During the keynote at CES 2022, Sony officially announced the new PlayStation VR2 system for the PS5. MeinMMO summarizes all the important info.
In advance, Sony had already presented the PS VR2 controllers. Now Sony has also shown the matching hardware and announced an exclusive game.
This is an interesting development, as Sony had stated nearly 2 years ago that VR would not be important for gaming in the coming years, yet they firmly believe in the combination of PlayStation and VR.
MeinMMO explains what PS VR 2 is and why you should keep an eye on the new hardware.
PlayStation VR2 is supposed to significantly improve on the previous model and provide new features
What is PS VR anyway? PlayStation VR (short: PS VR) is a virtual reality headset developed by Sony for the PS4. Players who put on the headset can immerse themselves more deeply in the game world. This is because a virtual space is created in the brain that our eyes perceive as realistic. Certain VR games can only be played with such a headset on PlayStation.
What has been announced now? Sony has now presented PlayStation VR2 (short: PS VR2) at CES 2022. Sony has completely redeveloped the VR system, and the new device is supposed to fully utilize the PS5 hardware. With 3D audio and haptic feedback with the DualSense controller, two important cornerstones for immersion in games on the PS5 have also been laid. Immersion means that you can dive better and deeper into a game.
In addition, Sony has developed new controllers for PS VR, called PS VR2 Sense controllers. The new VR system offers the potential for higher visual quality, including resolutions of up to 4K and support for HDR output.
Sony also stated that PS VR2 will use something called “foveated rendering,” which tracks the user’s view to dynamically adjust which game elements are rendered with the highest quality. This can improve performance, as anything that players are not currently looking at does not have to be processed.
What improvements are there? Sony presented some improvements (via blog.playstation.com):
- Visual precision: PS VR2 offers 4K HDR, a 110-degree field of view, and improved rendering of the peripheral vision area (foveated rendering). The device offers a resolution of 2000 x 2040 pixels and a frame rate of 90/120Hz.
- Headset-based controller tracking: With the inside-out tracking feature, “PS VR2” tracks players and controllers via cameras integrated into the VR headset. Movements and gaze directions are represented in the game without needing an external camera. This was still the case with PS VR, and you had to buy an additional camera.
- New sensory features: The PS VR2 Sense technology combines eye tracking, headset feedback, 3D audio, and the innovative PS VR2 Sense controller to provide players with a strong sense of immersion. Headset feedback is a new sensory feature that enhances the feeling of actions within the game. Sony aims to transfer some features we also know from the DualSense controller to PS VR2.
- Eye tracking: With eye tracking, PS VR2 recognizes eye movements, allowing a simple gaze in a certain direction to create additional interactions for the character. For example, if you look at a character in the game, the game will recognize this, and you will be addressed by the person. This is intended to make conversations feel more natural.
How much will PS VR2 cost? A price has not yet been announced. The predecessor device, PS VR, started at 399.99 euros without the PlayStation camera in 2016. Later, Sony lowered the price to 299.99 euros. It is likely that PS VR2 will also cost between 300 to 400 euros.
When will PS VR2 be released? Sony did not mention a release date. However, Sony stated that the device is expected to launch sometime in 2022. The next important release for the PS5 is the colorful side plates, which are supposed to be available starting January 2022:
Exclusive titles for PS VR 2 announced
What kind of game is this? Sony also announced the first game with the new VR system, which you can only play exclusively with PS VR2.
This is “Horizon: Call of the Mountain,” which takes place in the same universe as the previous Horizon games featuring protagonist Aloy.
Not much is known about it yet; we will have to wait for the upcoming “State of Play” from Sony, where more information about the game will likely be presented. Perhaps more “PS VR” games will be revealed in the future. Many users are still waiting for an MMORPG with VR elements, for which Sony at least secured the naming rights.
So far, you can watch a tiny teaser for the game directly on YouTube:
What do you think? Are you excited about PlayStation VR2 and the exclusive title, or do you not care about the announcement? Let us know in the comments!
Buy PS5: If you haven’t gotten a PS5 console yet and really want to buy one, check out our up-to-date PS5 ticker here on MeinMMO. Here you will find tips and tricks on how to best buy a PS5, and we will also tell you about all the drops where you can buy a PS5.
