PlayStation VR2 arrives, a new generation of virtual reality from Sony

In 2020, Sony proposed to players to move towards a new generation with the launch of PS5 and three years later it puts on the table the option of taking another step with PlayStation VR2, a virtual reality device that we welcome today. The Japanese company is one of the main promoters of this technology, which is also supported by Meta, HTC, Valve and ByteDance, among others. However, if you want a console with virtual reality support, your only option today is the PS5 plus PS VR2 combo.

Anyone interested in PlayStation VR2 has to take into account that we are facing one of the most advanced reality viewers at the moment. This means that it is not an economic product. The technical sheet tells us that we are dealing with a device with OLED panels with a resolution of 2000×2040 per eye, a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz and a field of view of about 110 degrees. The inside-out tracking system makes use of four cameras integrated into the helmet, which avoids having to resort to external cameras like in PS VR, while an IR sensor allows tracking of the user’s eyes.

The eye tracking IR camera is a major new feature. Thanks to this sensor, PS VR2 can use foved rendering, a technology that offers a high-fidelity visual experience by adjusting resolutions to specify and enhance what the user is looking at.

In addition to offering a technologically advanced headset, Sony has paid special attention to comfort, which is very important in virtual reality. In this sense, PS VR2 has features such as adjustable lens separation, an adjustable headband and a design that allows glasses to be worn inside the helmet. The weight of the device has also been reduced to 560 grams, which is compared to the 600 grams of PS VR.

One of the most criticized aspects of PS VR2 is the need to connect to a PlayStation 5 via a single USB-C cable, which by the way measures approximately 4.5 meters. This can be a handicap for many, but if what you are looking for is to deliver the best possible virtual reality experience, the truth is that you need a team that does the job. The PS5 console takes care of that in the same way that Valve Index uses a PC. Standalone viewers like Meta Quest 2 have convinced many, but they have their limitations. The differences are also noticeable in the experience and the price of the devices.

Those who get hold of a PS VR2 headset should have a clutter-free room ready. One of the novelties of the device is that it allows you to customize the game area. The built-in cameras can scan the room, while the PS VR2 Sense controller expands and adjusts the playing area based on the needs of each person and the room itself. The user who approaches the limit of the defined area will receive a warning. Thanks to the outside vision function you can see the surroundings while wearing the helmet.

And the games? If something differentiates PS VR2 from the rest of the virtual reality devices, it is the effort that Sony makes to feed it with its own and third-party software. PlayStation Studios’ big bet is Horizon Call of the Mountain and the Gran Turismo 7 update, while the third party will contribute titles such as No Man’s Sky, Fantavision 202X, After the Fall, Cities VR, Kayak VR: Mirage, Rez Infinite, Resident Evil Village (with free update), Tetris Effect, Demeo, Pavlov VR and Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge . The PS VR 2 launch window is made up of more than 40 titles.

However, at the software level there is a huge but: PS VR2 is not backwards compatible with PS VR games. This means that the entire library of virtual reality titles that each one has will be of no use unless the developer has worked on an update. Some have done so and offer it for free, while others have preferred to re-release their game on PS VR2 and charge again.

What do those who have already tried PS VR2 say? During the last days we have been able to read and see different media and people share their analysis or experience with the new virtual reality device. A specialized page like Digital Foundry It claims that PS VR2 rivals any high-end PC headset in terms of specs, is much more comfortable than PS VR, and its VR experience is truly next-gen. On the negative side we have the software, there is nothing comparable to Half-Life: Alyx, and the price. PS VR2 costs 599.99 euros, a cost that is added to that of PS5 and that is not within the reach of many.