In a swiftly developing story, Sony has vehemently denied reports that it has cut its expected shipment numbers of its highly anticipated PlayStation VR2 following a lackluster response to pre-order numbers. The claims were first brought to light in a report from Bloomberg, which cited multiple unnamed sources “familiar with the situation”.

The report had stated that Sony was forecasting to ship only one million units during the current financial quarter, which runs from September 2022 to March 2023, a period that also encompasses the PSVR 2’s release date of February 22nd. Sony had initially aimed to ship two million units, in the hopes that titles such as Horizon: Call of the Mountain would excite and attract pre-orders for the system. The Bloomberg report further claims that PlayStation has advised its partners to anticipate a reduction in orders for hardware components like display panels, and now aims to ship approximately 1.5 million units between April 2023 and March 2024.

But in a firm response, PlayStation issued a statement to GamesIndustry.biz, stating that they have not reduced production numbers for the PS VR2, and that they are witnessing enthusiasm from PlayStation fans ahead of the launch, which features over 30 titles including Gran Turismo 7 and Horizon Call of the Mountain.

PlayStation has promised that the PS VR2 will mark a new era in virtual reality gaming, with a range of technological advancements over its predecessor, including a 4K HDR OLED display, enhanced eye-tracking capabilities, and improved PS VR2 Sense controllers.

However, a confluence of factors such as the PS VR 2’s lack of backwards compatibility and its premium price tag may have impacted consumer excitement for the system. Earlier this month, PlayStation confirmed that the PS VR 2 will launch with a roster of over 30 games, including Gran Turismo 7, Tetris Effect: Connected, and Resident Evil Village.