It’s greater than a bit disheartening to see basically the identical prime PSVR sport downloads repeated all through the years, though right here’s to hoping this can be the final time we utter the names Beat Saber, Job Simulator, and SUPERHOT VR in sequential order because the upcoming platform’s best-performing titles.
The unique PSVR has earned a well-deserved relaxation after greater than six years of devoted service, little question. However on February twenty second, the corporate’s next-gen headset PSVR 2 is coming to city, which has the potential to shake issues up a good bit because the PlayStation begins charting titles created for its newest and best VR headset.
I’m hoping to think about this a bid farewell to the identical ol’ prime obtain chart, which appears to have stayed pretty stagnant for the previous couple of years. Earlier than we go additional although, right here’s the highest PSVR downloads in 2022:
PSVR Prime Downloads – 2022
| US/Canada | EU | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beat Saber | Beat Saber |
| 2 | Job Simulator | Job Simulator |
| 3 | SUPERHOT VR | SUPERHOT VR |
| 4 | Creed: Rise to Glory | Creed: Rise to Glory |
| 5 | Swordsman VR | Sniper Elite VR |
| 6 | Astro Bot Rescue Mission | Swordsman VR |
| 7 | Rick and Morty: Digital Rick-ality | Rick and Morty: Digital Rick-ality |
| 8 | GORN | Batman: Arkham VR |
| 9 | Batman: Arkham VR | Arizona Sunshine |
| 10 | The Strolling Lifeless: Saints & Sinners | Astro Bot Rescue Mission |
Discover something acquainted? Except Sniper Elite VR, which really launched in 2021 (however critically didn’t rank among the many prime downloads that 12 months), it’s practically similar to the chart from 2021. Just about par for the course for the platform’s ageing sport library, it appears.
PSVR 2: Shifting to a Extra Skilled VR Gamer?
Notably, PSVR 2 doesn’t characteristic backwards compatibility, though many video games on the chart above are both re-releasing on PSVR 2 or getting a free improve, so we’ll very possible see many of those titles persist within the charts for months to return.
Sony has additionally publicly introduced a handful of PSVR 2 titles which can be sturdy contenders for the highest spots within the coming months and years. Fashionable video games and franchises embody Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil Village, Horizon Name of the Mountain, Demeo, Crossfire: Sierra Squad, Firewall Extremely, Amongst Us VR, 2MD: VR Soccer Unleashed All-Star, and Howdy Neighbor: Search and Rescue simply to call just a few. We’re nonetheless ready on an official checklist of launch day titles and a extra concise understanding of what’s getting an improve, and what isn’t.
Granted, I mentioned I’m hoping to think about this a bid farewell to the seemingly iron clad chart rankings, though there’s a very good purpose these prime video games carried out so properly on PSVR. The highest three—Beat Saber, Job Simulator, and SUPERHOT VR—undoubtedly make for glorious first-time VR experiences for principally anybody. In spite of everything, PSVR was possible the primary VR headset for a lot of who already personal a PS4, so a continued concentrate on informal VR content material is sensible.
Observe: Beat Saber has been confirmed for a PSVR 2 rerelease (probably free improve, however Meta hasn’t mentioned but), whereas Job Simulator and SUPERHOT VR are nonetheless unconfirmed for PSVR 2.
It stays to be seen whether or not the ‘newcomers on the prime’ paradigm performs out the identical manner with PSVR 2 although within the months and years to return. Lots of the prime video games on PS5 enchantment to a extra mature gaming viewers (in gaming capacity, not age), which is mirrored within the prime 2022 downloads there: Name of Obligation: Fashionable Warfare II, God of Warfare Ragnarök, and ELDEN RING.
A greater analogue although for PSVR 2 could also be Quest 2’s efficiency over time, owing to its spot as basically the most important VR platform for customers. Lots of the prime titles on the month-to-month Quest charts current a greater mixture of informal drop-in titles and extra prolonged adventures similar to BONELAB, Moss: Ebook II, and The Room VR: A Darkish Matter, which can imply the PSVR 2 chart could look very totally different certainly.
Nonetheless, for PSVR 2 to observe the identical path, there must be an intensive mixture of premium high quality content material for newcomers along with the highest video games repeated from the times of yore. Gamers will likely be on the lookout for contemporary informal content material like Astro Bot Rescue Mission, PlayStation VR Worlds, and Creed: Rise to Glory—the type of video games you may plop household and buddies into that they instantly perceive and may play—along with needing a gentle stream of ‘AAA’ degree titles like Resident Evil Village and Horizon Name of the Mountain, two of the most important standouts PSVR 2 customers will in all probability look to for the type of graphical high quality they’re used to on flatscreen.
Ultimately, it’s arduous to say how issues will shake out. Sony seems to be taking part in its PSVR 2 hype technique roughly in the identical manner it did with PS5, i.e. not many exclusives and a softer launch than anticipated. That would need to do with the truth that the all-in value for a PS5 and PSVR 2 headset is round $1,100, which not solely limits the variety of potential sport gross sales by a good bit, however might imply much less first-party funding general if the set up base isn’t giant sufficient. Regardless of the case, we’re hoping to listen to extra about video games and get a greater understanding of launch day titles over the approaching month main as much as its February twenty second launch.
What’s your opinion? Will future PSVR 2 charts look the identical, be dominated by new informal content material, or will we see extra mature titles break in? Tell us within the feedback beneath!