The PlayStation VR2 (PS VR2) has arrived as Sony’s second stab at virtual reality (VR) for console gamers, and it’s undoubtedly a major step forward from its predecessor.
With advanced features like eye tracking, improved controllers, higher resolution, and haptic feedback, the PS VR2 promises to deliver a more immersive experience than ever before.
However, as with any piece of cutting-edge technology, there are both impressive highlights and notable drawbacks.
After spending a good deal of time with it, here’s my in-depth review of the PS VR2, touching on everything from its design and setup to the overall experience and content available.
Design and Comfort
First things first: the PS VR2 feels much sleeker and more refined than the original PlayStation VR. Sony has clearly learned a lot since the launch of their first headset back in 2016.
The new design is a bit slimmer and, more importantly, much more comfortable to wear for extended gaming sessions.
The front visor is better balanced, reducing the strain on the front of your head, and the adjustable headband helps you find the right fit with ease.
The headset doesn’t feel too heavy, and the face padding is soft yet firm enough to block out most external light.
One thing I particularly appreciated is the improved ease of putting it on and adjusting it.
Unlike some other VR headsets that make you feel like you’re gearing up for a deep-sea dive, the PS VR2 headset slides on smoothly, and the single wire that connects it to the PlayStation 5 is long and flexible enough that it doesn’t feel cumbersome.
That said, the wired connection might be a deal-breaker for some, especially in a world where wireless VR headsets like the Meta Quest are common.
The wire can get in the way sometimes, and it slightly limits your range of movement. However, it’s a compromise made in favor of better performance and graphical fidelity, so it’s a trade-off that many players might be willing to accept.
Display and Visual Fidelity
One of the standout features of the PS VR2 is its display. It sports two OLED screens with a resolution of 2000×2040 per eye, which is a significant upgrade from the original PS VR’s 960×1080 resolution.
The jump in resolution is immediately noticeable the first time you put on the headset.
The image clarity is fantastic, with vibrant colors and deep blacks, which are especially effective in games with dark environments or space-themed settings.
The 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth motion, reducing motion sickness, which is always a concern with VR.
The increased field of view (around 110 degrees) helps immerse you further into the game, giving you a wider view of your surroundings.
When you’re standing in the middle of a beautifully rendered environment, the display truly shines.
However, while the visuals are crisp and detailed, there is still a little bit of the “screen door effect” (where you can faintly see the grid of pixels), but it’s much less noticeable than on the original PS VR or other lower-end headsets.
For the most part, the graphics look sharp enough that it’s easy to forget you’re looking at a screen.
Tracking and Controllers
The biggest jump in technology between the PS VR and the PS VR2 is in tracking.
The PS VR2 uses inside-out tracking, meaning it relies on the cameras built into the headset rather than external sensors to track your movement.
This is a massive improvement in terms of setup and accuracy. You don’t need to worry about positioning a camera or setting up tracking stations around your room; everything is handled by the headset itself.
It can track your head movements, controllers, and even your eyes, which leads to some cool gameplay mechanics.
The new Sense controllers are also a huge upgrade from the original Move controllers. They feel much more comfortable to hold and are loaded with the same haptic feedback and adaptive triggers found in the PS5’s DualSense controller.
This adds another layer of immersion, as you can feel the tension in the triggers when pulling a bowstring or the vibration in your hands when something explodes nearby.
The adaptive triggers, in particular, are a standout feature, providing varying levels of resistance based on in-game actions.
One of the PS VR2’s most futuristic features is its eye-tracking technology. This allows the headset to detect where you’re looking and use that information to enhance the gameplay.
In some games, you can interact with objects or make selections just by looking at them, which feels incredibly intuitive.
This eye-tracking technology also enables foveated rendering, a technique where the system focuses its rendering power on where you’re looking, improving performance without sacrificing visual quality.
Immersion and Haptics
VR is all about immersion, and the PS VR2 does a lot to pull you into its world. Beyond the visual fidelity, the haptic feedback system built into the headset itself is a clever touch.
You can actually feel subtle vibrations on your head in certain moments, like the rumble of a spaceship or the sensation of a gust of wind brushing past you. While it’s a relatively small feature, it adds to the overall sense of immersion.
Combining that with the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers in the Sense controllers, you really feel like the world around you is reacting to what you do.
It’s not just visual feedback anymore; the physical sensations make the experience feel more visceral.
For instance, when playing a game like “Horizon Call of the Mountain,” climbing feels more interactive because of the resistance in the triggers and the little vibrations that mirror the rocky surfaces you’re scaling.
Games and Content
No VR headset is worth much without a strong library of games, and the PS VR2 is launching with a decent lineup, though it’s not yet a game-changer.
Flagship titles like “Horizon Call of the Mountain” are stunning in terms of both gameplay and visual design.
The game takes full advantage of all of the PS VR2’s features, from eye-tracking and haptic feedback to immersive audio and high-resolution graphics.
Other games, like “Gran Turismo 7” and “Resident Evil Village,” have received VR updates, and both of them are spectacular experiences.
Driving in Gran Turismo feels more real than ever, and horror in Resident Evil VR is a whole new level of terrifying.
That said, the current game lineup is still somewhat limited. While the PS VR2 is backward-compatible with some PS VR titles, not every game has been optimized for the new hardware.
I expect that as developers get more familiar with the hardware, we’ll see more ambitious PSVR 2 games in the future.
However, if you’re hoping for a massive library of games right out of the gate, you might be a little underwhelmed for now.
Setup and Ease of Use
Setting up the PS VR2 is refreshingly simple compared to many other VR headsets. Gone are the days of dealing with multiple cords, external sensors, and calibration steps.
You just plug the headset into the PlayStation 5 with a single cable, and you’re good to go. The PlayStation 5’s UI integrates smoothly with the PS VR2, and it’s easy to jump between VR and non-VR content.
One of the coolest features is the pass-through mode, which lets you see the real world around you without taking off the headset.
It’s not in full color, more of a grayscale, but it’s incredibly handy for when you need to quickly check your surroundings or grab a drink without fumbling around in virtual space.
However, one limitation is that the PS VR2 is tied exclusively to the PlayStation 5. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you’re already a PlayStation gamer, but it does limit the versatility of the headset compared to something like the Meta Quest, which can also be used with a PC or standalone.
If you don’t already have a PS5, this adds significantly to the cost of entry.
Price and Value
Speaking of cost, the PS VR2 doesn’t come cheap. It’s priced at $549.99, which is actually more than the PlayStation 5 itself.
When you factor in the cost of the console, you’re looking at a substantial investment for a gaming setup.
While the hardware and performance justify the price to some extent, it’s still a tough pill to swallow for casual gamers or those new to VR.
That said, if you’re a hardcore gamer or someone who already owns a PS5, the PS VR2 offers an exceptional VR experience without the need for a high-end gaming PC.
It bridges the gap between high-end PC VR setups and standalone headsets like the Meta Quest, offering a more premium experience for console users.
Final Verdict
The PlayStation VR2 is a significant leap forward in console VR, offering stunning visuals, intuitive controllers, and deeply immersive gameplay features like haptic feedback and eye tracking. It’s sleek, comfortable, and easy to set up, making it a solid choice for VR Fans.
However, its reliance on the PlayStation 5, relatively high price, and currently limited game library might make some hesitant to take the plunge.
If you’re already invested in the PlayStation ecosystem and are excited about VR, the PS VR2 is absolutely worth it.
But if you’re on the fence or looking for a more versatile or budget-friendly VR solution, you might want to wait and see how the content library grows over the next year.
In conclusion, Sony has laid a strong foundation with the PS VR2, and while it’s not perfect, it delivers a premium VR experience that shows a lot of promise for the future.
