SuperData reduces VR forecast by 30%, says console VR will beat PC

Earlier this year, SuperData predicted that some 38.9 million VR headsets would be sold by the end of 2016 - well, it looks like they've had some time to think, and have reduced their VR forecast by 30%.

The research firm expects console VR to reach a larger audience than PC, with the company expecting worldwide VR revenues to hit $3.6 billion - 30% less than the $5.1 billion it predicted in January. SuperData's Director of Research and Insights Stephanie Llamas explained to GamesIndustry.biz: "Since we published our original figures, we have had a number of conversations with both hardware and software developers, as well as access to newly public information".

Llamas continued: "We previously overestimated PC and mobile hardware penetration and underestimated console hardware sales. Console will be high-end VR's white horse since it has lower hardware requirements, easier set-up and lower pricing. PlayStation's 35 million-plus users are also a far larger accessible audience than that of high-end PCs, which tops off at about 17 million".

"John Riccitiello's 'gap of disappointment' (slow hardware adoption that accelerates after a few years) forced us to take a harder look at hardware's growth within a historical narrative. We found that media adoption (e.g., TV, computers, smartphones, etc.) has always seen exponential growth that can be attributed to easier access and decreasing prices", Llamas added, where she continued saying: "However, this initial lull in adoption has shortened due to both product visibility on a global scale and the speed at which manufacturing costs drop. So although we see that initial struggle for VR, there will be a relatively quick push upward within the next 3-5 years".