PS VR2, Sense controller: release date, price, features… everything we know about the future PS5 VR headset

In February 2021, Sony surprised everyone by delivering the first details on the future PlayStation VR headset. The accessory, which will use virtual reality to improve immersion in video games, will be associated with the PlayStation 5 – a console on which it is difficult to get your hands on it, even several months after its launch. A little less than a year later, Sony gave it a name at CES 2022: the successor to PlayStation VR will be called… PlayStation VR2.

If virtual reality is still aimed at a niche audience, Sony is capitalizing on the encouraging launch of the first PlayStation VR – 5 million in sales – to continue to develop the technology in the right direction. Success will necessarily go through a catalog of quality games, a point that was lacking on the first generation. On this point, the new helmet can already count on the exclusivity Horizon Call of the Mountain.

As announced by Sony on November 2, 2022, PlayStation VR will be available on February 22, 2023.

What is the name of the new PlayStation VR?

Sony is not the most creative manufacturer when it comes to choosing a name for its products. Which explains why the successor to the PlayStation VR is simply called the PlayStation VR2. In this sense, the helmet respects the nomenclature in place since the very first console.

The name of the controllers associated with PlayStation VR2 is a little more original: they are called PS VR2 Sense, in reference to the DualSense controller of the PlayStation 5.

What is the design of the PlayStation VR2?

As expected, the PlayStation VR2 has a futuristic look, in the wake of that of the PS5. It is very similar to its predecessor, which relied on significant comfort.

The PlayStation VR2 is paired with PS VR2 Sense controllers. They look like this:

What are the features of PlayStation VR2?

In its initial statement, Sony was content to say that the future PlayStation VR ” will benefit from gigantic advances in performance and interactivity “. The manufacturer is targeting several points for improvement: a single wire to connect to the console, a better quality visual experience and new controllers that will incorporate technologies introduced on the DualSense.

In an article published on May 10, 2021, the specialist site UploadVR shared several indiscretions about the headset, from reliable sources. They were confirmed in a press release published on January 4, 2022 by Sony.

The new PS VR is therefore based on:

• An OLED screen;
• A definition of 4000 x 2040 pixels (i.e. 2000 x 2040 per eye) – against 1920 x 1080 pixels for the first generation;
• A refresh rate of 90/120 Hz;
• A wheel to adjust the placement of the lenses (better adaptation to the pupillary distance, specific to each user);
• A foveal rendering;
• A field of view of 110 degrees (compared to 100 for the first PlayStation VR);
• HDR compatibility.

Foveal rendering, already at work on the HTC Vive Pro Eye, is a display optimization technique based on eye detection. It aims to improve the rendering of the elements on which the gaze is focused by sacrificing what is on the periphery – without the user noticing it. It offers more beautiful graphics while saving resources.

Regarding motion recognition, the PlayStation VR2 does not need an external PlayStation camera. The sensors are integrated: three-axis gyroscope, three-axis accelerometer, infrared proximity sensor and four cameras for monitoring the helmet and controllers.

Finally, the PlayStation VR2 has a microphone and headphones can be plugged into it.

What are the features of PlayStation VR2?

To further enhance immersion, Sony promises ” new sensory features “. They are related to eye tracking, vibrations produced by the headset and 3D Audio. ” For example, players will be able to feel a character’s pulse racing during moments of high tension, a grating sensation when objects pass close to their character’s head, or even the thrust of a vehicle gaining speed. speed “, indicates the multinational. Gaze tracking can actually translate into in-game commands.

In a press release published on its blog on July 26, Sony gave some details on the features of the headphones:

• The ability to quickly change the settings from the control center (brightness, etc.);
• A “cinema” mode, to play 2D games on a large 1920 by 1080 pixel screen;
• A “See through” mode, which uses the cameras on the outside of the helmet to model the real world in the virtual environment (practical for looking for a physical object without removing the helmet);
• The possibility of defining a play area in your living room, by drawing limits on the ground with the joystick (if you pass them, the helmet tells us and displays the real world);
• A “streaming” mode to film yourself while you play (the face is embedded at the bottom of the screen).

Note that these features are not new to the world of virtual reality. Sony has been inspired by what Oculus has been doing for several years now.

How will the PlayStation VR2 be hooked up to the PS5?

The PlayStation VR2 does not multiply the cables: you simply have to connect it to the PlayStation 5 via the USB-C port located on the front of the console. An excellent point for the installation.

What are the features of the PS VR2 Sense controllers?

The PS VR2 Sense controllers were unveiled in a topic posted on March 18, 2021 on PlayStation Blog. Still equipped with motion recognition, they abandon the PlayStation Move stick format for ergonomics closer to the shape of the hand (two orbs). They are reminiscent of the controllers supplied with the Oculus Quest 2 – segment reference.

The controllers could be the main argument of PlayStation VR for PS5. Sony uses certain specificities of the DualSense to reinforce immersion. We therefore find the adaptive triggers (integration of a tension when you press on it, the force of which can be adjusted by the studios) and the haptic feedback (finer vibrations). The manufacturer also mentions the detection of finger contact (for interactions without the need to press a button), via a capacitive sensor.

The PS VR2 Sense has a rechargeable battery via a USB-C port.

Here is the layout of the keys of the PS VR2 Sense :

Note that the PlayStation VR2 Sense can be recharged using a station sold separately (at €49.99).

What is the PlayStation VR2 catalog?

For the moment, Sony has formalized only one game on PlayStation VR2: Horizon Call of the Mountain. It presents itself as a showcase, with an immersion in a universe with an incredible artistic direction.

At this time, it’s unknown if current VR titles are backwards compatible. We recall in this regard that the first PlayStation VR works on PS5, by means of a free adapter to be requested from Sony.

The future PlayStation VR in any case needs a flagship game like Half Life: Alyx to convince owners of a PlayStation 5.

have also been confirmed :

• Resident Evil Village
• The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners—Chapter 2
• No Man’s Sky
• Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge—Enhanced Edition
• The Dark Pictures: Switchback
• Crossfire: Sierra Squad
• Hello Neighbor: Search and Rescue
• After the Fall
• Cities VR—Enhanced Edition
• Jurassic World Aftermath Collection
• Zenith: The Last City
• The Light Brigade
• Cosmonious High
• Pistol Whip
• Tentacular

What will be the PS VR2 launch line-up?

The PS VR2 launch line-up is struggling to take shape. Are confirmed:

• Horizon Call of the Mountain
• The Light Brigade
• Cities VR – Enhanced Edition
• Cosmonious High
• Hello Neighbor: Search and Rescue
• Zenith: The Last City
• Tentacular

PlayStation VR2 release date and price

In a press release published on November 2, 2023, Sony confirmed the terms of the launch of its headset: the PS VR2 will be available on February 22, 2023, at a price of €599.99. For this price, the PS VR2 Sense controllers and an audio headset are provided. There is also a pack with Horizon Call of the Mountainoffered at €649.99.

Pre-orders will be launched on November 15, initially only on the PlayStation store.