Sony has confirmed that its next virtual reality headset will be called the PlayStation VR2, and fans have already taken to shortening that down to PSVR 2. But when is the release date for this PS5 VR headset, and what will its price point be?
Both of those questions have been left unanswered by official sources, but rumours and predictions are filling up the web at pace. PSVR 2 seems to be a product that lots of people are looking forward to, but we’ve got a feeling that it won’t come cheap.
One thing we do know is that the PSVR 2 headset will work exclusively with PS5, so you’ll need to buy one of these new consoles (if you haven’t already) if you wish to keep up with Sony’s VR future.
Keep on reading to learn all about the PSVR 2, the PS5 VR headset that will guide you into the future of virtual reality!
When is the PSVR 2 release date?
!["PSVR]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2021/02/PS5-Vr-headset-7591e40.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C349" "\"PSVR")
The PSVR 2 release date is yet to be confirmed, but rumours on the internet seem to suggest that we could be looking at 2023 rather than 2022 for the PS5 VR headset to launch.
When Sony announced PSVR 2 last year, the company did say: “There’s still a lot of development underway for our new VR system, so it won’t be launching in 2021.” Now that we’re in 2022, it would be nice to get a confirmed date – or at least a window to aim for – and we’ll be sure to let you know if anything does get announced on that front.
How much is the PSVR 2 price?
The PSVR 2 price has not been revealed yet, but prognosticators on the web have predict that it could cost over £300 GBP here in the UK. This sounds about right to us.
After all, the original PSVR PS4 headset was recently sold in a ‘Mega Pack‘ bundle, with four games, at a price of £299.99. With all the new tech in the PSVR 2, we’d expect it to cost more than that, even before you start adding games into the mix.
What new features does the PSVR 2 PS5 headset have?
!["PSVR]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2021/02/PSVR-2020-f95c05b.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C349" "\"PSVR")
In a recent PlayStation blog post, following the big Sony presentation at CES 2022, several key features were confirmed for the PSVR 2. There were four main items that Sony pulled out for discussion.
First up, you can expect improved visual fidelity, with Sony stating that PSVR 2 “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.”
Sony also shouted about headset-based controller tracking, saying the new headset “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.”
There will also be new sensory features including “eye tracking, headset feedback, 3D Audio, and the innovative PS VR2 Sense controller [which work together] to create an incredibly deep feeling of immersion.
And for anyone that has fiddled around with the multitude of cables that came with the PS4-era VR headset, there was one piece of particularly great news: “[The new headset] will connect to PS5 with a single cord to simplify setup and improve ease-of-use, while enabling a high-fidelity visual experience.”
PSVR 2 specs
Sony has shared the following list of PSVR 2 specifications, giving us a pretty good idea of what is going on inside the new PS5 VR headset:
- Display method: OLED
- Panel resolution: 2000 x 2040 per eye
- Panel refresh rate: 90Hz, 120Hz
- Lens separation: Adjustable
- Field of View: Approx. 110 degrees
- Motion Sensor: Six-axis motion sensing system (three-axis gyroscope, three-axis accelerometer)
- Attachment Sensor: IR Proximity sensor
- Cameras: 4 cameras for headset and controller tracking IR camera for eye tracking per eye
- Feedback: Vibration on headset
- Communication with PS5: USB Type-C
- Audio Input: Built-in microphone
- Audio Output: Stereo headphone jack
What are the new PSVR 2 controller features?
!["The]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2021/03/51049009217_4b5ff60333_h-da0b0e9.jpeg?quality=90&resize=620%2C349" "\"The")
The wand-like PlayStation Move controllers, from the PS4 era, were not universally beloved, so it’s nice to learn that Sony is working on overhauling its VR-based controller tech.
Sony’s new VR controller will be called the PSVR2 Sense controller, and it will have an orb-like shape that curls around your hands (see the official image above to see what we mean).
In another PlayStation blog post, Sony promised that the Sense controllers will have adaptive triggers and haptic feedback, borrowing those universally-praised immersion features from the PS5 console’s DualSense controllers.
As well as having both motion controls and the traditional PlayStation buttons (Square, Triangle, X and Circle), the Sense controllers will also have a major new feature called finger touch detection.
Sony has teased: “The controller can detect your fingers without any pressing in the areas where you place your thumb, index, or middle fingers. This enables you to make more natural gestures with your hands during gameplay.”
Read more: Why the PSVR 2 controllers are game-changer for VR
PSVR 2 controller specs
Sony shared this official list of specs for the PSVR 2 Sense controllers:
- Buttons [Right]: PS button, Options button, Action buttons (Circle / Cross), R1 button, R2 button, Right Stick / R3 button
- Buttons [Left]: PS button, Create button, Action buttons (Triangle / Square), L1 button, L2 button, Left Stick / L3 button
- Motion Sensor: Six-axis motion sensing system (three-axis gyroscope + three-axis accelerometer)
- Capacitive Sensor: Finger Touch DetectionIR LED: Position Tracking
- Feedback: Trigger Effect (on R2/L2 button), Haptic Feedback (by single actuator per unit)
- Port: USB Type-C Port
- Communication: Bluetooth Ver5.1
- Battery Type: Built-in Lithium-ion Rechargeable Battery
What PSVR 2 games have been confirmed for PS5?
It seems clear that Sony hasn’t forgotten one of gaming’s golden rules – a platform is only as good as the experiences you can have on it.
Sony has already announced one PSVR 2 game – it’s called Horizon Call of the Mountain, and it will take place in the same universe as Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West. You can watch the reveal trailer above.
Horizon Call of the Mountain will see you playing as a new character, rather than Aloy from the previous Horizon games, and Sony described it like so in a PlayStation blog:
“Created for PlayStation VR2, this unique experience has been designed to push hardware technology, innovation, and gameplay. The stunning visuals and brand-new PS VR2 Sense controllers give a new meaning to being fully immersed into the world of Horizon.”
!["Astro]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2021/02/astro-bot-review-8b35208.jpg?quality=90&crop=79px%2C0px%2C1081px%2C720px&resize=620%2C413" "\"Astro")
Reflecting on what Sony has already achieved in VR, another PlayStation blog post mentioned: “We’ve seen tremendous experiences that have propelled virtual reality gaming forward, including highly acclaimed titles like Astro Bot: Rescue Mission, Tetris Effect, Blood & Truth, Moss, Beat Saber, and Resident Evil 7 biohazard.”
Looking ahead to the PS5 era of PSVR, one thing we’d love to see is a full sequel to Astro Bot: Rescue Mission. The first game’s hero, Astro, has already become something of a mascot for PlayStation as a brand, with a fun demo called Astro’s Playroom coming free with every PS5 console.
Of course, Sony will announce more details about the PSVR 2 PS5 headset and its games when it’s ready to do so. Watch this space, folks!
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