Why the PlayStation Move Failed

Sony's PlayStation Move may not have been able to contend with Nintendo's Wii, but it paved the way for PlayStation VR's success story.

[Bigman4k]

True

[SullysCigar]

I use them most days and have for years 🤷🏻‍♂️

They're definitely way past a needed update, but I've got a tonne of fun out of them, so they haven't failed me.

[bouzebbal]

The best motion control platform it's so intuitive.. Died due to lack of support from Sony.. It had some amazing games

[thorstein]

They are used constantly for PSVR games. So, no they haven't failed. Neither has PSVR (or VR in general.)

[Bigman4k]

The article was talking about why it ps move failed before psvr came along

[SPEAKxTHExTRUTH]

It failed because it sucked plain and simple.

[LOGICWINS]

I feel that's a bit harsh. To this day, playing Killzone 3's campaign with PS Move/Sharpshooter gun combo is the most fun/immersive experience I've ever had with an FPS.

I think Move was simply not as profitable as Sony wanted it to be, but it didn't "suck".

[SPEAKxTHExTRUTH]

It most definitely sucked. You people can act like it was something special all you want but it was horrible. The entire motion control fad was a waste of resources and time. Ever single motion controller besides the Wii failed and is no longer being used today in gaming. It's ok to admit it...

[Minute Man 721]

@SPEAK

The Move was better that the Wii mote. If the Wii was anywhere accurate as the Move was you could say the Wii was better. Sure it sold boatloads but was it really played consistently??

[yeahokwhatever]

I played it in 3D with the move gun on a 100 inch projector and it BLEW MY MIND. I was exhausted, but i finished the campaign standing there.

[SullysCigar]

"Ever single motion controller besides the Wii failed and is no longer being used today in gaming"

Just no. Games release most weeks (for years now) that support Move controllers. Some ONLY use Move controllers.

Look, I get you're not a fan, but if you're going to rant, at least inform yourself in advance.

[LordoftheCritics]

I would say both Move and Kinect weren't supported properly.

Sony and MS abandoned what could have been amazing.

[SPEAKxTHExTRUTH]

Kinect sucked too. I would say Kinect may have been cool had it worked as intended but it was ahead of it's time. Both Kinect and Move are gimmicks nothing more. I honestly don't see why Sony still implements "motion controls" recent controllers. Who really uses that crap? And to play what?

[Profchaos]

I so t think Sony abandoned the move it's technically repurposed and still supported on the ps5 just for VR

[RedDevils]

Kinect should be kept as media interactive features.

[thorstein]

Move is used for PSVR. So it is well supported.

[LordoftheCritics]

@SPEAKxTHExTRUTH
Again if it was supported right.

Where even a fast click of my fingers could get an immediate in game response.

It feels trash because we have been shown or lived with bad versions of gesture based tech. Think Minority Report fast. That could be something.

''You people can act like it was something special all you want but it was horrible.''

No one is acting like it was special, I said it could be amazing.

''I think Move was simply not as profitable as Sony wanted it to be''

Like I said, it wasnt supported. Give us a AAA game with precision gestures well implemented into the game and then we can discuss profits.

[SPEAKxTHExTRUTH]

I don't deal in "what if". It wasn't supported right and even if it was it was still a gimmick.

[thorstein]

"Like I said, it wasnt supported. Give us a AAA game with precision gestures well implemented into the game"

You just described every AAA PSVR game. And even the indies have incredible integration. No Man's Sky VR is insanely good.

[Silly gameAr]

And, you can act like it was horrible, but I had a blast with my Move. I had the whole collection of House of the Dead, Dead Space Extraction, and RE Darkside Cronicles, The Fight, and Socom 4, and I would play the hell out of those games I even beat a playthrough of the Resistance 3 campaign with the Move. Getting drunk and playing with friends was a freaking blast.

You can pretend that you had a move and played it all you want SPeak the Truth, but it was accurate, and usually on point. I hate when people act like they've played something just to trash it, when they really just have a vendetta, and think the Move is easy prey for your hate.

[Minute Man 721]

Wait you can play Dead Space with the Move?? I need it

[Orchard]

“You can pretend that you had a move”

I love this crazy idea that if someone has something bad to say about hardware/software - they must be lying about owning it and clearly do not own it!

Because all hardware and software has a 100% approval rating from all purchasers…

[P_Bomb]

Shoot I forgot about Dead Space Extraction and Umbrella Chronicles. Had those too. Still do (digital).

[SPEAKxTHExTRUTH]

I have a vendetta against Move? Lmao that's the most ridiculous comment I've read today. I didn't buy it because like I said motion controls are gimmicks. I had a Wii and it was decent enough but a gimmick although successful. I had a Kinect and it too was trash. Don't act as if you know what I have and haven't owned. Move was nothing more than a Wiimote ripoff

[yeahokwhatever]

SO MANY really great experiences for the Move. The Fight was excellent!

[Silly gameAr]

@Minute Man

There was a game called Dead Space Extraction that you could play the Move with.

@Orchard. Please don't reply to me, because every time I say something to you, I magically end up restricted. So, just ignore me like I ignore you, so there will be no hurt feelings, please.

[Vanfernal]

"Ever single motion controller besides the Wii failed and is no longer being used today in gaming. It's ok to admit it..."

That is demostrably false.... Most VR games have motion controls and the PSVR uses the Move controllers.

[SPEAKxTHExTRUTH]

VR games have a controller most of the time not some magic wand. And VR is not the same as PS move or Kinect. I'm not a fan of VR either. A controller and a couch is all I need for my gaming needs.

[Knushwood Butt]

This.

Speak the Truth?!

[Vanfernal]

@SPEAKxTHExTRUTH

"And VR is not the same as PS move or Kinect."

PSVR LITERALLY uses the Move controllers. Now it's just obvious you have no idea what you're talking about. You're saying Move failed and nobody uses it anymore when it's an integral part of PSVR and is still being used in 2021.

[ScootaKuH]

It didn't suck. It worked but the games just weren't there, that's why it failed.

[Father__Merrin]

The move was excellent it was 1 to 1 precise time crisis was a joy to play aswell as sports champions it didn't hit mainstream as it was an addon unlike Nintendo wiimote

[Godmars290]

Lack of games that proved the concept that 3rd parties could then copy en masse?

[Silly Mammo]

I wish that someone would have made a proper boxing game. I still have a blast with the Sports Champions boxing, but to have a boxing game that was more in-depth would have been awesome.

[Dario_DC]

Try Creed for PSVR, it's brilliant

[OMGitzThatGuy]

Because it was a uninspired ripoff of the Wii controller without the Nintendo library to back it and didn't try to put any real effort into development such as getting their top developers to make games for it and instead gave tech demos disguised as games to their least talented developers so the best can focus on single player only games.

[Ryushaa]

Except the Move was an idea roughly implemented in the PS2. Yes, I'm serious.
Just search on youtube: PlayStation 2 - Motion Controller (2004)

Nonetheless, just like the whole Wii, it was more of a gimmick than a proper input evolution in games.

[jukins]

Exactly. Its funny time and time again sony is the first innovate. Often at its own peril. Like your example the move started on ps2 taken advantage of by nintendo. Sony buys gakai for game streaming only for other companies to overtake them.

[Profchaos]

Are you talking about the gametrak on os2 which used strings to track your hand position I used to have this and a gold game it was awesome but the game itself sucked if it had integration with tiger woods or something it would be way better the tracking was excellent even back then as it wasn't using guesswork.
However the game was very forgiving and no way to turn it harder and no licensed players or courses hurt it.

[yeahokwhatever]

99% of the Wii's games were "shovelware", in fact, I think thats what started that phrase..

[RedDevils]

@OMGitzThatGuy Oh you clueless fool

[EvertonFC]

Socom, killzone, resistance and tiger wood 14 were great with the move but agree lacked more games.

[yeahokwhatever]

There were plenty of games and I'm glad that not every game became a Move game.

[CrimsonWing69]

It failed because motion controls can’t beat traditional controls. I’ll admit the tech has come ways since then but I will always choose a controller over a wand.

[Knushwood Butt]

Killzone 3

Move was better than controller IMO

[CrimsonWing69]

Ok, one game gets it

[EvertonFC]

I played killzone a total of 3 playthroughs every single time with the move controllers.
I've never played killzone 3 with a dualshock.

[Knushwood Butt]

:-)

[1nsomniac]

It was just a terrible controller. It was so crap that Sony refused to waste any more time or money fixing it. Despite me loving PSVR, the move controllers were the biggest let down of the generation. Always felt like they were a generation behind. Even for the ps3 days.

[ocelot07]

As a stand alone it failed. But it worked well for VR. But I'm glad to see the end of them with PSVR2.

[TheGreatGazoo30]

It failed because it wasn't good and didn't have games. Even the wii was a trend and people are over controllers like that for games.

Little early to call Playstation VR a success too. Like other VR platforms it's a niche product and it's easily the worst VR headset, it's cheap so that helps.

[MetalProxy]

Why are you here? Go enjoy something and smile for once.

[ocelot07]

To early to call it a success? It sold really well for Sony and was profitable and still is. If it was not do you honestly believe sony would be working on PSVR2?

They where selling psvr at a profit in 2016. By 2019 it had made them 2 billion in profit. So for Sony it's a success. For me as a customer I really enjoyed it and can't wait for PSVR2.

Quest 2 is doing incredibly well and is making Facebook a fair bit of profit. Not sure about Vive it am sure it's doing well. Sure VR is not selling 100million headsets. It don't need to.

[ApocalypseShadow]

It actually didn't fail or was a failure. It sold around 15 million before VR even showed up and had many games to play. Who knows how many more millions of the device were sold for PSVR. Especially when two are required for more immersive hands on gaming like Iron Man or Blood and Truth.

Dr Marks created Move as for some experiences but he knew that the Eyetoy and PS Move weren't core experiences for everybody like the Dual Shock controller. He's said that many times in interviews. It wasn't to take over regular couch controller gaming.

PS Move not only had titles for casuals to play for motion gaming on PS3, you could also play core games like Killzone and Resistance. Unlike its competitors, Wii and Kinect.

Unlike its competitors, PS Move continues to live on and be sold for VR. Wii motion gaming is pretty much dead. And Kinect itself is dead. All those casuals that propped up those other devices, went off to play on their cellphones. Basically making them a fad that didn't last. PS Move continues to be used and works on PS5 and can continue to be used for the life of PS5 for those using PSVR 1. That's 3 generations that PS Move will have been used.

Maybe the writer needs to make an article on why the Wiimote and Kinect are dead and can't be used on Switch or Series S/X. While PS Move continues to exist.

[Silly gameAr]

People call it a rip off of the Wiimote, but Sony was working on the Move since the PS2 days. The eyetoy for ps2 even had a freaking prototype of what the Move would end up being. I just think the writer wanted to bring up something that they thought was an easy target to get a little flame going after the presentation.

It sure bought out the people who obviously never played the Move in their life, but like giving a review on it like they helped to develop the damn thing.

[Petebloodyonion]

The article isn't about how the PS move found a second life as a PSVR controller but about how it failed to perform well as a PS3 device.

" In March 2012 Fergal Gara of Sony UK spoke to Official PlayStation Magazine UK to acknowledge that, the device had not lived up to their expectations, in either their target audience or the software support that had been provided for it"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wi...
https://web.archive.org/web... http://www.officialplaystat...
Or are you saying that Sony are lying to themselves?

[yeahokwhatever]

Sony was obviously hoping they could sell units like the Wii. In that sense it didn't "live up to expectations". But fail? No sir. It sold pretty well for an optional peripheral and is still selling to this day.

[Petebloodyonion]

So let me get this straight.
The Sega CD is considered a flop by the industry but it's not the case for the Playstation move on PS3 despite having a lot fewer games made, sold at a lot cheaper price, was bundled with the PS3 or games and some ppl bought it twice due to the game needing 2 controllers.

I'm sorry but when even Sony's boss acknowledge this instead of saying the usual " It's a niche thing, were currently happy with the result, it's in range with our...)
It doesn't look like they saw this as a win.

[Chocoburger]

PS Move was the best form of motion gaming of the last, last generation. Wiimote and Kinect were technically far worse than the PS Move. Only Wiimotion Plus could compare and it was too little too late, with only one or two marquee titles proving the 'Plus' being a worthwhile upgrade.

While there weren't enough PS Move games, at least there were some true 'core games' that supported it, from KillZone 3 to Resident Evil 5. Something that Microsoft's 'casual motion system' could not offer, and most Nintendo Wii games didn't offer traditional controller support, whereas PS3 games almost always had a DualShock 3 option.

I'm a big fan of light gun shooters, and both Wiimote and PS Move ushered back in this genre, something the Kinect couldn't do as well. If you think the PS Move "sucked", then go back and play the light gun shooters on it, something not available on 360, Switch, PS4, XBO, XBSX, PS5.

After the PS Move, we did get one light gun system for consoles, the PDP Mars, and I can assure you, the tech inside that thing is truly unreliable junk.

So to sum it up, the last, last generation had three different motion control styles:
Microsoft - went straight stupid with Kinect, and was overall the least reliable worst experience.
Nintendo - all games supported Wiimote, but this was often to its detriment, not enough games supported traditional controls.
Sony - didn't have a ton of PS Move games, but the overall library supported traditional controls (this is overall the best outcome).

[ApocalypseShadow]

What's funny is this article idea that it might be a failure for selling millions for motion gaming and VR. And, as long as future PS5 console iterations have a USB port, it means PSVR can still live on as well as PS Move.

Basically continue to live on as a peripheral until around 2030. Not just for EOL PSVR(since PSVR 2 is coming), but as a drawing device for Dreams on PS5.

[P_Bomb]

Only ever bought a couple Move-only games like Sorcery and the Fight, but I’ve gone ape over PSVR! I’ll always choose the sticks over the controller given the choice for VR. Big fan now.

[EvertonFC]

Sorcery was good and I lost 3 stone in weight using fight as a training program

[SeTTriP]

Nintendo had better marketing and seemed like the real thing.

Xbox and playstation seemed like imitation.

[ApocalypseShadow]

So, where are the devices that had hype and better marketing money? Dead.

Where's the device that is just trucking right along slow and sure and is used for current console VR and compatible with PS5? Still here.

It's the difference between those other fads and Sony keeping their device relevant. It's why Sony likes marathons and not sprinting. Those who sprint run out of breath.

[SeTTriP]

That doesn't matter to casual and it didn't matter that gen.

[lodossrage]

Well,

The "failure" has a controller for the PSVR and soon the PS5 VR.

For all the Wii's success, where is the Wiimote? And Kinect, yeah MS literally took away any functions on the xbox one with updates.

[refocusedman]

move had some great games and was an awesome "peripheral". if you played wonderbook or resistance then you would probably agree with me.

[Minute Man 721]

Failed because there wasn't enough games or "arcade classics" that used the Move. Still use it to play Time Crisis and HOTD from time to time

[isarai]

Wouldn't say failed given its second life as a PSVR option

[Orchard]

I had one and beyond the initial “wow this is cool” hour after unboxing it, it basically sat in a cupboard gathering dust.

It wasn’t that fun or revolutionary really when we already had the wiimote, Kinect was more interesting from a technology standpoint but ultimately, the only good motion games were on Wii - not Xbox or PS.

[lodossrage]

to be fair the Wii had no choice but to have their games be good. the wiimote was the default controller. So good or bad, games were built around that input device. If move or kinect were mandatory or pack in like the wii mote was, they'd both have more good games as well.

[Orchard]

True - although I wouldn’t have wanted either of them to be mandatory / pack in. They are niche and really, not why I bought a PS3 and 360.

XB1 Kinect pack in was a terrible idea too.

[Ryuk_2007]

The move was Sony attempt to cash in on the wii craze. Hell, the last article about the move that actually generated a lot of heat on here was over 4,000 days ago. Nobody talks about this, VR, or the vita until someone shames it.. then all the defenders come out the woodworks.

[lodossrage]

One -

Sony was already prototyping the MOVE before the Wiimote was released. Nintendo was just first to market.

Two-

Move is a part of Playstation VR and is getting a new version of said controller which brings me to....

Three-

If the product was a failure or needed "defenders", why are they making a new version for the PS5?

[foker]

It is basically only peripheral being used for 3 generations,.. So how is it a fail,.. ?? Still being used for Beat Saber, BoxVR,... I heard it was really hard to get. Article is just shit.

[plmkoh]

Yeah I don't think anyone can discount the fact that it has transcended 3 generations where as every competitor to date has become obsolete.

[SullysCigar]

And Synth Riders just released. It's awesome and so much more varied than Beat Saber (which I also love)!

[foker]

Yep Synth Riders is really cool,.. I Really like how great the music mix is,.. Just does not seam as intense of a workout,.. but in terms of Move controllers,.. I think tracking is amazing probably the best there is. In boxVR you need to fiddle and actually put the balls in the center of virtual glove to actually hit anything.

[TheColbertinator]

Another one of Sony's demented ideas like PS Home and the PSP Go.

[yeahokwhatever]

I loved my Go, and Home was fun/funny. Sorry you can't enjoy things. Being able to play a couple time trials of Gran Turismo anywhere in a way more compact form than the PSP was great.

[Petebloodyonion]

I think the problem that Sony faced with the PS move was the PR marketing mess they created around the thing.
1) if it was aimed toward casual well there was nothing casual about setting understanding what you would need to play a game (some require only the camera, others 1 move and some 2 moves)
2) If it was aimed at a more core audience then sorry but the game library was quite small or non-existant.
3) Wonderbook

If Sony would have communicated better and support better the Move I think it would have fared a lot better
My personal favorite game is Tiger wood PGa 11, because the Psmove really makes the game shine.

[yeahokwhatever]

wait, it failed?

[jambola]

for me it failed because it never went down in price and only a handful of games appealed to me on it
mainly no more heroes and the resident evil cronicles games

[Profchaos]

It wasn't useful until VR came along but it hindered VR due to its lack of analogue stick. Fortunately psvr2 isn't just using old hardware because of the excess amount of stock available

[EvertonFC]

Failed? What spanned 3 generations and still being sold. Tidy little profit for Sony if you ask me.
Shouldn't this conversation be kinect failed?

[aaronaton]

The move controller was and still is great for FPS games, I used them alot with killzone 3, socom 4 and MAG. The deadzone aiming was very very competitive, just as good as mouse and keyboard if set up right. It was comfortable to use too in conjunction with the separate analog move controller in the other hand. Imo it has been under utilised and could still be used today in most shooters.

[zarbor]

The reason the MOVE failed is obvious. Motion gaming is for casual gamers and Nintendo did an incredible and much better job marketing to them. At the time where casuals were all in gaming on the phone, the Wii brought them to consoles. However, Playstation is a core gamer machine just like XBOX and as the article stated the cost to enter for casual gamers was not only a barrier but even the look of them (heard people say MOVE looks like a sex toy). All these peripheral things fail because most core gamers are not into these things like Home, 3D Gaming, Move, Kinect, and yes I'm saying it, VR. Core gamers support is the consistent life of gaming.

The casual gamer may stick around for a little bit like the Wii because of the fad and hype for non-core gamers but those folks eventually move on to something else. VR was to be that next thing but it has not caught on as big as the Wii with casual gamers. To its credit it has caught on more with some core gamers but as a VR owner, its losing a lot of steam.

If Sony wants to do the smart thing, MOVE on from VR because it will not be supported by most gaming companies that make games for core gamers who don't want to be wearing goggles for hours. Casuals will not be spending the huge investment of a PS5 for them to play PSVR.

[FreeFallFrenzy]

I went to a conference in Seattle right when the Moves were announced that was dedicated specifically to showcasing them. We went out for drinks with some of the execs that were there and we specifically asked them, "why are there no thumbsticks on these things!?" They told us that they didn't want to create a controller with multiple movement inputs because it would confuse people. I told them that that very decision is what's going to doom the controller. And sure enough, even with the Navigation controller, they couldn't create enough software to justify any hype around it.

[TheHan]

My own opinion is that it just wasn’t that appealing, the dildo controllers and the lack of worth while games kept it back.

[eXclurel]

Lack of an analog stick on it in my opinion.