Launch stocks for Sony's PlayStation VR were almost instantly sold out in the U.K., France and Germany only minutes after pre-orders for the virtual reality headset were made available in Europe. This came even after Amazon stores, which the headsets were being reserved for, started restricting orders to one device per customer in these markets.
Online retailers who have run out of launch stocks are currently listing the PlayStation VR as "currently unavailable," although some stores still accept pre-orders. There is no guarantee, however, that those who have booked hereafter will get their devices on the day that it hits the market.
"Based on our initial allocation we cannot guarantee release day delivery," Amazon UK stressed in its product listing. "You will be notified via email of the expected delivery date closer to the time. We will be fulfilling customer orders in the order in which they were placed."
Amazon UK has reportedly replenished its launch stocks with a second wave of headsets, but again, this does not guarantee that consumers will be able to recieve their orders on the day that the VR headset rolls out.
Since the PlayStation VR requires the PS4 camera to work, sales of the accessory, which is being sold separately, also spiked by 1,000 percent after the PlayStation VR was unveiled. The PS4 could also experience a similar sales uptick in the coming days, as the VR device will also need it to work.
As a new product, the PlayStation VR might be different from other console hardware when it comes to upgrade cycle. There is certainly no precedence where consumers could gain reliable insight from. However, Shuhei Yoshida, president of Sony's Worldwide Studio, has been very helpful in this respect. During the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, he explained key details that could guide how the VR device will be treated.
"In terms of tech, VR is just starting, consumer VR is just starting, and there are also areas where R&D is being done; the resolution gets better, the interface, all of these kinds of things," he said. "So even though we are approaching PSVR on PS4 like a console - meaning that anyone can buy it without any technical knowledge - because this field is so new, and advancements will be everywhere as we continue to work on R&D, I can not say that the PSVR will have the same kind of cycle as a traditional console."
The PlayStation VR pre-order is not yet available in the U.S., but for those who want to book the device overseas, it costs €399 in Europe, £349 in the U.K., and ¥44,980 in Japan. Some stores are also asking for a deposit for each pre-ordered unit.
