Sony has experimented in many different gaming markets with varying degrees of success over the years. While their push into the handheld gaming space with the PlayStation Portable and later the PlayStation Vita was arguably weak, it cannot be disputed that Sony’s contributions to virtual reality have been practically unmatched in the industry.
The PlayStation VR debuted in 2016 to moderate success, having managed to sell over 5 million units during its lifetime. Sony took the model a step further by creating its successor, the PlayStation VR2, in 2023.
Unfortunately, despite some major improvements over the original version, the console peripheral didn’t reach critical mass. Bloomberg reported that production of the PlayStation VR2 was halted in 2024, with cumulative sales somewhere between 1 and 2 million units at that time.
Prospective late adopters of the system are in luck. The suggested MSRP of the PlayStation VR2 was adjusted down in February 2025. Now, you can get the headset with a much more appealing $100 price cut.
The PlayStation VR2 has been an intriguing platform for trophy hunters for a few years now. Its lack of love from casual audiences and game developers has had wide-reaching effects for power users.
There are very few written trophy guides, detailed walkthroughs, and video resources for PlayStation VR2 titles. On the other hand, that means trophy hunting on the PlayStation VR2 has the opportunity to yield unique and challenging platinum trophies for those ready for a challenge.
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Why Hasn’t the PlayStation VR2 Been Successful?
When the PlayStation VR2 was announced, there was ample discourse making the rounds across the internet about its technical specs and price point. Although it was a steep ask for many, virtual reality enthusiasts praised it for its incredible features.
There were some complaints about the technology, such as the VR headset not having a wireless option, the “sweet spot” being too difficult to find, and a potentially distracting windowscreen effect, but otherwise, the overall impression was positive.
So why did the PlayStation VR2 struggle to take off?
The Price Was Too High
When the PlayStation VR2 was originally released in 2023, it cost $550 USD for the standard package and $600 USD for the bundle with Horizon Call of the Mountain. At this price point, the PlayStation VR2 cost more than a full-fledged home console all on its own.
Not to mention the fact that the PlayStation VR2 could only be used in conjunction with a PlayStation 5 console. That means the minimum buy-in cost at launch was $400 USD for a PlayStation 5 Digital Edition console plus $550 USD for the PlayStation VR2 kit for a grand total of nearly $1,000 USD or more with any applicable sales tax.
For every VR game you wanted to buy to test your new shiny gadget, you’d need to add another $40-60 USD to that number, too. Having such a steep entry point meant that many players simply couldn’t afford it. Even for those who could, it was still a high enough price that most people would need a compelling reason to justify the purchase.
For example, a killer exclusive that made perfect use of the hardware would have encouraged many fencesitters. Unfortunately, that never came to pass.
Lack of Support from Game Developers
Over the last two years, there has been a distinct lack of AAA-level games for the PlayStation VR2.
The peripheral launched with Horizon Call of the Mountain, an exclusive spin-off title from Guerrilla Games and Firesprite. The only other major first-party title came in the form of Gran Turismo 7, which received a PlayStation VR2 mode a year after its initial release. Firewall Ultra was developed by First Contact Entertainment and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, too.
There have been a few third-party studios that have made a decent splash. Capcom released PlayStation VR2 modes for Resident Evil Village and the Resident Evil 4 remake. Supermassive Games also released The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR. There were also a handful of games for the Walking Dead and Star Wars franchises.
However, outside of a few outliers, there weren’t that many big-hitting titles. The Wikipedia article shows about 375 games for the PlayStation VR2, with fewer than 20 claiming to be exclusive for the console.
It’s Viewed as a Gimmick
Many longtime PlayStation consumers remember what happened to the PlayStation Vita in the mid-to-late 2010s. The handheld didn’t perform well in the market and was quickly swept under the rug by company executives.
It wouldn’t be a stretch to assume that the same could happen to the PlayStation VR2. Public perception of the technology and Sony’s historical attitude toward less successful ventures made for a stark picture.
Although virtual reality enthusiasts may beg to differ, to many casual audiences, the technology isn’t there yet. Virtual reality gaming is priced at a premium due to its novelty, and these players aren’t willing to shell out money for what isn’t a fully fleshed-out gaming experience.
Virtual reality games tend to be pared down to match the limited control schemes inherent to the medium. That means many games are intended to be fun in short bursts, don’t have complex features, and often don’t focus on a detailed narrative. If you’re lukewarm about the immersion factor in virtual reality AND don’t have any favorite IPs in the market, all these downsides can start to pile up.
Motion Sickness Concerns
According to the United States National Library of Medicine, nearly 1 in 3 people suffer from motion sickness. With severe enough conditions, almost everyone can be impacted to some degree.
With so many people susceptible to motion sickness, it would make sense that consumers would think twice before picking up a virtual reality headset. The disconnect between the artificially drawn space that you can see and what your body is actually experiencing in the real world can often lead to extreme bouts of motion sickness.
This can be made even more apparent in games where you move in unexpected ways, like up or down stairs. While this can be improved with medicine, there isn’t a guarantee that your tolerance will improve over time. It’s no wonder that people who suffer from motion sickness would opt not to spend a small fortune for the pleasure.
Some People Just Want to Relax
The PlayStation VR2 can be surprisingly active at times. While some games will allow you to play from your seat, others require you to stand. The movements required for rhythm, shooting, and sports titles can also easily make you break out in a sweat due to the intensity.
Many people play games to relax after a long day at work or school. For these players, the PlayStation VR2 just might not jive with their playstyle. While it is true that there are likely games they’d enjoy, it’s debatable whether it would be worth the investment.
Sometimes, we just want to sit on the couch and veg out. And there’s nothing wrong with that.
How Does the PlayStation VR2’s Lack of Success Affect Trophy Hunting?
Now that we’re all on the same page regarding the many factors that contributed to the PlayStation VR2’s decline, we need to discuss its implications on trophy hunting. With a smaller audience comes fewer trophy hunters, and all the issues that come with that.
Very Few Guides
For many video games, trophy guides are outright required due to their extensive requirements and dubious descriptions. Even in games where you can reasonably earn the trophies with no external help, you can often save large amounts of time if you do.
Becoming familiar with tips and tricks from trophy hunting forebears can easily spell the difference between a 50-hour sprint and a 100+ hour marathon of a platinum trophy.
Unfortunately, 9 times out of 10 on the PlayStation VR2, you will be kept in the dark about how to earn the achievements. There are very few trophy guides for games on the system. If you’re lucky, you might find a YouTube video of a specific trophy getting unlocked, but nothing more.
In a sense, the state of trophy hunting on the PlayStation VR2 is a lot like the western expansion of the United States in the 1800s. The conditions are rugged and underdeveloped, but determined settlers have their eyes set on riches. For trophy hunters, they’re drawn by the allure of under-represented platinum trophies. Only the most confident trophy hunters jump into lands unknown to grab hold of one by only their own merits.
Getting a platinum trophy in PlayStation VR2 titles without a trophy guide is a mixed bag. You might breathe a sigh of relief when the trophy descriptions are on point and are reasonable to complete for the majority of players. Otherwise, you may start sweating bullets when the trophy descriptions choose to be cute with unclear quotes or jokes.
After doing some digging into my personal catalogue of PlayStation VR2 titles, several have received the proper trophy guide treatment since the last time I looked for them. Bear in mind that the majority of these guides were published 1-2 years after the game’s release, leaving early trophy hunters in the lurch.
For example, this guide for the Jurassic World Aftermath Collection was published in January 2025, 2 years after its debut in February 2023. More niche or unpopular titles may never receive a guide. One game on my list that lacks definitive resources is Dyschronia: Chronos Alternate.
With time, more trophy guides for PlayStation VR2 games will hopefully be created to close the gap. The situation already seems to be much better than it was a year ago, although I fear the problem will simply be pushed onto new indie releases.
Inflated Trophy Rarities
Given that only a small subset of trophy hunters are game for PlayStation VR2 titles, it follows that there is less competition. However, having a smaller population of die-hard players often leads to trophy rarities getting artificially boosted.
The best way to demonstrate this phenomenon is with one of the most popular VR games of all time: Moss. This diorama-like game sees you guiding a mouse companion across various stages as an outside observer. It is a great option for those who struggle with motion sickness as you do not move yourself in the game world.
That said, take a look at the trophy rarities for the European and North American stacks of both the PlayStation VR and PlayStation VR2 versions of Moss, pictured below. The PlayStation VR2 versions had on average 84% fewer players than the earlier PlayStation VR release.
Despite a significantly smaller player base, the rarities for the platinum trophy and DLC stacks are materially higher. For the European version, there was a 1.55% and 3.05% boost, respectively. For the North American version, there was a 2.42% and 3.58% boost, respectively.
An unfortunate reality arises from the unpopular nature of the system: despite all the hard work you put in for a PlayStation VR2 platinum trophy, you are not duly rewarded. Even the game I mentioned earlier that lacks a guide, Dyschronia: Chronos Alternate, sits at a near 10% platinum trophy acquisition rate on PSN Profiles.
As before with the trophy guide problem, this too may improve over time. However, the more likely result is that the number of achievers relative to game owners will continue to balloon. For trophy hunters purely seeking rare platinum trophies, the PlayStation VR2 may become less and less appealing as time passes.
Players Only Get Popular Titles
The lack of trophy guides across the PlayStation VR2 ecosystem has lasting effects on the community. Wary trophy hunters will actively avoid titles without resources available. Like moths to a flame, most players will congregate around the ones that do.
And which games tend to have trophy guides?
You can count on the most popular games having high-quality trophy guides. Sometimes, there are even multiple versions for the same game; future guide writers may believe they have enough novel content to substantiate a wholly new guide.
As a result, many trophy hunters may ignore less popular games without guides in favor of the well-known ones that do. Players will usually opt for Moss, The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners, or Synapse well before they try UNDERDOGS, Pets & Stuff, or Chernobyl Again.
Conclusion
It’s a shame that the PlayStation VR2 didn’t take off more in the gaming world. It had a lot of potential, but it wasn’t given the opportunity to truly showcase it. This has led to substantial ramifications for the trophy hunting community. Even so, we don’t hunt for trophies because it’s easy. Don’t let the lack of trophy guides or inflated numbers stop you from 100% completing games that interest you.
Trophy hunting on the PlayStation VR2 feels a lot like the early days of achievement hunting, where you needed to pore over questionable online forums for hours to solve a specific problem in a game. In that way, it feels incredibly nostalgic and affirming.
What PlayStation VR2 games have you earned the platinum trophy in? I’ve played seven PlayStation VR2-specific titles, and have only earned the platinum trophy in one: Runner. This title is an absolute gem that comes highly recommended from me. It’s an arcade game in which you ride a motorcycle and shoot enemies; what else could you ask for?
If you enjoy reading my ramblings, you might also like my deep dive discussion on the Danganronpa series. I talk about every game in the popular murder mystery series at length, including my personal thoughts and a general walkthrough of every trophy hunt in one place. No need to worry about spoilers if you’re new to Danganronpa, as we don’t discuss story details beyond setting the scene. It’s Punishment Time!
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