The VR landscape has changed since the launch of the original PlayStation VR, and whilst I wouldn’t quite say that it’s necessarily mainstream yet, the success of both PlayStation VR (which sold over 5 million units) and the Meta Quest 2 (which sold over 10 million units) has seen the platform go from strength to strength. That’s not even taking PC VR into consideration, with big hitters like Valve after a piece of the VR gaming pie over the last few years with the release of the Valve Index and Half Life: Alyx (which absolutely NEEDS to come to PlayStation VR 2 might I add).
After being eagerly anticipated since its reveal back in 2021, PlayStation VR 2 is finally in the hands of gamers worldwide, giving PlayStation 5 owners the chance to experience the next generation of VR. That advancement in technology does come with a hefty price tag though, with the £529 cost enough to makes some gamers squirm. With that in mind, we ask the question: is PlayStation VR 2 worth it?
Spoiler alert: yes, it is. On initial impressions alone, we’ve been blown away by everything that PlayStation VR 2 has to offer, whether that’s with the excellent visual quality, the impressive Sense controllers, the improved tracking features, or simply that it feels so comfortable to use. Some real advancements have been made to truly make the PlayStation VR 2 feel like a generation leap, with the enhancements between this and its predecessor arguably more noticeable than those between the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. It’s THAT good and it is what has kept me glued into my headset over the last week.
Setup and Comfort
Before moving onto some of the technical improvements, it’s worth noting immediately that PlayStation VR 2 only needs one USB-C wire to use, which plugs in directly to your PlayStation 5’s USB port. No longer do you need to have multiple wires running into a little box which also needs to connect to your TV separately (which also didn’t support HDR), with the cumbersome setup of the original PlayStation VR a thing of the past. Those who are used to using a Meta Quest 2 might be put off a little by the fact that there is still a wire required, but it’s long enough that it never feels like it gets in the way or restricts what you can do in-game.
You also don’t need to have an external camera to track your actions, which didn’t only limit your freedom when playing before but was also just a pain to configure and position so that it didn’t lose track of the player. Instead, there are four cameras and sensors built into the headset which track your position and actions. This is something that made the Meta Quest 2 more convenient and easier to use when compared to PlayStation VR, so its use here instantly makes the experience way more accessible than its predecessor, with warnings of losing tracking almost non-existent. It’s also worth noting that there’s a passthrough mode to allow players to see out of those cameras and directly in front of them, which makes it easier to grab your controllers or take a quick look around without taking the headset off.
One of the best things about the original PlayStation VR was just how comfortable it felt to wear, so I’m happy to report that the PlayStation VR 2 is even more comfortable. Somehow, it’s even lighter than before, whilst the head strap is easily adjusted to fit perfectly around your head (even if you’ve got a massive one like me). The winding dial means you can fine tune its position so that it sits comfortably whilst offering the best visual quality, though the initial setup process goes through all of the basics to make sure you’re making the most of the headset anyway.
Visuals
Of course, whilst these improvements will go a long way for returning players, the most noticeable difference will come with the visual improvements. With two 2000 x 2040 OLED HDR screens showcasing the action, everything in the headset looks astounding. When you compare this to the 960 x 1080 screens found in the original PlayStation VR, the difference is like night and day – it’s also worth noting that the PlayStation VR 2 has an increased field of view, meaning you’ll be less distracted by black spaces in your peripheral.
Playing at a higher resolution (which goes up to 4K) means the blurriness and constant jagged edges are a thing of the past, with PlayStation VR 2 displaying visuals with such clarity and depth that everything looks crystal clear. Whether examining an object or character up close, gazing off in the distance at some beautiful vistas, or seeing the quick paced action unfold in front of you, everything simply looks wonderful. It’s a big step up over both the PlayStation VR and Meta Quest 2, with the visual enhancements the most obvious (and significant) improvement that returning players will see.
And if it’s your first venture in VR? Expect to be blown away by just how amazing everything looks.
Controllers and Features
I hated using the Move controllers with PlayStation VR, so seeing Sony introduce the innovative Sense controllers with the PlayStation VR 2 was a massive relief. Whilst they’re a little weird to look at, they work really well, with the button and stick placement easy to get used to quite quickly. Not having sticks with the Move controllers was a MASSIVE pain, so being able to utilise them in games like Horizon Call of the Mountain or Resident Evil Village WITHOUT having to use the DualSense controller was a massive relief and makes the games all the more enjoyable to play. They come with the same haptic feedback found on the PlayStation 5 too, which makes the VR experience all the more immersive.
There’s also haptic feedback in the headset itself that’ll add a grander sense of presence to certain events in-game, with some of the most noticeable I’ve experienced so far being in Horizon Call of the Mountain and Moss when large creatures have flown above me. It’s REALLY cool, so I’m interested to see how well it will be utilised in future releases. Then there’s the eye tracking, which is another neat feature, but will be defined by the clever ways developers integrate it – for example, the upcoming horror adventure Switchback will see enemies make their move whenever you blink, which I think is brilliant and adds a whole new element of fear to the experience. More of that, please!
Games
PlayStation VR 2 has all of the fancy bells and whistles needed to stand out as an excellent platform for VR gaming, and I’ve been endlessly impressed by everything it has to offer. However, a gaming platform is nothing without a good selection of games, so this is where it really has to deliver over the next couple of years to really thrive. To its credit, the launch line-up is really impressive, with the likes of Horizon Call of the Mountain, Gran Turismo 7, Resident Evil Village, and Kayak: VR Mirage offering experiences that both look stunning and feel thrilling to play. Horizon Call of the Mountain is my pick of the bunch thanks to its outstanding environmental design and enticing gameplay mechanics (and it brings some truly thrilling set pieces), but I’ve also loved spending hours speeding through the tracks in Gran Turismo 7 and checking out the beautiful car interiors. And believe me, playing through House Beneviento in Resident Evil Village in VR is TERRIFYING.
There are plenty of other stand out releases available right now, with the likes of Moss, Moss: Book II, Tetris Effect, Song in the Smoke, After the Fall, The Last Clockwinder, Demeo, Cosmonious High and more available, so it’s definitely an impressive launch line-up. However, a lot of these releases have been available across multiple platforms over the last few years, so they don’t hold as much significance. Sure, some have seen enhancements and utilise the power of the PlayStation VR 2 fruitfully, but experienced VR gamers may have already played them all before.
Still, with more exciting releases coming soon (Switchback looks absolutely amazing) and Sony confirming there are over 100 titles in the pipeline, I’m excited to see what comes next. Heck, I’d even love to re-visit some of the original PlayStation VR titles if they brought with them some of the enhancements offered here… Blood and Truth Remastered, anyone? Here’s hoping Sony reveal more of the AAA or exclusive releases sooner rather than later, if only to maintain the launch buzz.
It will perhaps be a slight sour point for some that PlayStation VR 2 isn’t backwards compatible with the PlayStation VR library. It makes sense from a technical viewpoint, sure, but with hundreds of titles available on the platform, it would have been nice to just be able to dive into them and have access to an even stronger catalogue of releases from the get-go.
Is it worth it?
The biggest sticking point of PlayStation VR 2 is the price tag, which is a whopping £529 in the UK (which is more expensive than the PlayStation 5 itself). It’s enough to make your eyes water, but it’s still cheaper than a PC VR setup… if you take away the fact that you need a PlayStation 5 to use it. This does include the Sense controllers and doesn’t require you to purchase a separate camera, so it’s a step up from the inconvenience of the original PlayStation VR. No demo disc is included though, so you’ll need to be ready to make some purchases!
Does it justify the price tag? Absolutely. This is such a step up from PlayStation VR and feels like a true generational leap, with Sony improving just about every aspect of its predecessor and putting in new features to boot. It’s a REALLY sophisticated piece of kit, and I haven’t even gone into the finer details of the technology behind it. The titles I’ve played at launch have all been very impressive, both from a visual perspective and offering fun gameplay mechanics, whilst the Sense controllers feel a million times better to use than the Move controllers of yesteryear.
I’m looking forward to seeing what else Sony has in the pipeline for the headset, because there’s a lot of potential across a multitude of their franchises. Horizon Call of the Mountain has been a lot of fun, but imagine the potential of a Spider-Man, The Last of Us, or even a God of War VR game… it’s exciting to think about. With plenty of third-party support on offer too, the future looks really bright for PlayStation VR 2. Let’s just hope Sony keep up the momentum and maintain a high level of support for this fantastic VR headset.
