I understand this VR! 8 things to know about PlayStation VR 2 [TEST]

PlayStation VR has been over seven years old. This device was already outdated in some respects at the time of its premiere (it used PS Move controllers that still remember the PS3 era), and today it is almost a museum exhibit.

In the so-called meanwhile, Sony introduced launch of the PlayStation 5 console, which leaves its predecessor far behind in terms of computing power. For this reason, the premiere of the second generation of Sony VR glasses seemed to be a matter of time.

And so it happened. From February 22 PS VR2 is now available on store shelves. Over the last two weeks I had the opportunity to thoroughly test this equipment. How do VR glasses from Sony work? Are they worth the price? What are their biggest disadvantages? Here are 8 things you should know about PS VR2 before you decide to buy this gadget.

PlayStation VR 2 photo by DM

1) The futuristic design is impressive

PlayStation VR2 maintains visual consistency with the PlayStation 5 console. Both headphonesWhat the controllers themselves they look futuristic and stylish at the same time. All elements of the set seem to be very solid and resistant to damage, but at the same time they are quite light.

2) Configuration is trivial

One of the reasons why I didn’t decide to buy the first generation PS VR was the fact that after connecting the set to the console, my room turned into a real tangle of cables. The configuration of that device required connecting VR goggles, processor module, PlayStation Camera and PS Move controllers (the latter two accessories had to be purchased separately!).

For PlayStation VR2 configuration is much simpler. The set consists only of VR goggles, which we connect directly to the console via the USB-C port, wireless VR2 Sense controllers and stereo headphones. There is no need to use any camera, because all the necessary sensors and sensors are placed directly in the “helmet” and the aforementioned controllers.

The first time you connect PlayStation VR2 to the console, the system guides you through a simple setup process. During it, we decide whether we want to play in a sitting position, or whether we prefer to move around the room during the game. Sensors placed on the goggles then scan the room to create a so-called safe play area.

And that’s basically it. We can play now!

It is worth noting that the PS VR2 it is not a wireless device. There is only one cable, but it is there. The 4.5-meter cable that connects the device to the console can sometimes give us a hard time. It’s easy to get entangled in it, so before starting the game, it’s worth taking care of its proper arrangement.

PlayStation VR 2 photo by DM

3) Goggles are comfortable, but people with glasses will complain

The undoubted advantage of PS VR2 is the possibility precise fit of the headset to the shape of our head, as well as the spacing of the eyeballs. There are two knobs for this – one is located on the back of the goggles and the other on the front.

The goggles are comfortable and do not weigh on the head. However, they have a problem with heat dissipation. During short sessions, this is not a major problem, but when we play a bit longer, drops of sweat may appear on our forehead.

Does PS VR 2 allow you to play with glasses? Yes, there is enough space in the headset to fit an extra pair of lenses. As a person wearing glasses, however, I must point out that using the VR2 in this way is much less comfortable, and getting the right sharpness of the image is much more difficult.

4) Motion tracking works great

What PS VR2 stands out from its predecessor is also the extremely precise tracking of head, hand and even eyeball movements. The device registers our every gesture, which definitely deepens the immersion. Importantly, the PS VR2 copes with all this very well also in more difficult lighting conditions.

Both the set of cameras placed on the front of the goggles and a number of sensors and sensors that are located both in the goggles and Sense controllers are responsible for the precision of tracking the movement.

PlayStation VR 2 photo by DM

5) Comfortable controllers, but with a weak battery

Sense controllers are lightweight, durable, comfortable and fit well in the hand, and offer a number of features that we know from DualSense for PS5 – these include haptic vibrations, as well as adaptive triggers. Importantly, all Sense controller buttons have sensors that detect finger pressure, thanks to which PlayStation VR2 can read our gestures even better.

The biggest disadvantage of PS VR2 controllers is short battery life. On a single charge, they last about 2-3 hours, which is not a very impressive result. Several times I’ve had the battery die in the middle of a game, which was quite frustrating.

6) Image quality is impressive

If I had to describe the switch from PS VR to PS VR2 in a vivid way, I would compare it to my first visit to the ophthalmologist, when, after putting on the right glasses, I discovered that the world around me is not shrouded in fog.

The new VR goggles from Sony have been equipped with a screen 4K OLED with HDR support, which translates into resolution 2000×2040 pixels (per lens). Combined with the hardware capabilities of PlayStation 5, it allows you to generate an image that was unattainable for the previous generation.

This can be seen in the games themselves, and especially in the titles which were created especially for the new Sony platform. Views in Horizon Call of the Mountain breathtaking at times.

7) Do you have trouble with the labyrinth? This is not the equipment for you

For PlayStation VR2, Sony raised the frequency refresh image to the range of 90-120 Hz. This was to improve the smoothness of the game, and at the same time reduce the risk of problems with the labyrinth. Unfortunately, this second mission failed. If playing with PlayStation VR or, for example, HTC Vive made you feel sick, it will be exactly the same with PS VR2.

Horizon Call of the Mountain photo by DM

8) Games? I am waiting for more

I mentioned Horizon Call of the Mountain. What about other games? Sony still has a lot of work to do in this area. It also deserves a mention here Kayak VR: Mirage (we canoe here and admire the landscapes) and directed to the youngest – Moss and Moss: Book 2.

And that’s basically it. There is still Gran Turismo 7 VR, which in terms of graphics, however – nomen omen – does not provide whether Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge, which offers quite clumsy and not very intuitive gameplay.

Gran Turismo 7 VR Sony

If Sony wants to make the PS VR2 virtual reality goggles “for the masses”, it needs to work on the game library, and there are still a lot of them. Horizon Call of the Mountain – although excellent – does not justify spending PLN 3,000 on this device.

Perhaps I wouldn’t be so critical of games if PS VR2 allowed you to run titles from the previous generation of hardware. However, this is not possible due to the lack of backward compatibility.

Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge photo Sony

This does not change the fact that PlayStation VR2 is a successful device that takes the fun of virtual reality in games to a new level. Impressive is both the image quality, the precision of tracking movements, as well as the image quality. Sony has laid solid foundations. It’s time to put a house on them, that is, give us more games. I quietly hope that one of the studios of the Japanese giant is already working on a title comparable to Half-Life: Alyx. May!