In his latest “Power On” newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says Apple should position the Vision Pro as a gaming device. However, he says there are two major issues that need to be solved if there will be any hope of the spatial computer accomplishing this: content and controllers.
When it comes to content, be says that because of the wild success of the first App Store in 2008, Apple has too much hubris to pay developers to build content. “Despite the Vision Pro’s shortcomings, the company expected developers to embrace the platform and avoid missing out on the next gold rush. That hasn’t happened,” Gurman says. “In addition to a lack of games, there’s only been a trickle of immersive video — partly because Apple has held off on releasing much content itself. But it’s clear now that the company will need to open its wallet. If it spent just 10% of the money that it puts into Apple TV+ movies and shows, the Vision Pro would be in better shape.”
What’s more, the product doesn’t support the advanced hand controllers that make gaming on rival headsets both more fun and precise. So even if Apple solves its content problem, the lack of hand controller support will still deter gamers, Gurman says.
However, he adds that Apple is now working on a major effort to support third-party hand controllers in the device’s visionOS software and has teamed up with Sony Group Corp. to make it happen.
“Apple approached Sony earlier this year, and the duo agreed to work together on launching support for the PlayStation VR2’s hand controllers on the Vision Pro,” Gurman writes “Inside Sony, the work has been a months-long undertaking, I’m told. And Apple has discussed the plan with third-party developers, asking them if they’d integrate support into their games.“
Beyond gaming, these hand controllers could be used for productivity tasks and media editing, he adds. “Though the Vision Pro’s eye-and-hand tracking works well, it’s still hard to make precise moves,” Gurman says. “If Apple wants to bring programs like Final Cut Pro and Adobe Photoshop into this realm, hand controllers will be necessary.”
This info from Gurman is from the free edition of “Power On”. If you like it, consider subscribing to Bloomberg.com—you’ll receive the newsletter earlier and get exclusive access to a Q&A section.
About the Vision Pro
Demos of the Apple Vision Pro at Apple Stores in the U.S. can be reserved on Apple.com. To reserve a free Vision Pro demo online, go here, then follow the steps to book an appointment at your local Apple Store.
Pricing for the Vision Pro starts at US$3,499 with 256GB of storage. ZEISS Optical Inserts are available: $99 for reading lens and $149 for prescription lens.
