As the release of PS VR2 draws closer, we’re slowly learning more about what to expect from Sony’s latest virtual reality headset. We’ve gotten several updates to the system so far, all of which give us more clues about what PS VR2 has in store.
Virtual reality seems to be fast becoming the future of gaming, and PS VR2 is becoming the headset that could take us there. Here’s everything we know about PS VR2 so far.
What does PS VR2 look like?
The official design of the system was revealed in an update posted to the PlayStation Blog on February 22, 2022. While it bears similarities to the original PS VR, they are definitely sisters, not twins.
The new PS VR2 headset (pictured above) has a similar design to its predecessor. It has kept the adjustable halo strap that made it one of the most comfortable headsets on the market, as well as the same rounded shape as its older counterpart.
However, it’s been upgraded to the PlayStation 5’s sleek black and white color scheme. PS VR2’s resemblance to PlayStation’s ninth-generation console means they’re sure to make an attractive pair on any gamer’s mantel. But while it’s nice, the color scheme wasn’t the biggest design change that caught the attention of gamers.
controllers
The PS VR 2 will ditch the dated PlayStation Move controllers that were first released alongside the PS3 in 2010. Instead, these controllers will be replaced by the next-gen PS VR2 controllers, which are more similar to those of the Meta Quest 2.
PS VR2 will use the inside-out tracking system for its controllers. The inside-out tracking system uses a series of LED lights fitted to both the controllers and the headset itself, meaning no matter where you are, the headset should always be within range of the controllers.
This method of motion tracking is what the Meta Quest 2 uses and has proven to have superior reliability compared to the previous PS VR controllers. It should be a huge improvement over the PS VR and it’s definitely one we’re excited about.
Wired vs. Wireless
Much to gamers’ dismay, PS VR2 remains a wired system that plugs directly into the PlayStation console. There are many pros and cons to a wired headset.
A wired VR headset means you never have to worry about your system’s battery life and at the very least the price would be much cheaper than a wireless alternative.
Improved ventilation
One problem that has plagued dedicated VR users is that the system’s screen fogs up after long gaming sessions. PS VR2 solves this problem by including vents to improve air circulation through the headset.
Yujin Morisawa, Senior Art Director at SIE who led PS VR2 headset design, explained in the PlayStation Blog post: “When I started working on the design for the PlayStation VR2 headset, one of the areas where I first focused wanted to focus on the idea of creating a vent in the headset to let air out, similar to the vents on the PS5 console that allow airflow”.
This small but important design feature can be found between the top and front of the scope in the final PS VR2 design.
PS VR2 . Features and Specifications
According to the PS VR2 product page on the PlayStation website, PS VR2 will include:
| Display | Fresnel OLED screen |
| Solution | 4K HDR, 2000 x 2040 per eye |
| field of view | 110 degrees |
| Refresh rate | 90, 120 Hz |
| FSR | Flexible scaling resolution concentrates rendering resources on the player’s focus area |
| Follow eye | Yes |
| Haptics in headset | Yes |
| controllers | Adaptive triggers, capacitive touch sensors |
This is a huge upgrade from the original PS VR which only had a 100-degree field of view and a 1920×1080 OLED screen per eye. The original PS VR did suffer from graphical issues, including blurry images and the screen door effect. These improved specs will hopefully fix most of them.
Follow eye
One of the most exciting new features of PS VR2 is its eye-tracking capabilities. This uses sensors that can detect your eye’s movements, allowing the headset to be adjusted without requiring the user to move their entire head.
There are VR headsets on the market that currently use eye-tracking technology, but those were mostly business headsets. It will be incredible to see what eye-tracking technology can do for the world of VR gaming.
Transparent display
Another update posted to the PlayStation blog on July 26, 2022 revealed several more key PS VR2 features, including a see-through display function. By switching from using the PlayStation Eye camera to embedding a camera in the headset itself, users can access the PS VR2’s camera while still wearing the headset. By touching the function button on the side of the headset, players can turn on the internal camera to view their surroundings.
This feature is a great improvement in quality of life. By allowing gamers to check their phone when they receive a call or even find their lost PS VR2 controllers without having to remove the headset itself, they can have a more seamless VR gaming experience.
This internal camera allows the PS VR’s competitor, the Meta Quest 2, to track the movements of players’ fingers. This will eventually allow players to use the headset without controllers in compatible games. If you are interested in trying out VR games without a controller, check out the best VR games to play without a controller.
Customizable Play Area
Another issue Sony is addressing with PS VR2 is the lack of security features that the original PR VR had. Immersion is the name of the virtual reality game. This makes it incredibly easy to get so involved in your game that you completely lose sight of your surroundings.
The reality of the game becomes your reality. We’ve all seen videos online where people get so submerged that they run with their heads against a wall or punch their TV square in the face because they thought it was a face-eating zombie.
With PS VR2, players can create a customizable play space. By using PS VR2 to map their environment, users can draw a boundary within which they can play safely. The system warns the player when they approach the edge of the boundary so that they can return to the safe zone.
Broadcast
PS VR2 could also change the game for Twitch streamers. Using the PS5 HD camera, players can stream an image of themselves with their VR headset directly to their streaming service.
The streamer’s image is superimposed on a feed from the headset itself to give viewers a first-hand look at everything that’s going on during that intense boss battle. This feature makes streaming from the device easier than ever for content creators.
What games are coming to PS VR2?
Technology and specs in VR headsets are great, but what’s the point if there aren’t any games to use them with? Fortunately, this doesn’t seem to be an issue with PS VR2. During the Game & Network Services portion of Sony’s 2022 Business Segment Briefings (slide 23), Jim Ryan revealed that PS VR2 will be released at launch with 20+ first and third-party games.
Some of these games have already been announced, such as Horizon: Call of the Mountain. Horizon: Call of the Mountain is being developed specifically for PS VR2 and is expected to be a launch title for the new system that takes full advantage of the enhanced features of PS VR2.
Cinematic Mode
Just like the PS VR, the cinematic mode also allows you to play any game with PS VR2. Movie mode lets you immerse yourself in all your favorite PlayStation games and increases the PS VR library tenfold.
However, it’s worth noting that PS VR2 is a PlayStation 5 hardware exclusive and no original PS VR games are expected to be released on the PlayStation 5. So while you can use PS VR2 to play backwards compatible PS4 titles on the PS5, two headsets are not interchangeable.
You can also use Movie mode to watch Blu-ray movies through your PlayStation or even stream shows from Netflix and other apps.
Movie mode on PS VR2 works in 1920×1080 HDR video format at 24/60Hz and 120HZ frame rate.
When will PS VR2 be released?
While PlayStation has released a lot of information about its next-gen VR headset, we still don’t have a confirmed release date or price for the console.
Fans should speculate on the price of the PS VR2 and when it might be released. But due to increasing updates and game announcements, PS VR2 could hit shelves sometime in 2023.
Now it’s just a waiting game
This is a summary of all the information we have about PS VR2 so far. It’s only a matter of time before we get another update, possibly including pricing and a release date for PS VR2.
Sony traditionally sticks to a holiday release window for its major releases, so it’s possible the next update will arrive later in 2022.
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