PlayStation VR2 Review – An Upgrade As Opposed To A Revelation

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Although other big publishers such as Nintendo and Microsoft have not yet explored virtual reality, Sony seems to be the only major publisher that is considering it. Sony seemed to have achieved a small success with the original PlayStation VR. This was a viable VR option for those who weren’t interested in PC gaming. There was also an exclusive hit, Astro Bot Rescue Mission.

PlayStation VR2 represents the next natural step of this sub-platform. It works with Sony’s latest hardware, it improves on basically every aspect of PlayStation VR, but it’s not quite the virtual reality revolution I feel like we’ve been waiting for since the advent of the medium.

The Setting Up

The Setting Up

Virtual reality sets require some kind of tedious process in order to be set up. The original PlayStation VR is the most difficult. While it may not have had the many cameras mounted on tripods as early VR headsets did, the amount of HDMI passes and cables required to make the system work was ridiculous. PlayStation VR2 graciously simplifies this into one USB-C long cable. The headset simply plugs into the front of the PlayStation 5 and you’re good to go. Although the cable is long, it locks to your headset. While I was unable to use the extension cables in my testing, the 15-foot cable that came with the package is roughly what you’ll be using.

Once you’re plugged in, the process is straightforward. You adjust the headset on your face, go through a handful of steps, and you’re basically up and running.

The Eye Tracking

The Eye Tracking

Checking that eye tracking functions properly is an important part of initial setup. The setup was simple and I was amazed at how it worked. It was easy to see a sequence of dots. It’s a strange experience for a piece of technology to acknowledge where you’re looking and I am excited to see how it is implemented in future games. It is currently being used to navigate menus, however, I hope future games will take advantage of this technology and create something new.

The Passthrough Camera

The Passthrough Camera

Passthrough cameras are a must-have for any VR headset. The passthrough camera is required for all VR headsets. PlayStation VR2 has it but isn’t the first. It is the best quality due to the high resolution of both the screen and the camera. The headset has a button that activates the passthrough camera. I used it often. This allows you to get a quick overview of your current location. It also makes it easy for people nearby to talk and pause. It has a button that is dedicated to this purpose and it’s a great feature. I wish other headsets would take notice.

The Headset

The Headset

It is very comfortable. It is soft and comfortable on the head. You can still move your head without it being too restrictive, but the headset is not restricting enough that you feel headache-inducing. As a dedicated glasses wearer, I am prepared to call PlayStation VR2 the most glasses-friendly headset I have ever worn – a title it is appropriately stealing from the original PlayStation VR. This comes down to the fact that rather than the headset being pressed against the user’s face, it actually rests right in front of the user’s eyes. It fits around the head like a baseball cap and holds everything in place. It’s a smart, more comfortable move. It’s a nice, soft rubber which covers your eyes in darkness. This is a much better option than the original helmet that blocks light. Excessive light exposure can result in nausea.

Headphones

Headphones

Some VR headsets include speakers that are near your ears or have a connector for headphones. PlayStation VR2 has this option, however I love the headset included. The headphones are so small that there is very little wire left, which I find a great blessing. Earbuds are just inches from the ears and do not interfere with your hearing. Even if you don’t use them and rely on your TV audio (which is not recommended), they can stay plugged into the headset and will stay relatively out of the way. Although it is only a minor detail, I love the design.

The Sense Controllers

The Sense Controllers

These controllers, the PlayStation VR2 Sense controllers, are a significant upgrade to the Move controllers that were used with the original headset. They’re comfortable and responsive, and do not rely on light for tracking. While motion controls can have a negative reputation in video gaming, using the Sense controllers or comparable VR controllers is a great reminder of how good the technology actually is. A problem that is common to all Sony hardware is the need for the controllers to be plugged into the system via a USB cable. The controllers come with a cable so you don’t have to tear apart your house to track one down, but I look forward to a future where adding a controller to your PlayStation system does not require an additional piece of hardware.

The Visuals

Horizon Call of the Mountain

Visuals

The headset and controllers are all incredibly comfortable – maybe even the most comfortable in the world of VR headsets – but the visuals are where PlayStation VR2 begins to underwhelm. The in-headset visuals have made a marked improvement to the PlayStation VR experience, but it still falls short. There is still a general blurriness (an issue that affects all VR headsets) that I recognize is difficult to overcome considering how close your face is to the screen at all times, but it doesn’t change the fact that playing VR for some time and switching to a standard PlayStation 5 game showcases a large gap in visual fidelity. It looks better, especially when comparing the same game in PlayStation VR and PlayStation VR2, but it is not a visual revelation – just an improvement.

The Headset Vibration

The Headset Vibration

PlayStation VR2’s unique feature is the haptic feedback. This basically means that the headset can vibrate according to the environment. It was rarely used by the games I played. This feature was actually something that I disliked. It is possible to get nausea from playing in virtual reality. Although I am able to walk with my VR legs, I sometimes feel nauseated. This is also true for PlayStation VR2. The vibrations of the headset made me more nauseasive on occasions when I had to. This headset also lacks the DualSense controller’s impressive precision, which makes it sound like a dull buzz. Although there may be an innovative way to use this feature, my initial feedback was negative.

Verdict