Also known as | PS VR2 (abbreviation) |
---|---|
Developer | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
Manufacturer | Sony |
Product family | PlayStation |
Type | Virtual reality headset |
Generation | 2nd |
Release date | February 22, 2023 |
Introductory price | $549.99 / €599.99 / £529.99 |
Units sold | <600,000 |
Units shipped | 2,000,000 |
Display | OLED, HDR, 110° field of view |
Graphics | "4K" PenTile (2000 × 2040 per eye; 90 or 120 Hz refresh rate) [1] |
Controller input | PlayStation VR2 Sense controller, DualSense [2] |
Camera | 4 x outward-facing, 2 x inward-facing (for eye-tracking) |
Platform | PlayStation 5, PC |
Dimensions | 212×158×278 mm (w × h × l) |
Mass | Approx. 560 grams [3] |
Backward compatibility | No |
Predecessor | PlayStation VR |
Website | playstation |
The PlayStation VR2 (PS VR2) is a virtual reality headset for the PC and PlayStation 5 home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment released on February 22, 2023. [4] [5] In June 2024, Sony was reportedly cutting funding for future game development for the headset.
Development of PS VR2 took about six years, and was developed simultaneously alongside the PlayStation 5, with the goal to craft the perfect match of a console and a virtual reality device. [6]
Leading up to the PS VR2 release, a display analyst from the Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC), said that he expected the upcoming next generation VR headset to have a display with the highest pixel density on a commercial OLED panel, with pixel density "well above 800 PPI". [7]
At the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show, Sony announced the PlayStation VR2 for the PlayStation 5. [8] [9]
A release date of February 22, 2023, and a retail price of $549.99 was announced on November 2, 2022 at the official PlayStation Blog . [10]
In May 2023, Sony announced that slightly less than 600,000 units of PlayStation VR2 has been sold to consumers during its first 6 weeks from launch. [11]
According to IDC, 595,500 units were shipped by Q1 2023, 435,300 in Q2 2023, 343,600 units in Q3 2023 and 325,200 units in Q4 2023 (1,699,600 accumulative units shipped in 2023). As of March 18, 2024, Bloomberg reported that Sony has paused the manufacture of PSVR2 after making well over 2 million units. [12]
On February 22, 2024, Sony announced that PC support will be coming to PlayStation VR2 in August 2024. [13] [14] [15]
In June 2024, Sony was reported to cut back on game development for the headset, effectively bringing PSVR 2 support to a close. [16] [17] [18]
The headset connects to the PlayStation 5 console through a single USB-C cable that negotiates 12 V via Power Delivery [19] [20] and simultaneous USB 3 data and video via DisplayPort alt-mode, [21] [22] [23] which enables a simple plug and play design. [24] [25] The cable length is 4.5 m (14.7 ft). [24] Sony stated that while they are still researching the technical possibility of a wireless connection, due to concerns about its impact on performance, they chose to go with the cable solution. [26] [27]
The PS VR2 has dual OLED panels with a "4K" display resolution and 90 Hz/120 Hz refresh rate. [24] [28] Each display has a resolution of 2,000 x 2,040 pixels and also supports HDR. [24]
The headset uses fresnel lenses. [29] These lenses "act on microscopic level to significantly reduce ghosting" and "allow for a beautiful image without sacrificing brightness". [30] [31]
Compared to the first generation PS VR, the headset overall weight has been reduced, [24] while the headband underwent many design improvements to increase its comfort. [32] The FOV was also increased to approx. 110 degrees. [24]
Unlike the first generation PlayStation VR, which tracked player movements through an external PlayStation Camera, the PS VR2 tracks movements via four cameras on the front of the headset. [24] These same cameras are also used to track the controllers, [33] and to give video feed for the "see-through view" feature, which allows the user to view their surroundings without needing to take off the headset. [24]
The headset also has two inward-facing IR cameras. [34] These are used for eye-tracking to enable games to utilize foveated rendering, a performance optimization technique where the render resolution of the game is reduced in areas where the player is not looking. [5] The eye-tracking can also be used as a input method, such as for selecting UI elements with a glance. [35] [36] [37]
PS VR2 has a lens adjustment dial, which allows the headset to accommodate different IPD measurements. [24] [38] The facial interface of the headset was also designed to be able to accommodate different head shapes and nose sizes, [39] and it can be removed from the PS VR2 headset for cleaning. [24]
PS VR2 also features headset feedback through a built-in motor, which provides subtle haptic effects for added immersion, such as "feeling the character's heartbeat or feeling the rush of objects passing close to the head". [24] Some sources have pointed out that Sony have previously registered patents which mentioned using haptics to reduce motion sickness. [40] [41]
Additionally, the headset has a cooling system that incorporates a duct and a small fan to cool the onboard IC chip. [42] In addition to cooling the IC chip, this airflow also provides ventilation to help minimize the lenses fogging up while the player is wearing the headset. [42] [43]
The headset has a built-in microphone and a stereo 3.5 mm headphone jack. [24] Using the PS5 Tempest 3D AudioTech, the headset supports 3D audio through headphones, allowing the in-game audio to dynamically adapt to the user position and head movements. [44]
PS VR2 uses the new Sense controllers. [33] The controller was designed with a focus on balancing the center of gravity and reducing weight, while also maintaining comfort and incorporating new features. [45] The controller is shaped like an "orb or hollowed-out sphere", which is used to ideally place a ring of 14 IR LEDs that is used for tracking its position and orientation. [46] [47] The controller has several features, including key features from the DualSense controller, like its haptic feedback and adaptive triggers technology. [33] Another new feature is the finger touch detection, which can detect the approximate location of the fingers, enabling the user to make more natural gestures during gameplay. [24] [33] This is achieved by using five capacitive finger touch sensors on each controller (four sensors for each button, and one sensor for the analog stick) to detect the placements of the thumb, index, and the middle finger. [48] [33] [49]
Similar to the original PS VR, the new PS VR2 also features a Social Screen, which allows others to see what the player is experiencing in a 2D format on a TV screen. [24] Cinematic Mode is also supported, which is used to view all non-VR game and media contents on a virtual cinema screen at 1920x1080 @ 120 Hz HDR. [24]
The play area for PS VR2 can be customized using the cameras and the Sense controller. [24] There are three different "VR Play Styles" depending on the game content and compatibility–sitting, standing or room-scale (the last one allowing more movement while playing). [24]
Sony announced that more than 100 games are in development, with over 30 titles available at the launch window, including Resident Evil Village , The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners – Chapter 2: Retribution , Five Nights at Freddy's: Help Wanted 2 , No Man's Sky , Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy's Edge , Demeo , Moss and Moss: Book II remasters, and PS VR2 exclusives Horizon Call of the Mountain and The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR . [50] [51] Gran Turismo 7 and Beat Saber have also been updated to work with PS VR2. [52]
Gran Turismo 7 was also confirmed to have a full game support on the PS VR2 (except for the 2-player splitscreen mode). [53] This is in contrast to the previous game in the series, Gran Turismo Sport , which was only supported by the original PS VR headset in a very limited capacity. [54]
PS VR2 is not compatible with the previous generation PS VR games. [24] Sony said that due to the differences in both the controller tracking hardware and the image rendering principle, porting games from the previous hardware would not be easy. [6] [55]
While early previews have been positive, reactions after the first year were negative. [4] Pre-release reviews were mostly positive, lauding the many improvements over its predecessor and its advanced technology. [56] The lack of backward compatibility and the price of the headset received mixed reaction. [57] [58] Various game developers praised the capabilities of the headset, particularly in combination with the Playstation 5. [59] [60] The new Sense controllers received acclaim from CNET, [5] while Eurogamer singled out the HDR OLED screen for its brightness and contrast, stating that "it now feels more comparable to a proper high-end OLED TV". [61] Some reviewers criticized the inconvenience of the wired connection. [62] While the launch library was described as "solid" by CNN, [63] The Telegraph had some concerns about future first party software plans beyond the current offering. [64]
On Metacritic, out of 51 professional critic reviews, 14 were in the "Extremely positive" category, 33 in the "Positive" category, 4 in the "Mixed" category, and 0 in the "Negative" category. [65]
In regard to the software, previews of the exclusive title Gran Turismo 7 were positive, with Motorsport.com describing it as "the best console virtual reality experience to date". [66] [67] [68]
XR Games and Sony Pictures VR took home Best in Gaming and Best in the World (across all categories) for the VR Shooter Zombieland: Headshot Fever Reloaded at The Australian XR Festival Awards 2023. [69]
In June 2024, The Verge wrote "I regret buying the PSVR 2". [70] DigitalTrend's reporter stated his unit was "collecting dust". [71] Tom's Guide stated "PSVR 2 future looks pretty bleak".
PlayStation is a video gaming brand that consists of five home video game consoles, two handhelds, a media center, and a smartphone, as well as an online service and multiple magazines. The brand is produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment, a division of Sony.
The PlayStation VR is a virtual reality headset developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, which was released in October 2016.
Gran Turismo 7 is a 2022 racing simulation video game developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. The game is the eighth main installment and the thirteenth overall in the Gran Turismo series. It was released for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. Gran Turismo 7 also features virtual reality support compatible with PlayStation VR2 through a free in-game update.
Foveated rendering is a rendering technique which uses an eye tracker integrated with a virtual reality headset to reduce the rendering workload by greatly reducing the image quality in the peripheral vision.
VirtualLink was a proposed USB-C Alternate Mode that was historically intended to allow the power, video, and data required to power virtual reality headsets to be delivered over a single USB-C cable instead of a set of three different cables as it was in older headsets. The standard was supported by Nvidia, AMD, HTC Vive, Oculus VR, Valve, and Microsoft. The VirtualLink Consortium was chaired by Rambo Jacoby representing Nvidia. VirtualLink never launched successfully.
The PlayStation 5 (PS5) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It was announced as the successor to the PlayStation 4 in April 2019, was launched on November 12, 2020, in Australia, Japan, New Zealand, North America, and South Korea, and was released worldwide a week later. The PS5 is part of the ninth generation of video game consoles, along with Microsoft's Xbox Series X/S consoles, which were released in the same month.
The ninth generation of video game consoles began in November 2020 with the releases of Microsoft's Xbox Series X and Series S console family and Sony's PlayStation 5.
The 2020s is the sixth decade in the industry's history. The industry remains heavily dominated by the actions of Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft, but it remains unforeseen how their dominance will be affected by cloud gaming and smartphone and tablet market. Virtual reality headsets are expected to become more popular over the course of the decade. The industry was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The ninth generation of video game consoles went on sale, beginning with the Xbox Series X and Series S and the PlayStation 5. Notable games released in the 2020s included Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Doom Eternal,Final Fantasy VII Remake, The Last of Us Part II, Ghost of Tsushima,Fall Guys,Hades,Genshin Impact, It Takes Two, Forza Horizon 5,Horizon Forbidden West, Elden Ring,Stray, Xenoblade Chronicles 3,Cult of the Lamb,God of War Ragnarök, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom,Baldur's Gate 3, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Marvel's Spider-Man 2, Alan Wake 2, Tekken 8,Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and Grand Theft Auto VI. Game development companies have come under increasing criticism for "crunch" practices, forcing workers to work long hours in the build-up to release.
Moss: Book II is a 2022 virtual reality adventure game developed and published by American video game development studio Polyarc. A sequel to Moss, the game follows Quill as she ventures though the land to battle the arcane to save the land of Moss. Moss: Book II was released in March 2022 for PlayStation 4 via PlayStation VR before receiving Meta Quest 2 and Windows ports later that year. A PlayStation 5 version via PlayStation VR2 was released in February 2023.
Horizon Call of the Mountain is a 2023 action-adventure video game developed by Guerrilla Games and Firesprite, and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 5. Part of the Horizon series, the game was released as a launch title for the PlayStation VR2 virtual reality headset on 22 February 2023.
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners – Chapter 2: Retribution is a virtual reality first-person shooter survival horror game for SteamVR, PlayStation VR, PlayStation VR2 and Meta Quest 2. Developed by Skydance Interactive in partnership with Skybound Entertainment, it is a sequel to The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners and based on the comic book series The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman. The game was released in December 2022 for the Meta Quest 2 and PICO 4, and released for PlayStation VR2 and Steam in March 2023.
The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR is a rail shooter video game developed and published by Supermassive Games for the PlayStation VR2. It was released on 16 March 2023. It is a spin-off of The Dark Pictures Anthology and features the player riding a horror-themed roller coaster.
Arashi: Castles of Sin is a virtual reality stealth action-adventure game for PlayStation VR on PlayStation 4, developed by Endeavor One and published by Prep Games. A Final Cut version was co-developed with Skydance Interactive and released on December 5, 2023, on next-generation virtual reality consoles.
Arizona Sunshine 2 is a 2023 first-person shooter video game developed and published by Vertigo Games. A sequel to Arizona Sunshine (2016), the game was released for virtual reality devices such as Meta Quest headsets, PlayStation VR2, SteamVR and Pico 4 in December 2023.
Synapse is a 2023 first-person shooter video game developed and published by nDreams. The game was released for the PlayStation VR2 virtual reality headset in July 2023 and received generally positive reviews upon release.
The Last Clockwinder is a virtual reality puzzle-automation game developed by Pontoco and published by Cyan. In the game, players use motion controls to record their actions and create automatons that repeat those actions, allowing them to automate various tasks. The game was released on Microsoft Windows and Oculus Quest on June 2, 2022, and PlayStation 5 on February 22, 2023.