn't until 2018 that the PSVR truly came into its own, thanks to a surge of top-tier titles like Tetris Effect, Moss, and Astro Bot: Rescue Mission.
By August of that year, the PSVR had sold three million units, indicating growing interest. However, the PSVR's reign was short-lived as Oculus and Valve gained mainstream attention with their own devices. Sony's attempt to revitalize the PSVR with the PlayStation VR 2 in 2023 was met with limited success, as mainstream interest in VR had begun to wane.
In 2024, Sony even released a PC adapter for the device, signaling a lack of confidence in the platform's future. Now, as of 2026, Sony has reportedly transferred several patents related to VR to Meta, effectively confirming the end of Sony's VR ambitions. While VR remains a niche hobby for enthusiasts, the era of console VR as a mainstream phenomenon has come to a close, leaving behind a legacy of innovation and a few lasting memories.
Written by urgent.news from Polygon's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
