PlayStation VR2 preview: What you need to know before buying the PSVR2
Arriving with updated hardware and new features, Sony’s second try at a virtual reality headset brings a new level of realism to gaming.
These products are hand-picked by our team to help make shopping easier. We may receive payments from third parties for sharing this content and when you purchase through links in this article. Product prices and offer details are not assured, and should be confirmed independently with the retailer. Learn more
Nearly six years on from its first virtual reality headset release for PlayStation, Sony is gearing up to release the highly-anticipated sequel.
While rival brands like Oculus and HTC have rolled out multiple headset models in recent years, Sony has taken its time with the PSVR2, waiting for just the right moment to release it. And with the growing desire for more immersive gaming in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2023 certainly seems like the time to launch a new-gen headset.
It’s been worth the wait too, with the PSVR2 offering some substantial upgrades over its predecessor, including more ergonomic controllers, improved resolution, a wider field of view, and the introduction of internal camera sensors.
Of course, there is also the matter of a high price point and no backwards compatibility to contend with. So, to decide for myself if it’s really worth the cost, PlayStation granted me the honour of being the fourth person in Australia to head to their office and get hands-on with the headset.
Before we dive into what I thought of it, it is important to note that I only used the headset for around 30 minutes, so there will, of course, be elements that were missed or that I simply didn’t get a chance to try out.
QUICK RUNDOWN
Launch date: 22 February 2023
Price: $879
Where to pre-order:Amazon Australia, Big W, Harvey Norman, JB Hi-Fi
Pros:
- Lightweight and thoughtfully-designed headset
- Highly accurate eye tracking
- Stunning visual fidelity
- Easy set up
Cons:
- Expensive
- No backwards compatibility
- Wire may be a trip hazard
Design
Built exclusively for the PlayStation 5, the PSVR2 takes on the same minimalist black and white design as the rest of the PS5 accessory line. The materials used also feel similar to that of the DualSense controller, which is a deliberate move to ensure the headset seamlessly slots in with the rest of your set-up.
The visor-like headset fits much the same as the first-gen model, with the back strap pulling out with the press of a quick release button and tightening with a dial. You can then use the quick release button to take the headset off again without losing the adjustment you just set, which is definitely handy.
Further adjustments to the headset can also be made by using a small dial on the front of the visor to recalibrate the lenses between your eyes, or by using an adjustment button that allows you to slide the padded visor back and forth until you find your own personal sweet spot.
Once I had the headset fitted, the first thing I noticed is that this baby is light.
Weighing in at 560g, it felt comfortable to wear throughout my session and never felt front-heavy the way some other VR headsets do. If you wear glasses, you’ll be happy to note there’s plenty of room to accommodate these too, so you won’t need to switch to contacts to play.
The lightweight nature of the PSVR2 is thanks, in part, to the fact that the headset is tethered to the PS5 via a USB-C cable. While this definitely comes with some advantages (like helping to facilitate the headset’s higher resolution), the cable can be a pain if you’re someone who likes to move around as you play. I did have someone spotting me as I made my way through Horizon: Call of the Mountain, but I would definitely be wary of tripping over it if I were playing alone.
Perhaps the biggest improvement to the headset design though is the inclusion of four in-headset cameras. One of the biggest gripes users had with the original PSVR was that it required the use of the external PlayStation camera, which meant having another peripheral plugged into your console.
The PSVR2 is meanwhile much easier to set up and use, and also includes a black-and-white see-through mode which allows you to see the room you’re in with the touch of a button. This definitely feels like a necessity – especially when you’re trying to pick up the controllers, which is an otherwise difficult feat once the headset is on.
Next-gen controllers
The controllers themselves are a huge step up from the Move controllers Sony paired with the first-gen headset, though they do feel a little less premium than I would have expected at this price point. Despite this, they are super lightweight, easy to hold and include haptic feedback (similar to the PS5 DualSense pad) so you can get fully immersed in the action.
Each controller features a single trigger and a pressable pad on the handle, with the circle and cross button located on the right controller and the square and triangle on the left. While the set up didn’t feel quite as intuitive as that of the DualSense controller, it didn’t take me too long to get my head around it.
The controllers also arrive with finger tracking sensors, which can match movements such as pulling a trigger. They can also sense a wide range of hand movements too, allowing you to walk, run and even climb mountains (more on that later), giving you a real life workout as you go.
Unlike the headset, the controllers for the PSVR2 are completely wireless, though we have no information at this stage around how long the battery will last.
Eye tracking and display
The most impressive part of the set up process had to be the eyetracking, which is done via a technique called foveated rendering. The process essentially tracks your eye movements to render the sharpest detail in the middle of where your eye is looking, which is how our eyes work in real life.
As part of the process, I had to follow dots around the screen using only my eyes – and the accuracy was absolutely spot on. When paired with the 110-degree field of view and the 2,000 x 2,040-pixel per eye display too, the graphics performance was actually pretty mind blowing when I first jumped into a game.
For my session, I tried out Sony’s flagship exclusive PSVR2 game, Horizon: Call of the Mountain, which opens with your character, Ryas, being held prisoner in the back of a boat. Rather than sitting passively as the game sets the scene, you can take in the vivid, post-apocalyptic landscape all around you, look down to see your ‘hands’ and even stick your hand in the water and feel it through the haptics.
As robotic dinosaur-like creatures swim under your boat or fly overhead, you’ll also get a satisfying little rumble through the haptics in the headset, helping to convince your brain that you’re really there as opposed to standing in an office space somewhere in Surry Hills, Sydney. In fact, I was so immersed that an ill-timed boat flip had me positively jumping out of my skin.
Once the demo got going, I was able to walk, run, climb ledges and shimmy my way up virtual vines by using a combination of buttons and hand and arm movements. The rock climbing experience, in particular, is eerily realistic – so I would strongly advise against looking down at that point if you’re afraid of heights.
As wonderfully immersive as virtual reality such as this is, however, it does come with a problem. While it isn’t exclusive to PlayStation or to the PSVR2 headset, those new to VR should be forewarned that virtual motion sickness is a real thing.
If you’ve ever experienced the onset of headaches, dizziness and nausea after playing certain types of games (I find it happens most often with FPS titles), or you just experience motion sickness in general, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about.
When your eyes perceive movement, but the rest of your senses tell your body it isn’t actually moving, it can create a conflict in your brain that can lead to some users feeling unwell. While some affected users may be able to largely offset this by playing sitting down or through building up a ‘tolerance’ by playing VR in increasingly longer increments, others may struggle to adapt.
As someone who gets quite severely motion sick in general, spending just half an hour with the headset on was enough for me to realise I should stick to standard gaming from now on.
For those blissfully unencumbered by this problem though, high-quality VR, such as the experience provided by the PSVR2, will grant you a whole new level of gaming immersion.
PSVR2 game catalogue
A total of 32 games will be launched alongside the PSVR2 on 22 February. The most anticipated of these is, of course, Horizon: Call of the Mountain, which I can confirm is a stellar introduction to what the next-gen headset can achieve. You can see a list of the other titles releasing this month below:
- After the Fall
- Altair Breaker
- Cities VR: Enhanced Edition
- Cosmonious High
- Demeo
- Dyschronia: Chronos Alternate
- Fantavision 202X
- Gran Turismo 7
- Job Simulator
- Jurassic World Aftermath
- Kayak VR: Mirage
- Kizuna AI – Touch the Beat!
- Moss & Moss: Book 2
- NFL Pro Era
- Pavlov VR
- Pistol Whip VR
- Puzzling Places
- Resident Evil Village
- Rez Infinite
- Song in the Smoke: Rekindled
- Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge
- Synth Riders
- Tentacular
- Tetris Effect: Connected
- The Last Clockwinder
- The Light Brigade
- The Tale of Onogoro
- Thumper
- Vacation Simulator
- What the Bat!
- Zenith: The Last City
While there are some standouts in the current line-up, like Gran Turismo in VR, a lot of the games launching for the PSVR2 are already available for other headsets, which is a little disappointing.
Of course, we do expect more games to become available throughout the year, so hopefully we’ll be seeing some brand new game options on the near horizon.
Owners of the original PSVR headset should also note that the PSVR2 is not backwards compatible, although some titles will be offering a free upgrade to the PSVR2 version.
The verdict
While my time with the PSVR2 was limited, I walked away seriously impressed. Between the power of the PlayStation 5 and the high-resolution OLED display, the headset is able to produce beautiful, vivid graphics that are a joy to experience. Additionally, the PSVR2 has been thoughtfully designed, with plenty of adjustment features, impressive eye tracking, advanced haptics and improved controllers.
While there are some caveats, such as the wired nature of the device, the headset is likely to be a top contender in the VR space when it launches later this month. Unfortunately, there’s no getting around the fact that the price is even higher than that of the PlayStation 5 console itself, which will make it inaccessible for many.
For those who can afford it though, the PSVR2 certainly lives up to Sony’s promise to help you “escape into worlds that feel truly real.”
>PRE-ORDER PLAYSTATION VR2 HORIZON: CALL OF THE MOUNTAIN BUNDLE
Looking for more gaming content? Check out the latest Nintendo Switch deals, top Xbox offers or top-rated gaming chairs.
‘Value for money’ mechanical keyboards for your PC
Blending an attractive design and responsive typing experience, this mechanical keyboard outshines its price tag.
‘Big problem’ with new PlayStation device
The PlayStation Portal may be an impressive piece of hardware, but its usability hinges on this one thing.
Lamp that ‘works like a charm’ plus the gaming accessories you need
Saving on space while brightening your desk, this desk accessory is a “must have” for those working or gaming in dimmer lighting conditions.
‘Brilliant quality’: Best gaming mice for all budgets
Praised for its great features and huge battery life, this "excellent" mouse has been spotted on sale.