PSVR 2 Is A Game Changer

Tom's Guide
Tom's Guide
  • last year
The PSVR 2’s spec sheet is an impressive mix of the top features seen in some of the best VR headsets, combined with proprietary Sony audio and haptic technology, all linked to a powerful game console in the PS5 with a strong developer ecosystem. 
Despite its high price, the PlayStation VR 2 is an excellent way to get access to high-end VR without needing to buy a gaming PC. Behind its simple setup lies a very impressive virtual reality system.

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Transcript
00:00 [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:06 To most, it might seem like a straightforward sequel
00:08 to the original PSVR from 2016.
00:11 But it's so much more than that.
00:13 PSVR 2 really feels like a step change
00:16 for virtual reality in general.
00:18 And I can already tell a lot of you are rolling your eyes.
00:21 $550 is a lot of money for next generation
00:24 VR when it comes with a cable that
00:27 tethers you to your console.
00:29 But cheaper, MetaQuest 2 is wireless
00:31 and doesn't require the extra cost of the PS5
00:33 to play all of the best VR games that are available right now.
00:37 So why would you spend the extra money?
00:39 Well, let's get into it.
00:40 [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:46 Unsurprisingly, the PSVR 2 is an evolution of the design
00:49 from the original PSVR.
00:51 And it's better in basically every single way.
00:54 The headband is easy to adjust and comfortable on the head,
00:57 distributing the weight evenly.
00:59 There is plenty of room in the silicone cushioning
01:02 to accommodate for glasses.
01:03 And the whole set is easy to adjust once you're used to it.
01:06 The silicone around your eyes is also
01:08 great at blocking out any incoming light,
01:10 making the whole experience far more
01:12 immersive than the original PlayStation VR and MetaQuest 2.
01:15 An extra nice surprise is that analog wired earbuds
01:18 come bundled in with the PSVR 2 and plug
01:20 into the back of the headset's band.
01:22 They sound pretty great and are certainly
01:24 a welcome alternative to most other devices' approaches,
01:27 of small, less than stellar speakers
01:30 that fire mediocre sound into your ears,
01:32 but also into the room for everybody else to enjoy.
01:35 It's a regular 3.5 millimeter audio jack in as well.
01:39 So you can use any of your own buds over your cans
01:42 or wireless headphones if you'd rather.
01:44 Now back to the elephant in the room, the cable.
01:46 The USB-C is plumbed in on the left-hand side
01:49 of the headband.
01:50 This was a big shock to me when it was announced.
01:52 I'm sure for a lot of you, may well be a deal breaker.
01:55 Most VR headsets coming to the market now are wireless
01:58 and the idea of being tethered to your console
02:01 might already seem archaic.
02:03 But in truth, the cable is surprisingly thin
02:06 and I really found that it gets in the way
02:07 or distracts me when playing.
02:09 For ease of storage, I would have preferred
02:10 a detachable cable, which would have also allowed
02:12 the option to buy a longer cable if you wanted,
02:15 but I haven't had any issues with the plumbed in cable
02:17 as it is.
02:18 On the bottom of the headset, you'll find three buttons.
02:20 One for power, one for accessing the settings
02:23 and a function button that can also trigger
02:25 pass-through mode, allowing you to see
02:27 your real world surroundings.
02:28 The cameras on the front of the headset
02:30 that allow for that pass-through mode
02:31 are also tracking the controllers,
02:33 simplifying the process massively
02:35 from the original PlayStation VR's hellish cameras,
02:38 move controllers, breakout boxes and cables.
02:41 So what you're seeing now here is the active pass-through.
02:44 It's using the front cameras on the front of the headset
02:45 to show you my real world surroundings
02:48 and there's an impressive level of detail.
02:49 We can see the posters on the wall over here,
02:51 see even the PlayStation logo on the console behind me.
02:55 Now it's not quite as impressive
02:56 as some of the more premium headsets I've used
02:57 like the HTC Vive XR Elite.
03:00 On that, I could read text messages on my phone
03:02 through the pass-through.
03:03 You can't do that on the PlayStation VR 2,
03:06 but it is a significant step up
03:08 from the likes of the Oculus Quest 2.
03:09 The PSVR 2's sense controllers could be summarized
03:17 as a cross between the DualSense controller
03:20 and the Quest 2 controllers.
03:21 They have a similar but larger shape
03:23 with a pistol-like grip
03:25 that extends into a ring for motion tracking.
03:28 The difference here is that on the PSVR 2,
03:30 the ring sits further back,
03:31 almost looping around your wrist
03:33 rather than sticking out of the end of the controller
03:36 like the Quest 2.
03:37 In all honesty, I found this much better
03:39 than the Quest 2 controllers
03:40 as they collide a lot less with each other
03:42 when trying to sharpshoot my way out of a zombie horde.
03:45 As with any new controller,
03:49 they get a little getting used to,
03:50 although all of the buttons and triggers
03:52 sit in the places that you'd expect them to
03:54 if you're familiar with the DualSense.
03:56 Impressively, the build quality here is top tier
03:58 and it all feels far superior to the Quest's equivalent.
04:02 The only minor complaint is I found that the wrist straps
04:04 are a little tricky to easily put on
04:07 given the placement of the ring on the controllers,
04:09 but they can be removed if they prove irritating,
04:11 of course, at your own risk.
04:13 I found the motion tracking on the controllers
04:17 and finger movement to be excellent,
04:19 but the real star of the show is the haptics.
04:22 Much like with the DualSense controller,
04:24 advanced haptics are used to better convey
04:27 the feel of tension on a virtually dual bowstring
04:30 in Call of the Mountain
04:31 or the reloading of a gun in Resident Evil Village.
04:35 It's just another area where Sony's hardware
04:38 excels beyond the competition
04:39 to offer a level of immersion that is truly unique.
04:42 They really are a massive step up
04:46 from the PlayStation 3 Move controllers
04:48 that the original PlayStation VR required.
04:50 Battery life is also decent
04:52 with around five to six hours of gaming between charges.
04:55 Not as good as the AA battery powered Quest controllers,
04:58 but at least these charge via USB-C.
05:01 One issue people had with the Move controllers
05:03 was battery life deteriorating over time.
05:05 Now, by the time that people actually got around
05:07 to using these with PSVR,
05:08 they'd probably been sat in a cupboard discarded for years,
05:11 but it's something that could be interesting
05:12 to keep an eye on long-term for the new controllers.
05:15 PSVR 2 also supports eye tracking
05:18 and surprisingly, it allows you
05:19 to control the system through it.
05:21 You can navigate menus with a glance,
05:23 although I found it to be more of a gimmick
05:25 than an actually useful feature
05:26 that I actually wanted to use.
05:28 This tracking is also used in some games.
05:31 In Horizon's case, it helps some NPCs
05:34 maintain eye contact with the player.
05:36 It feels like a properly next-gen feature
05:38 that could open up all manner of virtual interactions
05:41 in future games, but right now it's early days
05:44 and the implementation of this feature
05:46 isn't exactly a game changer quite yet.
05:48 - Your brother would do it in a heartbeat.
05:52 - Like PSVR, the PSVR 2 has an OLED display,
06:00 but unlike its predecessor, the PSVR 2's display
06:03 delivers a much improved 2000 by 2040 per eye resolution.
06:08 This is a huge upgrade, with everything appearing crisper
06:12 and sharper on the PlayStation VR 2.
06:15 Along with that high resolution
06:16 comes a high refresh rate of 90 hertz to 120 hertz.
06:21 I'm lucky that I don't really get VR-related
06:23 motion sickness easily,
06:25 so this isn't really a huge deal for me,
06:28 but those impressive specs should help
06:30 to alleviate some of that sickness for some of you.
06:32 The contrast level on the OLED displays
06:35 is a massive step up from PSVR 1 and Quest 2,
06:38 and it all works in tandem to immerse you even deeper
06:41 into whatever game you're playing.
06:43 Okay, so I think this demonstrates
06:45 what is so fantastic about PlayStation VR 2.
06:48 The level of detail and the resolution here
06:50 in these tree branches are giving me
06:52 that disconcerting feeling.
06:53 I know I can just walk straight through this.
06:55 I know it's a video game,
06:56 but I feel like I wanna go around it.
06:57 I feel like I wanna move it out of the way in my hand.
06:59 Feels odd to go straight through it.
07:02 And then the OLED, the deep blacks that I'm getting
07:05 as I look into this dark forest, are terrifying.
07:09 I know this game very well.
07:10 I've played the opening section of this game very well.
07:12 I know exactly what is coming,
07:14 but every fiber of my being is telling me not to walk
07:19 into this dark, dangerous forest.
07:23 I hate it, but it's amazing all at the same time.
07:26 Thankfully, setting up the PSVR 2 is so much simpler
07:36 than its previous generation.
07:38 Gone are the fiddly breakout boxes
07:40 and connectors of PlayStation VR,
07:42 and instead, the second generation headset
07:44 plugs into the USB-C port on the front of your PS5.
07:48 Pair the controllers with the provided cable,
07:50 and you're pretty much ready to go.
07:53 Once up and running, the PlayStation VR 2
07:55 will then scan your room to determine the space
07:57 that you'll have to play and move around in.
08:00 It'll do this process even if you plan
08:01 on using the headset while seated.
08:04 Room-scale VR is also on offer,
08:06 but you'll need two meters by two meters of free space,
08:09 which unfortunately for some people
08:10 just simply won't be an option.
08:12 Once you're all set up, you'll be transported
08:17 into the PlayStation menu, the same PlayStation menu
08:21 that you're used to seeing on your PS5.
08:23 This kind of feels like a wasted opportunity to me.
08:26 I was hoping for some sort of wow moment here
08:29 to usher me into the next generation of VR,
08:32 and honestly, a more gesture-friendly UI,
08:35 but I guess if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
08:38 (upbeat music)
08:41 The underwhelming UI is a minor complaint
08:47 because the main reason that you're getting this headset
08:49 is the games, so let's talk about them.
08:52 PSVR 2 launches with a bunch of demos,
08:54 nothing quite as spectacular as Astro's Playroom was
08:57 for demoing the DualSense on PS5,
08:59 but it's nice to have something to try out
09:01 and show your non-gamer family and friends
09:03 at no extra cost.
09:05 And while no full games come bundled with the PSVR 2,
09:08 Tenpal Title Horizon Call of the Mountain
09:10 does launch alongside the headset.
09:12 You'll be glad to hear that Call of the Mountain
09:14 is indeed a full game, not just a short VR experience,
09:18 and it's a fantastic demonstration
09:20 of what the PSVR 2 is capable of.
09:23 When everything is working in tandem,
09:26 you'll be forgiven for thinking that you aren't living
09:28 in the world of Horizon Forbidden West on the PS5.
09:31 The graphics don't quite match up
09:33 to the PS5 blockbuster, of course, but it's pretty close.
09:36 And when you're face-to-face with a fire-spewing robo-dino,
09:39 you won't be nitpicking the minor graphical downgrades.
09:42 With your face in the game,
09:45 rather than seeing things from a third-person view,
09:47 everything is far more engaging and terrifying.
09:50 The sense of scale is absolutely mind-blowing.
09:54 The haptic feedback in the controllers
09:56 and across the headset,
09:57 combined with Sony's Tempest 3D Audio tech,
10:00 adds a level of depth to convey a sense of reality.
10:04 I could hear the beams creaking as I climbed along them
10:07 and felt a sense of connection
10:10 when moving from handhold to handhold
10:12 or pulling back on the bowstring.
10:14 Plus, the range of movement that the PSVR 2 allows for
10:17 had me leaning around obstacles and pulling off arrow shots
10:20 that simply wouldn't have been possible
10:21 in the standard game.
10:23 And it's moments like that
10:25 that make this tech feel literally game-changing.
10:28 However, as much as Call of the Mountain has impressed me,
10:31 it also sets a very high standard
10:33 for future PSVR 2 games to follow.
10:35 And at the time of recording,
10:37 there aren't a huge amount of other games
10:39 to test PSVR 2 with.
10:41 Those that I have tried have worked well,
10:43 but they're also mostly ports of other games
10:45 that have been available on other platforms for a long time.
10:48 PSVR 2 has more than 30 games set to arrive
10:51 in the February to March launch window.
10:53 So hopefully the wait for quality titles
10:55 to take advantage of this great hardware
10:58 won't be that long.
10:59 But right now,
10:59 once you beat the eight hour-ish Call of the Mountain,
11:02 it's kind of slim pickings.
11:04 If you own a Quest 2 or any other VR headset,
11:06 then Horizon and Gran Turismo
11:08 probably won't be enough to convince you
11:10 that it's time to drop $550 on a new headset.
11:14 A headset that isn't compatible with your PC
11:16 and will require you to repurchase your games library again.
11:20 Sony says that there are more than 100
11:22 PlayStation VR 2 games in development.
11:25 So I'm cautiously optimistic that the PSVR 2
11:28 will see a larger volume of higher quality games
11:30 than its predecessor.
11:32 And maybe some of them will be enough
11:34 to justify the price tag a little more.
11:37 But really what I'm hoping for
11:38 is for Sony to open up the PlayStation VR 2
11:41 for PC connectivity,
11:42 immediately making this device way more versatile
11:45 and a way better value proposition.
11:48 This isn't a massively unreasonable ask
11:50 given Sony's latest strategy
11:51 with porting a lot of their PlayStation 5
11:53 exclusive titles over to PC.
11:55 But I wouldn't place a bet on any legit
11:58 PlayStation VR 2 and PC connectivity
12:00 working anytime soon.
12:02 In many ways, the PSVR 2 comes with all of the best VR tech
12:11 with some industry-leading haptics and audio from PS5
12:15 in a system that's dead easy to use
12:17 and surprisingly robust.
12:19 To me, this all combines
12:20 to make a much more compelling VR experience
12:22 than most others can offer.
12:23 Sure, the price tag is enough to make
12:26 all but the richest among us pause for a second.
12:28 But if you're interested in VR
12:30 and you want to elevate your PS5 experience,
12:33 then the PSVR 2 is worth it.
12:36 Standalone high-end sets
12:38 like the MareQuest Pro and HTC Vive XR Elite
12:41 will cost you over a thousand bucks
12:43 and anything cheaper will require a decent gaming PC
12:46 to get the most out of.
12:47 And so the combined price of the new PSVR
12:50 and a PlayStation 5 is competitive-ish.
12:54 And if Sony follows through with more high-end VR titles
12:57 that draw upon the PlayStation 5's power,
13:00 then I think the PSVR 2 could start setting a standard
13:03 for other VR platforms to follow.
13:05 And that is genuinely exciting.
13:08 Despite its high price,
13:09 the PSVR 2 is an excellent way to access high-end VR.
13:13 Now we just need some games.
13:15 (upbeat music)
13:18 If you're interested in high-end VR
13:21 and you want to see me check out the HTC Vive XR Elite,
13:25 then you can find that on the Tom's Guide YouTube channel.
13:27 I've been Matt Phillips and I'll see you on the next one.