Sony occupies a unique place in the gaming console market with its PlayStation VR. In fact, neither Microsoft nor Nintendo offer a virtual reality solution for their consoles. After a first headset that was late in development for the PS4, with the PS VR 2 and PS5 Sony seems to have gone all out to design the ideal console and headset for virtual reality. We could test it.
Technical worksheet
The PlayStation VR 2 was loaned to us by Sony for this test.
A well thought-out design that still lacks surfaces
Forget the DIY that represented the first PlayStation VR with its special box, PlayStation Camera or PlayStation Move from another era. With PS VR 2, Sony has completely redesigned the experience to make it seamless with its PS5.
Source: Chloé Pertuis and Anthony Wonner – Frandroid
At the heart of the experience is a helmet that uses the design codes of the PlayStation 5 and the DualSense controller with its black and white dress. The exterior is made of a hard matte plastic that’s pretty satisfying under the finger. We can say the opposite of the element that serves as a visor in front of the lenses, a soft plastic in an uncomfortable accordion.
Source: Chloé Pertuis and Anthony Wonner – Frandroid
We have the impression of touching an inferior plastic, similar to that used in entry-level products. It’s a visibly replaceable element that we might be able to get Sony to replace as it wears out, but the design isn’t compelling on its own. Other virtual reality headsets do just fine without them.
Source: Chloé Pertuis and Anthony Wonner – Frandroid
Putting that visor aside, which will please or shock, the entire helmet offers a well-controlled design.
Installing the helmet
We can distinguish two essential parts of the helmet. A part that corresponds to a crown in which we can customize the installation of the helmet and a second that contains the mask itself, which in idea resembles a diving mask or a periscope visor.
The assembly of the helmet is therefore very logical in two steps. The crown is placed on the head first, in a position where the back is placed under the skull and the front covers the forehead. The gesture is very simple and by pressing the button on the back you can release the assembly. You place the object on your head and simply aim for its back with one hand.
The configuration of the headset is done on the console with fairly clear instructions
Once this is all done, a button on the visor allows you to adjust the distance between the eyes and the lenses. Here the plastic accordion will play its role, trying to block the external light that could find its way between our face and the lenses.
Source: Chloé Pertuis and Anthony Wonner – Frandroid
Now only the pupil distance, i.e. the distance between the eyes, has to be set. A wheel is placed on the left above the visor. Through the PS5 interface, you can quickly adjust this distance to refine the display.
comfort
The number 1 criterion when it comes to a VR headset is how comfortable it is to wear. It’s perhaps the most comfortable helmet we’ve tested over the course of a session to date. We did feel the mental heat such a headset can cause with its bright screens in front of the eyes and its immersion, but the weight of the headset was never felt.
There are a few points to explain on this part. First of all, you have to make sure that the helmet is adjusted correctly. On several sessions we had the forehead too close to the hard plastic which crushed the accordion part. As a result, you could feel an almost cutting hard plastic edge on the skin, which was particularly uncomfortable.
Source: Chloé Pertuis and Anthony Wonner – Frandroid
It should also be remembered that this is not a standalone battery-powered headset, but a wired headset. It will therefore be necessary not to get tangled with the cable, but this has the advantage of creating a lighter and easier-to-design helmet for Sony.
As we’ll see, that doesn’t stop the PS VR 2 from being crammed with small tech, which calls for built-in ventilation. By straining our ear near the vent, we could hear the blowing of the fan cooling the helmet. It’s never a problem in use, but we must point out its presence here.
Controllers: the great success of this PS VR 2
Since the presentation of the DualSense, we have been very excited to discover the future controllers of the PS VR 2, as the PS5 controller technologies seemed to be designed for virtual reality. The least we can say is that the result is there.
Sony offers two PlayStation VR 2 Sense Controllers with its VR headset. Each controller uses DualSense technologies: force feedback trigger, gyroscope, advanced vibration, built-in battery, and USB-C charging. We mix that with a clear inspiration from the state of the art on the market, the Meta Quest’s two controllers, and we get the controllers from Sony.
Source: Chloé Pertuis and Anthony Wonner – Frandroid
The soft plastic used by the controllers is very comfortable and the whole thing exudes quality finishes. We also like the black and white aesthetic consistency with the console and headset. We have a very futuristic look like we can see in science fiction movies.
Source: Chloé Pertuis and Anthony Wonner – Frandroid
There are still some disadvantages in use. The shape of the controller with that large identification bracelet and the controls in the middle makes it difficult to get a good grip on the controller, that is when you can’t see the controller and you have to use your hands to find your way around. Sony also decided to change the position of the L1/L2 and R1/R2 buttons and shutter release buttons. Now your index finger falls on the trigger instead of the button. So you need to change your habits.
Source: Chloé Pertuis and Anthony Wonner – Frandroid
Source: Chloé Pertuis and Anthony Wonner – Frandroid
Finally, there is the question of the autonomy of the controllers. According to our tests, it is below that of a DualSense. It is necessary to charge each controller in USB-C about every 4 to 5 hours of play. It is therefore above all a habit to charge each controller with its own cable, hoping to be able to take advantage of the next gaming session.
Source: Chloé Pertuis and Anthony Wonner – Frandroid
Despite those few downsides, the PS VR2 Sense controllers are one of the successes of Sony’s offering. These controllers are loaded with technology that helps increase immersion. We recognize here the manufacturer that has managed to standardize technology with its controllers, generation after generation.
This is undoubtedly one of the strengths of the PS VR 2. The two controllers are comfortable to hold and use Sony technologies to immerse you in a virtual universe. We don’t really see what more we could ask for in the state for controllers of this nature.
A beautiful old generation Oled screen and lenses
The quality of the VR experience that a headset offers depends in particular on the display chosen by the manufacturer. Here we have an OLED screen that offers a resolution of 2000 x 2040 pixels per eye with a refresh rate of 90 to 120 Hz and a field of view of 110 degrees. The choice of Oled is interesting, thanks to the contrasts, if necessary, you can plunge into an immersive world and excellent vignetting of the image.
Source: Chloé Pertuis and Anthony Wonner – Frandroid
The projection then takes place through Fresnel lenses. This is where Sony undoubtedly saves on the design and manufacture of its headphones. Pancake optics are a must with all newer VR headsets. Fresnel obliges, here we find the chromatic aberrations caused by the shape of the lenses on the contours of the image according to the angles.
So how does it look? A particularly bright screen that impresses with its precision. This is the first time we can read text with such clarity. This is also one of the strengths of Sony’s headphones, which we will come back to in our user experience tests.
functions
The PlayStation VR 2 is a passive headset. It’s not standalone like the Pico 4 or the Meta Quest 4 and requires a wired connection to a PS5 to work. The initial configuration is accompanied quite well by the PlayStation interface and is done in a few steps. In particular, this allows for a first test of the eye-tracking that the helmet offers and we can say: it’s stunning. The system is very responsive and fully understands where you are looking.
The eye tracking system is amazing
We also find the configuration of the gaming area that all VR headsets offer. In PS VR 2, a series of cameras on the front of the glasses help create a black and white 3D view of your real world. This allows the helmet to repair itself in space and show you the obstacles in your playroom. A button under the helmet allows you to view this real world environment at any time without having to remove the helmet.
The interface of the PS5 is then completely removed in the helmet, which can avoid painful detours to take off or put the helmet down. The PS5 system appears on a fake giant 2D screen, which is practically a few meters away from the user. It is possible to adjust the size and spacing of this screen.
This is the right time to point out that it’s entirely possible to play non-VR games on the same virtual screen. Enough to fully immerse yourself in a universe without monopolizing the TV. In this case you have to play with the DualSense and not with the two controllers. It is also possible to launch video applications such as Netflix or Disney+. Again, we are faced with a beautiful cinema-like experience. It is very pleasant.
PC compatible?
Officially, the PlayStation VR 2 is designed entirely for the PS5. It does use a USB-C interface, though, and we wondered if it could offer native PC compatibility over that connection. We’ve also seen Sony offering more and more of its games on PC, which legitimizes this PC compatibility issue. Our test is rather encouraging.
The VR headset was not recognized by Windows, but the two Sense controller joysticks were. It was also interesting that the number of buttons and sensors recognized by Windows for each controller was quite large. Thus, putting your finger on the R1 button and pressing the R1 button were associated with two different control elements from the Windows perspective.
These initial discoveries leave the door wide open for future use of PlayStation VR 2 by independent developers to make it compatible with SteamVR. We would have liked Sony to take this step head-on, but it’s reassuring to think external development will make it possible. If this question seems important to us, it’s because we think it seems to determine the durability of the PS VR 2.
From today’s perspective, when Sony launches a PlayStation 6 tomorrow, its VR headset could quickly become obsolete and offer PC compatibility that would extend its lifespan and support.
Games and applications: the question of content
We were able to test some of the first PlayStation VR 2 compatible games.
Horizon: although the mountain is beautiful
Horizon Call of the Mountain is Sony’s flagship VR headset launch. It must represent the manufacturer’s ability to offer an AAA experience in virtual reality. Developed by the Guerrilla and Firesprite studios, this game uses all the features of the PlayStation VR 2. It thus represents the very latest in what can be offered with the device: headset vibration, 3D sound, haptic feedback in the joysticks or Eye tracking . It is marketed by Sony in France for 69.99 euros.
Technically, the game is the expected slap in the face. It is impossible to transcribe what we feel through images or videos displayed on a 2D screen. As with all VR experiences, you have to experience it to understand it. The universe of the Horizon series takes on a whole new meaning once immersed in its world.
The giant robotic animals then assume their true size before our eyes while becoming much more menacing. The game uses gaze tracking for foveal rendering, meaning it concentrates processing power and image quality where your gaze is focused at the expense of elements in your peripheral vision.
This allows the PS5 to display a simply great game. The vibrations of the helmet and the controllers as well as the force feedback of the triggers are perfectly taken into account here to maximize immersion. This is the first game where moving the character with the analog stick didn’t immediately cause motion sickness. This is particularly thanks to the game’s use of vignetting: reducing the field of view while moving. It’s very disconcerting to see the size of your field of view changing regularly, but it has the benefit of being effective.
Mountain’s Horizon Call // Source: Frandroid
Mountain’s Horizon Call // Source: Frandroid
Mountain’s Horizon Call // Source: Frandroid
Unfortunately, after discovering it, we have to admit that very quickly we come up against the limits of the game: far from the open world that is usually offered, here we find ourselves practically locked in corridors where there will be a series of action phases that will be determined by the developers were well planned. It’s impossible to lift an obstacle or grab a weapon before the game gives permission Some objects are strangely not “physicalized” so you can’t grab them like you usually can in a high-budget VR game .
After our few hours of play, the experience was essentially limited to climbing and archery phases, peppered with a little tinkering. The script scope of work seemed limited at the moment, but here it may be a lack of progress on our part.
Despite this, we retain the impression of playing a spin-off in VR and not a new installment in the series. We want proof of this in the course of certain scenes that, in our opinion, Sony should not have brought to the screen with a classic game in this form.
After a dialogue in a village, the character of Alloy (main character of the canonical series) offers to accompany the protagonist to a new area. The dialogue ends with a black fade, a loading time, then said zone appearing. Alloy then wishes us luck and quickly disappears into a bush rather abruptly. A detail, but with the realization of this type of sequence, PlayStation Studio games have also made a name for themselves.
Ultimately, Horizon Call of The Mountain didn’t convince us as much as we would have liked beyond the “wow” effect. On its territory, Half-Life Alyx offered an experience much closer to that of a “real” game, while being fully developed for VR without the attraction side of Futuroscope. Valve’s title is sorely absent from this PlayStation VR 2’s lineup.
Moss: the rat Croft
We were also able to test the series of Moss games, the first installment of which was adapted to PlayStation VR 2 and the sequel accompanying the launch of the headset. It’s a really very interesting title because it takes a step away from the usual first-person VR games that are so easy to imagine. Here you take on the role of a giant in a story that gives you a view from above of a collection of diorama-style scenes. You control the Quill mouse with one hand and with the other you help it to progress by playing with the decor.
Source: Frandroid
Source: Frandroid
Source: Frandroid
This game is played entirely while sitting, so it doesn’t take up much space. Through its narration, it is aimed at the youngest and does so with great kindness. When it doesn’t rely on effects escalation, it’s really a game that makes sense in virtual reality. You’ll quickly find yourself moving your head to see the scene from every angle. It’s reminiscent of the game Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker on Nintendo Switch, but here with a whole new dimension.
The dose of wonder was there, and let’s face it, it’s hard to resist the temptation to tickle the mouse every few seconds. A game that will also help you learn some sign language since the mouse is so responsive to the player.
other experiences
In total, just over 30 games will be available from the launch of PlayStation VR 2. We were able to try Kayak VR: Mirage. As the name suggests, it’s all about offering you canoeing experiences from the comfort of your living room. The title offers several environments such as Antarctica, Norway or Costa Rica. Everything is put into the technique for a very realistic rendering supported by the helmet’s Oled screen. This is one of the best demonstrations of PS VR 2’s capabilities at launch.
8 days away from experiencing these incredible feelings #PSVR2 feel! Here’s a rundown of some of the unique interactions you can experience. pic.twitter.com/ZGFkTVdjFr
— Better Than Life / Kayaking VR (@btl_sandwich) February 14, 2023
Jurassic World Aftermath was released for meta platforms in 2020 and adapted for PlayStation VR 2, as was Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge. Here we touch on a problem for Sony. Such is Meta’s popularity and investment in VR that many PlayStation VR 2 games are actually games that are also available on Meta Quest, a standalone device that costs almost three times less than the PS5 and PS Bundle.VR 2.
To start a platform, 30 available games is objectively a lot. But in the crowd there are many title adaptations for PlayStation VR (PS4) or Meta Quest. Here, keep in mind that the headset is not compatible with the games of the first PlayStation VR for PS4, forcing the developers to offer an adaptation of their games. The catalog therefore starts from scratch. So the excellent Beat Saber is one of those missing from this launch, even if the developers have already announced a future PS VR 2 version of their titles.
If you’re making PS VR 2 your first virtual reality headset, the fact that these games are ports won’t be a problem. For connoisseurs, however, all this may give a small taste of warming.
And the applications
Unlike Meta Quest, the PS VR 2 does not offer a complete and autonomous operating system open to applications. Sony continues to offer compatibility with SVOD services such as Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV or even Amazon.
The experience is quite successful, although care must be taken to place the joysticks correctly to avoid tampering during transmission. Thanks to the Oled HDR screen and the 3D spatial sound, we have real pleasure in discovering and rediscovering cult films and series in front of a virtual screen similar to that of a video projector in the living room.
Prices and Availability
The Sony PlayStation VR 2 will be launched on February 22, 2023, starting at EUR 599.99. That price gets you headphones, audio headphones, and two PlayStation VR2 Sense Controller controllers, but no game. The package with Horizon Call of the Mountains is sold for 649.99 euros. Sony also markets a dock for charging the two controllers for 49.99 euros.
Where can you buy that
Sony PlayStation VR2 at the best price?
There are no offers at the moment
At this price point, Sony sits somewhere between the very affordable standalone headsets like the Meta Quest 2 or the Pico 4 and the very, very expensive pro headsets like the Meta Quest Pro. Keep in mind that standalone headsets can also be used with a gaming PC to find the same type of experience as this PS VR 2.