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PSVR 2 is coming soon, and the upcoming generation of Virtual Reality looks incredible. Sony has officially announced the PSVR 2 alongside the Playstation VR2 Sense controller, and the bundle is set to be released on February 22nd.
Very recently, Sony, who seem to enjoy being quiet about their new releases, updated their PSVR 2 FAQs page. It’s essentially a manual and details everything that you can do with their latest VR headset. We’d recommend anyone with an interest in the headset to take a look.
Read Now: PSVR vs PSVR 2: Is PlayStation’s latest VR headset worth the upgrade?
The latest news coming out in relation to the PSVR 2 is details of all the games confirmed to be released with it. Recently we heard the great news that The Dark Pictures: Switchback would be another launch title for the headset. This horror rail shooter is sure to prove popular among those wishing to use VR to scare the wits out of themselves, making use of the new eye-tracking technology to terrifying effect.
Jim Ryan, the CEO of PlayStation also revealed at Sony’s 2023 CES presentation that Grand Turismo 7 would be getting a free upgrade to PSVR 2, placing it alongside the 30 confirmed PSVR 2 games. We even got a sneak peek at the game play of what is sure to be one of the headset’s most popular games.
Ryan also confirmed Beat Saber as another launch title and reassured viewers that these games were on track for the console’s February release.
CES 2023 also allowed journalists to get their hands on the PSVR 2 and generally positive responses to the headset have been recorded by CNN and Trusted Reviews, whilst the HTC Vive XR Elite has also been announced and opened for pre-order.
Our review of the PSVR 2 is now live!
PSVR 2 release date and price confirmed
According to a tweet from the official PlayStation account, we now have a confirmed release date for the PSVR 2 – February 22, 2023.
We also know that we’re going to be seeing the following prices for the PSVR 2: $549.99 / €599.99 / £529.99 / ¥74,980. This places it in the middle of the current VR market, far below the high prices of Meta Quest Pro and Vive ER Elite but higher than the Vive Flow.
The first thing many of us will want to do after getting our hands on the PSVR 2 is to get our hands on a PSVR 2 game. Sony has made this easy by offering a bundle deal with Horizon Call of the Mountain. You can get the game and the headset for $599.99 / €649.99 / £569.99 / ¥79,980.
While for now you can only pre-order directly from the PlayStation store, we have made some educated guesses on where you can buy the PSVR 2 after its release. This includes big retailers like Amazon and Best Buy
PSVR 2 first impressions
Here’s the first look at the PSVR 2 we’ve had. We’ve been lucky enough to get our hands on a PSVR 2 console, and we expect the review to be coming soon. In light of that, we’re excited to share with you our first impressions of the console’s appearance.
It’s an incredibly well-made console, with the same white-rounded design scheme as the PS5 and DualSense controllers. It fits onto your head comfortably, and the controllers are ergonomic and satisfying to hold.
The future seems bright for VR.
PSVR 2 pre-orders now available without invitation
Quietly and without fuss, Sony has opened up PSVR2 pre-orders to anyone with a PlayStation account. Previously you could only order it via invitation, invites being given to those who had registered interest months ago. This locked off pre-ordering for many of us.
However, this barrier has now been removed meaning that any and all of us can go over to the PlayStation Store and place our orders. Doing so now should mean you’re waiting no more than a week after the release date for the VR headset to arrive.
What to expect from the PSVR 2?
As per a Sony blog-post, here are some of the new features we can expect from the new PSVR 2 headset.
Visual Fidelity: For a high-fidelity visual experience, PS VR2 offers 4K HDR, 110-degree field of view, and foveated rendering. With an OLED display, players can expect a display resolution of 2000×2040 per eye and smooth frame rates of 90/120Hz.
Headset-based Controller Tracking: With inside-out tracking, PS VR2 tracks you and your controller through integrated cameras embedded in the VR headset. Your movements and the direction you look at are reflected in-game without the need for an external camera.
New Sensory Features: PS VR2 Sense Technology combines eye tracking, headset feedback, 3D Audio, and the innovative PS VR2 Sense controller to create an incredibly deep feeling of immersion. Headset feedback is a new sensory feature that amplifies the sensations of in-game actions from the player. It’s created by a single built-in motor with vibrations that add an intelligent tactile element, bringing players closer to the gameplay experience. For example, gamers can feel a character’s elevated pulse during tense moments, the rush of objects passing close to the character’s head, or the thrust of a vehicle as the character speeds forward. Additionally, PS5’s Tempest 3D AudioTech makes sounds in the player’s surroundings come alive, adding to this new level of immersion.
Eye Tracking: With eye tracking, PS VR2 detects the motion of your eyes, so a simple look in a specific direction can create an additional input for the game character. This allows players to interact more intuitively in new and lifelike ways, allowing for a heightened emotional response and enhanced expression that provide a new level of realism in gaming.
Playstation Blog, January 2022.
Will there be any PSVR 2 stock on release?
PSVR 2 invites to pre-orders are already live and in very high demand.
We’re predicting a lot hype around the PSVR 2, so it’s very possible that it’ll be a challenge getting your hands on the PSVR 2 headset. Indeed, Sony has also chosen to sell the first batch of headsets directly from their website, meaning at least to begin with everyone will be flocking to PlayStation’s website.
What’s new with the PSVR 2?
The biggest new feature with PSVR 2 that trumps pretty much all other headsets is the 4K functionality. With a maximum framerate of 120, the average consumer is yet to experience such a visually engorging experience in VR. Two 2000 x 2040 OLED displays sit inside the headset, which splashes the 960 x 1080 OLED displays of the previous iteration far out of the water.
Another key addition to the PSVR 2 is eye-tracking, which allows players to have another mode of input to the device and the games they are playing.
Sensory feedback is now an option, which will further immerse you into the game – if the 4K @ 120fps wasn’t already enough!
What’s new with the PSVR 2 Sense controller?
The new design of the PSVR 2 Sense controller is extremely ergonomic and offers great functionality. The orb design allows you to both manoeuvre the controller and use the buttons and joysticks simultaneously, which is really key when enjoying VR as you want to limit your connection to the real world as much as possible.
The analog buttons remind of the buttons within the Dualshock 4 ecosystem, so you know that you’re in for a comfortable gaming experience.
Not only that, but haptic feedback and finger touch detection improves your immersion and reduces the amount of interaction you need with a device to receive an input or to output a command yourself.
Overall, the new controller is a huge improvement on the Playstation Move controllers that were previously required for PSVR.
Read Now: PlayStation DualSense Edge Controller release date, pre-orders, and newest features
What are the PSVR 2 specs?
- 2 x (2000 x 2040) OLED at 90 / 120 Hz
- 110 degrees F.O.V
- Six-axis motion sensing system
- IR proximity sensor
- 4 embedded camera
- Haptic vibration feedback
- USB Type-C
- Microphone
- Headphone jack
Is the PSVR 2 backwards compatible with PSVR games?
In an interview on the official Playstation Podcast, Hideaki Nishino confirmed that PSVR games will not be compatible with PSVR 2 headsets in order to provide a “next-generation VR experience.”
This is partially due to the hardware differences between the two platforms. The PSVR 2 relies on an entirely new design of hardware, compared to the PSVR which uses Playstation Move.
We can only hope that some of the PSVR’s biggest games, such as Astrobot, receive a working port to PSVR2.
PSVR 2 release date FAQs
What bundles are there for the PSVR 2?
PlayStation are launching a Horizon Call of the Mountain bundle for $599.
Is the PSVR 2 expensive?
The PSVR 2 is going to cost $549, which is almost $200 dollars higher than the PSVR on release. This was expected after release of the Meta Quest Pro.
