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It’s here folks. Finally, the moment we’ve been waiting for ever since the launch of the first PSVR – a powerful VR Headset that takes advantage of all Sony’s learnings with haptic feedback and controls. A headset taking full advantage of modern breakthroughs like foveate rendering and pancake lenses. A headset with a large company behind them with a pedigree in making amazing first party virtual reality titles that have already helped to shape the industry!
But you don’t really care about all that do you? You want to know how much it costs and how to buy it of course. Well, we’ll cover all that and more in this comprehensive guide to the PSVR2. Everything we know, what we can expect, and all the in between. So strap on your headsets and let’s dive right into it, shall we?
Price And Place – How Much Does It Cost And Where Can I Pre-Order
Screenshot from PSVR2 Pre-Order Page
First, let’s get the big annoyance out of the way. The price is not going to be to everyone’s taste. At a whopping $550, this VR experience is going to cost you more than the device it is running on. The PSVR2 is only compatible with a PlayStation 5 which at the moment retails for a little less that the headset at approximately $499 at the time of writing. It may seem like madness to some that a peripheral for your gaming console costs more than the console itself but really it’s all about how much value and entertainment you hope to derive from the next-generation console virtual reality. Is it something you might fool around with when your friends are over or perhaps dust off to scare your Granny witless at Christmas time? Or are you more hardcore, a virtual reality lifer who may get daily enjoyment out of the new PlayStation headset and all the incredible games yet to be released?
To put it simply, for some people this price tag is out of their range and doesn’t make sense as an investment, and for others, PSVR2 might be considered the next big thing in the VR space and they are willing to adopt it regardless of the high price tag. I mean, if you compare it to headsets from Valve or Pimax, then the price point is an absolute bargain. It’s all about perspective really and the player’s usage.
Shut Up And Take My Money! – How To Pre-Order Your PSVR2
If you are hoping to get your hands on the new PlayStation VR2 on launch day February 22, 2023, you will have to visit the official online Sony PlayStation store to place your order. Pre-orders will be available by invitation only to begin with. Invitations will start going out on November 15. To be on the invitation list you can sign up on the PlayStation Store now.
If selected by Sony, you’ll receive an email invitation with your very own details on how to pre-order your unit. Numbers may be limited so being on the invitation waiting list doesn’t necessarily guarantee you an order slot.
PlayStation VR2 will cost $550 by itself. If you wish to purchase a charging station for the PSVR2 Sense controllers, you can do so separately for the price of $50. The base PSVR2 package for $550 includes the headset, two wireless sense controllers, and a pair of headphones, plus all the necessary cables although they’ve promised us this time that there will be only one cable. Not a tangled mess like the first Sony PSVR headset
There will also be a bundle available that will include a code to redeem a digital copy of Horizon: Call of the Mountain. This bundle costs $600.
If you’d like to start your pre-order process to buy a PSVR2 headset, then check out this link.
There you have it. If you’re keen to have the latest and greatest piece of console VR tech in your grubby little mitts, then get your name down on the invitation list now to avoid disappointment!
What’s Under The Hood? – PVSR2 Confirmed Specs
Screenshot from PSVR2 Teaser
The burning question is not whether $550 is too much to pay, but rather how much bang for your buck you get for the price. PCVR has long been more expensive and options like the Meta Quest 2 offer amazing affordability with only some compromises in quality. So just how powerful is the latest Sony headset going to be? Will it just run BeatSaber or can I expect graphically intense games to run blisteringly fast with high refresh rates? Well, the best way to answer this is to compare the PSVR2 to another headset. Go head to head so to speak. The best measuring stick to go up against is probably the Meta Quest 2 as most people are familiar with that particular headset’s capabilities and limitations. So, let’s pit them head to head in the specs department, shall we?
PSVR 2 Specs
Display Method OLED
Panel resolution 2000 x 2040 per eye
Panel refresh rate 90Hz, 120Hz
Lens separation Adjustable
Field of View Approx. 110 degrees
Sensors Motion Sensor Six-axis motion sensing system
Cameras 4 cameras for headset and controller tracking plus eye tracking
Feedback Vibration on the headset, haptic feedback controllers
Communication with PS5 USB Type-C
Audio Input Built-in microphone, Output Stereo headphone jack
Quest 2 Specs
Display Method LCD
Panel resolution 1832 x 1920 per eye
Panel refresh rate 90Hz, 120Hz
Lens separation Adjustable
Field of View Approx. 90 degrees
Sensors Motion Sensor Six-axis motion sensing system
Cameras 4 cameras for headset and controller tracking
Audio Integrated positional audio, headphone jack
Battery life 2 to 3 hours
Storage 256 GB, 512 GB
Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 platform
On paper, both units shape up quite well but Sony beat Meta in a few key departments. First and most importantly, the processing power of the PS5 is far superior to an already-dated mobile phone CPU that the Quest 2 currently uses. Other standouts are the far greater resolution, the field of view, and eye tracking on the PSVR2 pushing it into a tier above the popular Meta Quest 2.
Not all things come down to stats or processing power though. Peripherals like controllers and also VR exclusives can make or break a VR headset. The original PSVR was seriously underpowered compared to its rivals however the game development from Sony alone made for some must-have titles launching and running perfectly on the little unit. Sony has always led the way with exclusives and now with a more powerful headset in their arsenal, it’s going to be amazing to see what VR games we have in store for us.
It’s All About The Games – Major Titles Confirmed For The PSVR2
As mentioned above, you could have the best or the worst headset on the market and it will make little difference if the games you play have no impact. After all, it’s the gaming experience that brings us back for more and makes us shell over more money. If you’re having fun then you’re winning and so is Sony. Here is the list of some of the amazing titles confirmed for the PSVR2 In 2023 plus their game description courtesy of Steam and/or the game developer’s official websites:
After The Fall PS5
Photo from After The Fall Press Kit
Built from the ground up for VR, After the Fall is the ultimate multiplayer zombie apocalypse! Team up with up to 3 fellow survivors and take on a twisted, hostile world where all hell has frozen over.
Set in the ice-covered ruins of 1980s LA nearly 20 years after the apocalypse, After the Fall combines an evolving VR world shared with players on all platforms with action-packed co-op gameplay, built from the ground up for VR.
Venture out into the remains of post-apocalyptic LA, wield deadly weapons and devastating powers with real-life movements as you develop your combat style, and join forces with players worldwide. Go head to head with hordes and towering bosses in a bid to leave the city a better place than your predecessors.
Cosmonious High PS5
Photo from Cosmonious High Teaser
From the creators of popular and award-winning titles Job Simulator and Vacation Simulator, comes an original creation for the books—the comically catastrophic Cosmonious High!
Welcome to Cosmonious High, an alien high school that’s definitely completely free of malfunctions!
After crash-landing your way into a memorable first day, you’ll unlock powers, explore the halls, and discover the source of malfunctions to save the school from cosmic chaos.
Living Characters
Experience the latest level of VR interaction with dynamic characters that respond to natural gestures. High five, fist bump, and converse with a quirky cast from your favorite high school cliques!
Powerful World
The entire school is one big interactive playground for your alien powers. Just remember, icing the halls won’t get you a snow day!
Unprecedented Exploration
Explore the biggest space Owlchemy Labs has ever built! Hang with your friends in the Grand Hall, perform experiments in Chemosophy, and get creative in Visualetics.
Gorgeous Visuals
Enjoy the vibrant, colorful world of Cosmonious High in an art style as unique and playful as the school!
Demeo PS5
Photo from Demeo Press Kit
Adventurers, it’s time to unite! A dark force has taken over the underworld in the RPG dungeon crawler, Demeo, and it’s a world you’re not likely to survive alone.
Demeo is a cross-platform cooperative adventure for up to four players that recreates all of the magic and camaraderie of gathering around a tabletop with friends to do a battle against the forces of evil.
Assume the role of the eagle-eyed hunter, mystical sorcerer, deadly assassin, protective guardian, melodic bard, or powerful warlock. But choose your heroes wisely in this cooperative adventure, for once players have accepted their quest, they must work together to vanquish the unholy force that corrupts everything … or die trying.
Do Not Open PS5
Photo from Do Not Open Press Kit
DO NOT OPEN is a terrifying first-person escape-room experience, based on randomness in puzzle combinations, and classic survival-horror mechanics, boosting “replayability” to discover the plot and lore: Each game will contain different rooms and puzzle variations, being different to solve.
Horizon Call of the Mountain PS5
Photo from Horizon Call of The Mountain Press Kit
View the breathtaking natural world of Horizon Call of the Mountain in 360 degrees and interact with your surroundings using two PlayStation®VR2 Sense™ controllers.
Experience the sensations of height and wonder as you take in stunning vistas across the Carja and Nora homelands through the eyes of a new character Ryas, a disgraced former Carja soldier searching for redemption.
Conquer colossal peaks, overcome fearsome machines and uncover a hidden danger to the world of Horizon – as you answer the call of the mountain in an immersive new adventure for PlayStation VR2.
Enter a living, breathing world of dangerous machines, tribal lore, exciting quests, and new and returning characters. Explore a diverse landscape – embark on a journey with multiple paths to take where you’ll have to look all around you to uncover the secrets of the mountains.
You’ll need a warrior’s instinct to find the path forward – and danger will stalk you all the way. But there are new allies and old friends who stand ready to help you with your journey.
Use intuitive movements to climb vast mountains, hunt machines, shoot your bow, and craft items from raw materials. Feel the adrenaline rush on a riverboat ride filled with surprises, that offers the chance to show off PS VR2 to your friends and family.
Pistol Whip PS5
Photo from Pistol Whip Press Kit
Winner of VR GOTY at the 2020 DICE Awards, this Physical FPS is fueled by dynamic tracks, dreamscape visuals, and easy-to-learn, tough-to-master gunplay. Inspired by iconic action cinema, the only thing that goes harder than this title’s soundtrack is you. Conquer the leaderboards, flow to the music with your own rhythmic patterns, or go all out as a dual-wielding deadeye with nothing to lose.
Resident Evil 4 PS5
Photo from Resident Evil 5 Press Kit
Explore the world of Resident Evil 4, entirely remastered for VR. Step into the shoes of special agent Leon S. Kennedy on his mission to rescue the U.S. President’s daughter who was kidnapped by a mysterious cult. Come face to face with enemies, and uncover secrets with gameplay that revolutionized the survival horror genre. Battle horrific creatures and face off against mind-controlled villagers while discovering their connection to the cult behind the abduction.
Key Features
– New and unique VR interactions that put you in Leon’s shoes, entirely in first-person
– Stunning, high-resolution graphics rebuilt for VR
– Free Update: Face an onslaught of Ganados in the wave-based extra game mode ‘The Mercenaries’ with 20 Challenges, Unlockables, and more.
Swordsman VR PS5
Photo from Swordsman Press Kit
Swordsman is a realistic sword-fighting game with challenging opponents and epic boss fights. Experience real combat that requires strategy against armored, physically simulated enemies that can parry, riposte, step, and dodge in this action-packed, award-winning game! Approach every fight like a real duel — parry enemies and strike them when they’re weak!
Physically simulated weapons and realistic armor physics will challenge you in this visceral combat experience. Master the blade and become the ultimate Swordsman in VR!
Tentacular PS5
Photo from Tentacular Press Kit
Ever felt like a squid out of water? The story of Tentacular plunges you into the ocean-dwelling hulk of a gigantic, kind-hearted tentacled beast trying to figure out its place in the world.
Raised among humans on the bustling and eccentric island of La Kalma, the time has finally come to unravel the secrets of your mysterious origin. Help your human friends to research a strange and incredibly powerful energy source. Make progress by solving a colossal mix of action-based activities and physical construction puzzles that unlock elements for your very own playground.
The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR PS5
Photo from Dark Pictures Switchback Press Kit
Experience the thrill of the most nightmarish and horrifying VR roller coaster ride you’ve ever seen, enhanced by the unique and innovative features of PS VR2 and all set inside the sinister and terrifying world of The Dark Pictures franchise.
Immerse yourself in this fast-paced rollercoaster action-horror-shooter where every move you make, and everything you see could mean the difference between life and death.
Don’t Blink! In the blink of an eye, more and more enemies are upon you as your pupils are being detected. With PlayStation VR2’s innovative capabilities experience horror up close and personal with adaptive triggers, haptic feedback and HDMI rumble in your controller and headset.
Come face to face with the most terrifying antagonists from Season One of The Dark Pictures Anthology. Survive the Ghost Ship and its distorted apparitions, confront hideous demonic incarnations of persecuted ‘witches’. Fight for your life against other-worldly vampires and escape the horrifying World’s Fair Hotel’s sadistic serial killer.
It’s your own personal nightmare where each track has multiple terrifying paths. No two runs will be the same, but each will test your reactions in this multi-sensory VR horror experience.
In the ride for your life, choose your path wisely and try to stay alive. Enjoy the ride!
The Light Brigade PS5
Photo from Light Brigade Press Kit
The world remains in eternal darkness and only you can bring the dawn. Enlist in the ranks of The Light Brigade, humanity’s last line of defense, and journey through procedurally-generated battlegrounds as many times as it takes to free the souls of the fallen trapped within.
Strategically take down relentless enemies with immersive, physics-based gunplay in this atmospheric roguelike shooter. Unlock new weapons, spells, and classes in your attempt to restore light to the world.
A tactical roguelike VR shooter with realistic gunplay and immersive light magic. Ascend the ranks of The Light Brigade as you journey through shattered memories to return light to the darkness.
Overall – Should You Pre-Order Now?
Sure the price point might be off-putting to some but Sony offers a certain amount of pedigree when it comes to gaming and R experiences. Their cutting edge technology that they use with the PS5 controller is truly next-level. This same tech plus many new innovations that are going into the VR controllers is very exciting. Being tethered to your console seems like a step back when we consider all the wireless tech on the market but perhaps that will improve after launch.
The specs of the headset and the power of the PS5 combined make this a formidable competitor for HTC and Meta. But for me the most exciting thing about PSVR2 … well it’s the games!! All signs point towards a strong year for VR titles in 2023 and Sony can lead the way in creating new and exciting gaming experiences for all their users. Should you pre-order a PSVR2? Well, if you enjoy being on top of current trends and are passionate about VR then you already know the answer to that!
If the PSVR2 isn’t your cup of tea or you want to explore your options, why not check out our shopper’s guide on the best headsets available to buy.
