PSVR 2 is available now, and if you’re keen on buying one for yourself, we’ve detailed everything you need to know about the headset to inform your purchase, from the launch games, to the specs, how much you can expect to pay in your region, and more.
We can tell you from our own experience that PSVR 2 is a vast improvement over the original PSVR. It’s easily one of the best VR headsets on the market, and one of the best PS5 accessories for anyone looking to experience some of the best PSVR 2 games, some of which are exclusive to Sony’s proprietary headset.
If you want to know exactly what makes Sony’s new headset so special then our full PSVR 2 review has all the expertly tested information you’re after. If that convinces you to pick it up, check out our where to buy PSVR 2 hub for all the latest availability.
PSVR 2: Cut to the chase
What is it? The next generation of PlayStation VRWhen did it launch? February 22, 2023How much does it cost? $549.99 / €599.99 / £529.99 / AU$858
PSVR 2: Hardware
PSVR (Image credit: Sony) (Image credit: Sony)
The PSVR 2 headset promised a huge leap forward over the original PlayStation VR. Sure enough, PSVR 2 takes advantage of the PS5’s more powerful hardware, and has a significantly higher resolution display for each eye as well. Faster refresh rates, a wider field of view, and improved tracking and input are also all here.
PSVR 2 specs rumors previously indicated that the headset will include an OLED display that boasts a total resolution of 4000 X 2040 pixels – that’s 2000 X 2040 per eye and just slightly more than the Oculus Quest 2. Also rumored were a 110-degree field of view and foveated rendering (a technique that uses gaze tracking to render only certain parts of the image), and sensory features in the headset itself.
Sony later confirmed that PSVR 2 offers 4K resolution, HDR, a 110-degree field of view, foveated rendering, and frame rates of 90 to 120Hz. The release version of PSVR 2 also includes inside-out tracking, which means it’ll track you and your controller through integrated cameras embedded in the headset. Your movements and the direction you look will be reflected in-game, without the need for an external camera.
The new sensory features of PSVR 2 combine eye tracking, headset feedback, 3D Audio, and the PSVR 2 Sense controller to create a deeper feeling of immersion. A single built-in motor in the headset will add an additional tactile element, which can replicate the player’s pulse during tense moments, or the rush of objects passing by a player’s head.
Eye tracking should be a particularly pleasing addition for VR enthusiasts, which lets PSVR 2 track the motion of your eyes. Simply look in a specific direction and the headset will create an additional input for your game character. This results in a more intuitive and natural experience. PSVR 2 also isn’t wireless, but only requires one cable between the headset and the console to use.
PSVR 2: release date
(Image credit: Sony)
PSVR 2 arrived on February 22 and is currently available to buy through PlayStation Direct in the US and the UK as well as other territories. Big box retailers also carry stock for the console in all regions, so you’ve got a lot of choice as to who you shop with.
PSVR 2: price
PSVR 2 costs $549 / £529 / AU$879. For context, that’s more than the PS5 console itself, even after Sony’s recent price hike. Right now, the PS5 currently retails at $499.99 / £479.99 / AU$799.95, or $399.99 / £389.99 / AU$649.95 for the PS5 Digital Edition.
It doesn’t compare favorably with its biggest VR competitor, Meta’s Oculus Quest 2, which currently sells for $399.99 / £399.99 / AU$630. However, this price tag makes a lot more sense when you consider Sony’s using premium tech. For comparison, a “premium” VR headset currently on the market is the HTC Vive Pro, which retails for $800, £800, or around AU$1,045.
It’s also more expensive than the original PSVR at launch, which originally retailed at $499 (£399, about AU$650). These days, you can find that retailing for around $200 / £259 / AU$420, but it’s worth remembering that the PSVR Starter bundle has gone through several price reductions and is over six years old.
PSVR 2: controllers
(Image credit: Sony)
The PSVR 2 Sense controllers received a significant performance and design upgrade. A pair of Sense controllers cost $49 / £39 (around AU$70), though a pair does come bundled with the headset.
These new controllers drop the classic PS Move controller design from the original PSVR. Instead, these favor a more typical approach seen in modern VR controllers, like Oculus Quest 2’s Touch controllers. The PSVR 2 controllers feature baton-like handles with a plastic orb around them. They also have the same adaptive trigger features found in the DualSense Wireless Controller. This allows for differing tensions on any given in-game action.
They also feature haptic feedback and finger touch detection, letting a game know where your digits are resting without having to press a button. Speaking on PlayStation Blog, Hideaki Nishino, head of platform planning and management at PlayStation, said these features mean you’ll be able “to make more natural gestures with your hands during gameplay.”
PSVR 2: specs
Sony originally revealed the full specs of the PSVR 2 at CES 2022. Here’s a breakdown of Sony’s PSVR 2 specs:
Sony has added a vent to the PSVR 2 to make playing in the headset a more comfortable experience.
“One of the areas I wanted to focus on first was the idea of creating a vent in the headset to let air out, similar to the vents on the PS5 console that allows airflow,” senior art director Yujin Morisawa wrote in a blog post. “Our engineers came up with this idea as a good way to allow ventilation and avoid having the lens fog up while players are immersed in their VR games”.
The PSVR 2 is also slightly lighter, thanks to a slimmer design. Both those features make it more comfortable to play in VR for longer.
PSVR 2: news and rumors
Backwards compatible?
Unfortunately, PSVR 2 is not backwards compatible with first-gen PSVR titles, as confirmed by Sony’s Hideaki Nishino in an episode of the Official PlayStation Podcast. While you can still download these games to your PS5, you’ll only be able to play them with the original PSVR headset. That’s a shame for those who were looking to sell their PSVR towards the new device, and we hope a backwards compatibility patch comes further down the line.
PSVR 2 games are now available for pre-order
Alongside headset pre-orders, PSVR 2 games have begun appearing in the ‘Coming Soon’ section of the PlayStation Store, too. Interestingly, none of these games are being sold for the £70 / $70 price tag we’ve seen for big releases these last few years. The most expensive one is, unsurprisingly, Horizon Call of the Mountain at £60 / $60, with the rest coming in at much lower prices.
Sony reportedly producing two million PSVR 2 headsets for launch
A report from Bloomberg suggested Sony planned to produce two million PSVR 2 headsets by March 2023. Citing “people familiar with the matter,” mass production reportedly began last month and that it hasn’t faced supply chain bottlenecks like the PS5 has. When asked for comment, Bloomberg confirms Sony declined to respond.
June 2022 State of Play reveals four new PSVR 2 games
Sony’s State of Play conference delivered for VR fans, showcasing four new PSVR 2 games. Alongside our first look at Horizon Call of the Mountain gameplay, the following confirmed games are: Resident Evil 4 remake, Resident Evil Village, No Man’s Sky, and The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners – Chapter 2: Retribution. Basically, we hope you like zombies.
Epic reveal Unreal Engine 5 projects for PSVR 2
During its ‘The State of Unreal‘ 2022 event, Epic Games revealed that several games are utilising Unreal Engine 5 for Sony’s upcoming headset. While we don’t know which games that includes, noted VR developers like nDreams were spotted among studios supporting this new engine.
Is Sony making inroads to social VR?
A trademark application, submitted in July 2021, suggests Sony might be considering bringing back its PlayStation Home service – an ill-fated social hangout space that was on the PlayStation 3.
Part chatroom, part Sims-like design app, PlayStation Home was closed in 2015. But the trademark hints at its return and, given the rise of social VR spaces, we wouldn’t be surprised if this is going to play a big part in Sony’s move into social gaming and virtual reality in the future.
