New PlayStation VR feature helps prevent breaking your TV

New PSVR2 mode will keep you and your valuables safe while playing.

PlayStation unveiled a new feature of its upcoming VR headset, the PSVR2. Called “See-Through Mode”, the feature lets you check your environment while the headset remains on, helping you avoid tripping hazards or breaking any valuables in your home.

A common issue with VR headsets is that once you don the device, you cannot see your immediate surroundings. Developers have requested that players leave ample space to prevent running into walls or striking the TV, but for many, that is simply not an option due to limited floor space.

The PSVR2’s “see-through mode” allows you to set a boundary and trigger the external camera anytime you step outside of that safe area. You can also toggle it manually via a switch in the headset, or an option selected from the in-game menus. The new headset also comes with VR and Cinematic mode toggling — you can enjoy VR content at any time, but if you wish to play a non-VR game or see a movie, you can simply watch it on a huge screen in virtual space.

PSVR2. Picture: Sony Interactive Entertainment

These features are necessary — if you’ve never owned a VR headset, they can be quite cumbersome to take on and off every few minutes while you locate your controllers. See-through technology has existed on other VR headsets, but this is a first for PlayStation and will go a long way towards protecting your valuables while you try to shoot zombies.

There is no official launch date for the PSVR2, but analysts have predicted it would appear anytime between late Q4 2022 and Q2 2023. Price points have also not been released, but the first PSVR went on sale for around $700 AUD, so you can expect a similar price — if not more expensive, owing to the increased number of features, such as a small vent to keep your face cool while you run around.

If you’re looking for more PlayStation news, a US judge dismissed an antitrust lawsuit filed against the company over claims that their store was purposefully altered to become a monopoly — with the judge stating that the plaintiffs failed to prove their case.

Original reporting by Famitsu.

Written by Junior Miyai on behalf of GLHF.