Officially, further features of the new PS VR2 have been presented on the PlayStation Blog. A notable focus is on the topic of safety.
What is the PS VR2? The original PS VR is a virtual reality headset designed for the PS4. The PS VR2, on the other hand, is the successor model that is supposed to fully utilize the hardware of the PS5.
Some features of the new headset were already revealed in early 2022, and the State of Play in May also showcased some games for PS VR2. However, a release date or price information is still missing.
However, Sony has now released another insight into new features of the PS VR2.
Looking through the headset instead of taking it off – in a way
What was shown: In the so-called “First Look at the User Experience” of the new VR headset, Sony showcases two features that should benefit safety in your own living room (or wherever you have your console set up).
The first is the so-called “Pass-Through View” – a feature somewhat similar to what you’ve seen with Oculus or Meta Quest devices.
The PS VR2 gives you a way to see through the headset: The integrated front cameras of the headset transmit your surroundings to the screen at the push of a button.
So you can somewhat look through the headset. This means you no longer have to take off the headset to look for controllers, grab a glass of water, or simply orient yourself in the room.
“Blind flights,” where you fumble around with the headset on to guess your surroundings, should thus be a thing of the past – just like accidentally knocking over glasses or bumping into furniture.
However, you cannot record a video with this function.
The second feature is the “Custom Play Area”. Using the integrated cameras of the PS VR2, players can scan the room and then adjust it with controller movements. This way, you can essentially draw lines where your play area starts and ends.
If you get too close to these boundaries, the PS VR2 will warn you in time so you don’t bump into anything. Of course, this can also just be prevented by playing cautiously and not wildly.
Nevertheless, there is enough evidence on YouTube and other platforms that in the heat of the VR battle you can certainly lose orientation, which in the worst case can lead to broken furniture or injuries.
Further features: In addition to the two “safety features,” the transmission function of the VR headset was also introduced. If you connect an HD camera to the PS5, you can film yourself while playing and share the results.
In addition, you can switch between a “VR mode” and “Cinema mode” on the headset. The VR mode is the 360-degree view where you are the center.
In Cinema mode, however, your PS5, user interface, and media content are displayed on a virtual screen – as if you were sitting in front of a screen. Then you can watch movies as if they were simply played in front of you.
What do you think of the new features? Do you even have a use for a PS VR2? Or are you still looking for a PS5? Then you should maybe check out our current PS5 ticker.
