Evaluation: PlayStation VR 2

To VR or not to VR: The age-old cost dilemma

In the 1990s, I was introduced to "VR" at a county fair. It was essentially like wearing a TV on your head for the purpose of demoing a racing game.That day, I believe I lost part of my vision. All in all, it was a really intriguing event, and I have continued to follow the technology since.

I was there at the unveiling of the first consumer-grade Oculus Rift headgear, the TV-helmet, and I saw all of the technological advances made in the next 20 years at once. However, there remained a significant amount of work to be done. About the last seven years, VR has had difficulty striking a balance between comfort and strength. Not very strong, yet pleasant, is the Oculus Quest 2. Some headsets prioritize power over clunk, as seen by their many finicky tracking sensors. The PS VR 2 is an excellent compromise with excellent technology, while the price point is undoubtedly a barrier. Let's discuss it.

The PlayStation VR 2 is the product. Product maker: Sony USB-C is the input type.MSRP: $549.99 (two Sense controllers included in the basic PSVR 2 unit)

PSVR 2 unboxing

Let's start by addressing the specifications:After opening every significant consumer-focused VR headset since the Rift, I was astounded by how easy it was to unpack the PSVR 2. Along with the headset, you also receive two PSVR Sense controllers, earbud headphones, a USB-C cable for charging the headset (more on that later), and a USB cable for the controllers. All you need is that. The gadget itself does not have any sensor towers, unlike some other headsets, nor does it have a massive converter box similar to the original PSVR.When it comes to VR setup, the PSVR 2 is unmatched. Just have a look at the comparative images I took below to see how much simpler it is to set up the PSVR 2 than its predecessor. The PSVR 2 is on the left. (a single USB-C cable),The original PSVR is seen on the right, with some wires arranged erratically for dramatic effect. What a difference! The headset took around 30 seconds to properly initialize on my PS5 after connecting it in, plus an additional 30 seconds to sync each controller (which must first be connected in).The PSVR 2 unit's external cameras are shown with a fantastic sci-fi pixelated overlay thanks to the amazingly smooth room scanning capability. It will just take 15 seconds to build your play area if you simply glance at your walls, ceiling, and floor. From my experience, the tracking is more precise than with the Oculus Quest 2, and it consistently scans the floor flawlessly every time (albeit it sometimes requires syncing by tapping a controller on its base). In addition, I discovered that the sensors need significantly less light to function than the Quest 2. It's not a bothersome feature, even if it technically still has a cable (the Quest 2 still stands out for not having one).

The PSVR 2's sensation after lengthy sessions

I played with the PSVR 2 for a long time, experimenting with different games and tinkering with the menus, as you might guess. Finding the ideal comfort level took some time at first, but I eventually succeeded.A button at the base of the visor allows you to slide it in and out. As with many contemporary VR headsets, this one can be adjusted to fit over spectacles. There is a dial on the rear that you may twist to tighten the visor around your head. You can also push the dial to release the headset. In terms of comfort adjustments, it is comparable to the original PSVR; however, the design is sleeker and more comfortable to wear for extended periods of time.Some people could find the sound issue problematic, but there are several ways to fix it. One of the few hardware issues that I have really encountered in my many hours with the gadget is the packed-in earphones, which are a bit frustrating since they don't always stay in the sides of the device (there are tiny holes with ridges to insert each bud in). I actually substituted a PS5 Pulse 3D headset for it, and it almost fits the headset, improving the seal to block out external noise. While the lack of speaker capability (i.e., built-in audio) on the gadget is unfortunate, it is a relatively minor compromise and one of the few significant technological compromises made on the device at all.

Photo courtesy of Sony

The controllers for PSVR 2 Sense

It seemed like a real VR hardware revolution when I first used the Oculus Touch controllers a little over six years ago. I became engrossed in playing and Superhot VR.Recalling Robots, I discovered that the technology had me totally enthralled. I have to admit that I'm still sort of in that daze. A game delivers an entirely unique experience when it fully leverages the dual-hand control method, setting it apart from typical gaming. To my satisfaction, the PSVR 2 Sense controllers carry on that tradition.Move is not as advanced as the PSVR 2 Sense controllers in terms of generations. Although it may seem apparent, if you have ever used a Touch/Valve Index style controller to play a game, you will understand what I mean. With a six-axis motion sensing system (three-axis gyroscope + three-axis accelerometer), the Sense controllers are remarkably sensitive and provide excellent finger tracking and haptic feedback. Relearning the PlayStation buttons that are unique to Sense may be a bit difficult at first, particularly if you're also using Oculus Touch or the Valve Index controllers. However, it didn't take me more than a day to get used to it, and most games give visual cues when tutorializing new inputs.The Sense controls are comfortable, much like the headset itself, even after extended use. They may be charged by USB in the same manner as the DualSense controllers, or you can choose to use a $50 Sense charging station that plugs into the wall and charges both of them simultaneously.

The state of the PSVR 2 launch game

This time, the main attraction is .A virtual reality spinoff from the Horizon Zero Dawn/Forbidden West franchise is called Horizon Call of the Mountain. Fortunately, it's quite decent; you can read up on it in detail here.The amount of virtual reality you've previously experienced will determine how awestruck you become from the remaining lineup. I find that around a quarter of the VR games available on the PSVR 2 are ones I've previously played on the Index, Oculus Quest 2, or even the Rift. That could restrict your alternatives, but it's not always a terrible thing. Having said that, I had a blast playing a few more popular cross-platform VR games on the PSVR 2 (such as Thumper). Many of these games have had many quality of life and content upgrades, along with technological improvements made to accommodate the PS5, making them very different from when they were first released.You don't need to worry whether you're a newbie or even if you've stopped playing VR. Modern VR classics like both of the Moss games, Rez Infinite, Tetris Effect, the aforementioned Thumper, Pistol Whip, Job Simulator, , and Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy's Edge are great places to start.In the near future, I'm excited to play Resident Evil Village in virtual reality (if it's anything like RE7, I'll be playing through it in full) and .The Shadow Images: Rewind. In the long run, Sony will have to persuade additional studios—both internal and external—to provide free VR updates to successful titles like the upcoming Gran Turismo 7 and Resident Evil Village. The lengthier wait times between major original VR projects like Horizon Call of the Mountain will be lessened with their assistance.The lineup for the PSVR 2 launch window is as follows:

• After the Fall (Vertigo Games)
• Altair Breaker (Thirdverse)
• Before Your Eyes (Skybound Interactive, launch window)
• Cities VR (Fast Travel Games)
• Cosmonious High (Owlchemy Labs)
• Creed: Rise to Glory – Championship Edition (Survios, launch window)
• The Dark Pictures: Switchback (Supermassive, launch window)
• Demeo (Resolution Games)
• Dyschronia: Chronos Alternate (MyDearest Inc., Perp Games)
• Fantavision 202X (Cosmo Machia, Inc.)
• Gran Turismo 7 (via free update to PS5 version of GT7)
• Horizon Call of the Mountain (Firesprite, Guerrilla)
• Job Simulator (Owlchemy Labs)
• Jurassic World Aftermath (Coatsink)
• Kayak VR: Mirage (Better Than Life)
• Kizuna AI – Touch the Beat! (Gemdrops, Inc.)
• The Last Clockwinder (Pontoco/Cyan Worlds)
• The Light Brigade (Funktronic Labs, purchase includes PS VR and PS VR2 versions)
• Moss 1 & 2 Remaster (Polyarc)
• NFL Pro Era (StatusPro, Inc., free PS VR2 upgrade)
• No Man’s Sky (Hello Games, launch window)
• Pavlov VR (Vankrupt)
• Pistol Whip (Cloudhead, free upgrade)
• Puzzling Places (Realities.io, free upgrade)
• Resident Evil Village (Capcom, via free update to PS5 version of RE Village)
• Rez Infinite (Enhance)
• Song in the Smoke (17 Bit)
• Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge – Enhanced Edition (ILMxLAB)
• Synth Riders (Kluge Interactive, free upgrade)
• The Tale of Onogoro (Amata K.K)
• Tentacular (Devolver)
• Tetris Effect: Connected (Enhance)
• Thumper (Drool LLC)
• The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners: Ch. 2: Retribution (Skydance, launch window)
• Townsmen VR (Handy Games)
• Vacation Simulator (Owlchemy Labs)
• What the Bat (Triband)
• Zenith: The Last City (Ramen VR, free upgrade)

Is a PSVR 2 a good purchase?

If you are among those who haven't invested in any VR platform, the PSVR 2 is a good starting point. Its marketplace already has a few VR classics, the Sense controllers are comparable to the greatest consumer VR technology on the market, and the PSVR 2 is strong enough to get you through this generation on its own. Technically speaking, the PSVR 2 is very impressive, and the Sense controllers will sell virtual reality to a far wider audience than Sony could have ever imagined with the Move. Sony seldom tries anything again, but with the PlayStation VR 2, they succeeded. There is currently enough there to keep both VR novices and experts occupied for a while.As an early user of any technology, you are probably aware of the dangers. The PSVR 2 seems less dangerous than its predecessor, however, since Sony has already invested money in creating a few games for the platform over the years and is probably not planning to give up on the VR market anytime soon._{[The publisher's retail build of the hardware served as the basis for this evaluation.]}