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PlayStation VR is more searched online than Vive and Rift
PlayStation VR got more search queries on Google than the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift. Maybe because it’s the new thing for now? Read on.
PlayStation VR was highly anticipated and now that it’s here, people just can’t help but want to know more about the very popular VR headset. It’s the least expensive option for now compared to the top three contenders. Initial installs among PS4 owners is around 40 million plus now. It is clear even now that the PS VR could be the best selling VR headset for 2016. This is based on search trends online and again, people just can’t help it even on the headset’s launch day.
Google Trends compared three contenders: PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift, and the HTC Vive. In the past 12 months, it showed some interesting activity on the headsets’ status.
The highest spike on the graph is the Oculus Rift’s pre-order’s era which was never beaten in the duration of a year. Launch date for the Rift is not that popular with less online searches. On the contrary, the HTC Vive and the PlayStation VR did the opposite. More search interest with the Vive’s launch than it’s pre-orders. PlayStation VR’s search interest is more of like an accelerating trend. It has retained interest amid it’s launch making it far more interesting than the Vive and Rift’s launches.
Google Search interest graph for PlayStation VR, HTC Vive and Oculus Rift.
Okay, we can analyze it further in this case. Search interest is not relatively equivalent to sales or customer satisfaction. But the most we can get from this data is that the PlayStation VR launch just got more search interest. That’s it.
PlayStation VR Marketing
One factor for this higher number in online searches is marketing. If you want to buy something, especially for a considerable amount of money, you would want to know more about it, features and all. Sony’s promotional campaign was considerably large. Larger than Oculus and HTC with Valve did during their headset’s own releases. Sony have TV ads and even have partnership with Taco Bell to give away free headset packages.
PlayStation VR Install Base
Another thing to consider is that the PlayStation VR can run on any PlayStation 4 anywhere. How many PS4s are there? 40 million plus of them. This means that if you have a PS4, you are eligible to use the PlayStation VR, no questions asked. Meanwhile, the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive have more demanding spec requirements only reserved to hardcore PC gamers. If you have a PC, you would have to upgrade or buy a new one in order to run the headset and it’s games. And since Sony can directly advertise the PlayStation VR through PlayStation Store, it’s a no brainer to see how marketing and install base is so important.
Whether it’s marketing, a built-in install base, or something else, it does seem to be working in Sony’s favor. The PSVR search trend appears to still be on the rise, and we’ll have to wait to see how high it will go.
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