We tested the PlayStation VR 2, Sony’s new virtual reality headset

Seven years after the release of the PlayStation VR 1 (PS VR 1), it is clear that Sony has not succeeded in democratizing virtual reality headsets (VR, or VR for Virtual Reality in English) in living rooms: five million copies have been sold, which is much less than a traditional console. Admittedly, the device has left us with some strong memories thanks to some gems from its toy library, such as Astro Bot Rescue Mission And Mossbewitching demonstrations of the playful possibilities of VR, the terrifying Resident Evil VII or the dizzying puzzles of Tetris Effect: Connected. Still, the experience suffered from cables that never failed to get tangled, tedious calibration and poorly adapted controllers.

The second version of PS VR, available since February 22, now teams up with number 5 of the PlayStation range, the only console with which it is compatible. Without proposing a major revolution for the sector, the device, which costs 600 euros, offers a convincing technological update which completes to make its elder obsolete.

Installation

Turn on the console, the television, start a game and sink into your sofa. The console video game provides immediate pleasure that virtual reality is unable to offer: starting a game with the PS VR 2 requires preparation time.

You must first connect a new USB-C cable (and untangle it if you are not careful). Check the charge of the two controllers. Then configure his play space to avoid demolishing a coffee table or boxing a green plant. Adjusting the device to the size of our face – which is still not easy for binoculars. Scan its environment to determine the playing area. And finally calibrate its game. In all, the installation routine usually takes us five to ten minutes.

The process here is still less laborious than with the PS VR 1, with bulky cables and difficult to configure. With its successor, scanning the environment is done at a glance thanks to the four cameras placed on the visor. They quickly become indispensable. The press of a button shows what’s happening in front of you on the screen: it saves you having to remove the headset regularly, whether it’s to adjust the straps of the controllers or check that the cat is still on its cushion and has no intention of slipping between your legs.

Helmet

Improving the ergonomics of the helmet goes hand in hand with improving its comfort and lightness. A series of knobs allow it to be adapted to the shape of the skull and the distance between the eyes of each person. Its vibrations also allow it to emphasize certain game actions.

The OLED screen also proves to be above our expectations. It is bright, the colors are rich and, above all, no frame is visible, unlike older models. Sharpness is ensured by infrared cameras following each eye and ensuring that the image is best where the user focuses their attention. The fidelity of the image ultimately rivals high-end headsets offered on PC.

In-ear headphones, on the other hand, tend to fall out of our ears – but maybe that’s just down to our body type. The lack of buttons to control the sound is also rather unfortunate.

The controllers

The proposal for new controllers, the VR 2 Sense, is also an undeniable asset. The joysticks, buttons or triggers slip well under the fingers. Haptic feedback works wonders. In the game Horizon: Call of the Mountain, it is possible for us to subtly handle a bow and nock arrows in it while carrying our hand behind our back; In Mirage Kayak: RV, we feel the resistance of the water on our oars thanks to the vibrations.

The controllers also register certain finger movements. Raising our index finger or our thumb moves that of our avatar in Horizon: Call of the Mountain. The effect is striking when you discover it. We spent long minutes watching our fingers move in VR, like a newborn who spends his day scrutinizing his hands in his crib.

Games

The PS VR 2 catalog has around thirty titles: Moss And Moss II, Tetris Effect: Connected Or Ground Infinite… At first glance, it is above all a question of recycling since most of them are optimized versions of existing games. The integration of a free update of a VR mode for Resident Evil Village and for Gran Turismo 7 allows us to rediscover them in a very flattering light. Waiting for the arrival of Switchback VR or of the five future titles announced at the conference organized by Sony on February 23, VR enthusiasts only have one completely new game to put in their mouths, Horizon. A breathtaking showcase of the capabilities of the helmet which makes us regret the absence, for the time being, of other titles of this caliber.

Its purchase, however, increases the bill, since it is sold at the same price as a classic console game, 70 euros, or can be purchased in a pack with the helmet, for an additional 50 euros. The other titles, for their part, display prices ranging from around twenty euros for the independents (What the Bat? Or Tentacularfor example) to around fifty euros for the biggest productions (like Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge).

The pleasures offered are varied and the know-how much more assertive than when PS VR 1 was released, in particular because these are already existing games. A downside remains, however: forgetting to take regular breaks can cause severe eye fatigue or trigger nausea, especially when you are sensitive to motion sickness. It’s a VR classic. Technology may be making great strides, but this seasickness is relentless.

Pixel’s review:

We liked:

• the quality of the visuals offered;
• modular joysticks;
• the cameras integrated on the visor to keep an eye on your surroundings without removing the helmet.

We liked less:

• the game catalog that recycles;
• in-ear headphones that don’t stay in place;
• PS VR 1 games incompatible with this new model.

It’s more for you if:

• you are insensitive to motion sickness;
• you have about two square meters free in your living room or bedroom;
• you’ve managed to get your hands on the PS 5 (and you’re not broke).

It’s not for you if:

• looking at your smartphone in the car makes you nauseous;
• wrapping your eyes in a screen oppresses you;
• you are too lazy to spend a good ten minutes installing each time you start a game;
• you are allergic to storage (it is advisable to avoid leaving books, laundry or a piece of pizza from the day before lying around on the floor).

Pixel’s note:

2 skinned shins on the coffee table/3 kicked the cat.