Virtual Reality has been one of the more intriguing experiences in gaming, especially once the technology behind that hardware caught up to the ambitions of game developers. While strapping a high-tech headset to your face has become more mainstream in recent years, VR technology from the likes of Steam, HTC, and Oculus hasn’t been as widely adopted in gaming circles as major consoles have.
Enter Sony, with its PlayStation VR2. Having learned a few lessons from its first foray into this space several years ago, PlayStation VR2 is a much-improved sequel that is far more enjoyable to handle, looks slick, and puts a Sony spin on the scene. PSVR 2 is a massive step forward for PlayStation, but one that commands a high-end price for the opportunity to experience a different kind of reality. You’ll find a breakdown of pricing further into this article.
Sony knows how to make a positive first impression with its technology, and PSVR 2 doesn’t disappoint. From a box that ensures its product looks and feels like a premium piece of hardware, to cradling the headset in your hands, the PSVR 2 is a marked improvement over its predecessor. For all the hype on launch, the original PSVR felt like it was cobbled together like Frankenstein’s monster. The headset was decent, the controllers were PS3 Move devices that never caught on when they first hit the market back in 2010, and you had to deal with a rat’s nest of cables before you could even start playing games.
In comparison, PSVR 2 is both simple and elegant. Taking a few design cues from the next-gen design of the PS5, this headset looks futuristic and has only a single cable to plug in. Accompanying it are “Sense” controllers that have borrowed a few ideas from the popular current DualSense controller bundled with the PS5. Not only a handsome piece of technology, the PSVR 2 is also supremely comfortable to wear for an extended period of time thanks to some clever design in the ergonomics department.
Well-cushioned and featuring a range of materials that mold comfortably to your face, the PSVR 2 can easily be dialed in–literally!–to fit your cranium. Another dial allows you to set the lens distance from your face, while thoughtful extras like a small ear buds that can easily be plugged into the larger headset help heighten the comfort of using it. Once you’re connected and ready to go, setting up the PSVR 2 is one of the coolest experiences for a newcomer to dive into.
Most VR games can be played standing up or sitting down, and PSVR 2 maps your surroundings to gauge the optimal space for you to use the device in. It’s recommended that you have a 2 x 2 meter area, but you’ll still be able to enjoy the experience if you’re operating in a tighter box. Once you’re set up and you have a few games downloaded, the real magic of PSVR 2 shines through the impressive technology that Sony has managed to squeeze into the system’s matte-white plastic shell.
Internally, PSVR 2 has a number of technical bells and whistles. OLED panels combine to create a 4K image for your eyes, eye-tracking cameras follow your line of sight, and, using foveated rendering, image quality automatically adjusts and sharpens when the headset detects what you’re staring at in real-time. If you’re worried that you’ll be oblivious when someone enters your room, fret not as you can push a button located on the headset to switch the external cameras on, giving you a rendered view of your real-life surroundings.
When it comes to the Sense controllers, virtual reality feels real thanks to some terrific haptic feedback. Shaped like orbs, these lightweight controllers combine adaptive triggers, vibrations, and finger touch detection to track your digits at all times.
This is all a serious evolution of Sony’s VR efforts, and the company’s ambitious return to this gaming space comes with a marquee launch title in the shape of Horizon Call of the Mountain. If you’re looking for that showcase game that leverages all of the new VR technology to really sell what this hardware is capable of, then look no further than this spin-off from Horizon Zero Dawn and Forbidden West. Developer Guerrilla has harnessed every unique aspect of PSVR 2 to create a stunning example of what can be, creating an experience that’s in a league of its own.
That sets a high bar for PSVR 2 because the rest of its current library doesn’t reach the highs of Call of the Mountain. While it has launched with dozens of games, every other title available on the Sony headset is also available on competing VR hardware. Games like Resident Evil Village, Tetris Effect: Connected, and Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge can all be found on other established platforms, and if Sony wants to stand out from the pack, it needs to flex its first-party muscles to deliver a regular stream of exclusives for PSVR 2.
This point hits hard when you factor in that original PSVR games aren’t compatible with PSVR 2, leaving an entire generation of excellent titles to wither away. Games like Batman: Arkham VR and Astro Bot: Rescue Mission are sadly left behind with the previous generational offering, but there’s always hope they could eventually be ported over. That’s not to say that the current list is lacking, as there are some great games to experience if you’ve yet to try them out.
PSVR 2 shines with small and unique experiences – games that can easily devour your attention for short bursts of interactive fun. While Call of the Mountain is PSVR 2’s show-off release, titles like No Man’s Sky, Gran Turismo 7, and Drums Rock are terrific examples of unique VR gameplay experiences. Throw in John Wick-simulator Pistol Whip, the goofy What The Bat?, and decadent synesthesia through titles such as Rez Infinite and Thumper, and you’ve got some perfect digital escapism right there.
Where to buy PlayStation VR2
There’s one other sticking point with PSVR 2, and that’s the cost. VR isn’t cheap, but the price tag attached to PSVR 2 will make you do a double-take as you’ll need a minimum of R13,500 to acquire the headset (get the Horizon Call of the Mountain bundle and that jumps to R14,500). That’s on top of the cash needed to purchase a compatible PS5 console–R10,300 to R12,500 depending on the model–which adds up to a hefty total to get your VR on.
These are some major hurdles for PSVR 2 to overcome, but that’s not impossible if development focus can be sustained, and player interest in the experience only grows. Looking forward, there are enough positive signs. Horizon Call of the Mountain does an excellent job of selling people on what PSVR 2 is capable of. Resident Evil 4 Remake has a VR version in development, and the third-party library is off to a fine start so far. On a technical level, PSVR 2 is a superb piece of kit that elevates the games that make full use of it features. Combined with one of the most powerful consoles on the market, it looks set to deliver similar experiences for years to come.
Undeniably impressive, if pricy, PSVR 2 is a powerful competitor to the current kings of the virtual reality space. If Sony can maintain its VR momentum with a long-term cadence of exclusive releases and support for unique titles, then the future of PSVR 2 looks bright.