The new PlayStation VR2 site is a nice recap and it's got a "tell me when I can pre-order" sign-up

0
90

The PS VR2 headset design is still a slight mystery, but these are the new features on PS5

While Sony has shared basic details about PlayStation VR2, especially recently at the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show, there’s still much more to show off. We’re not at that “full reveal during a State of Play showcase” point yet, and in fact, we’ve really just seen the new and much-improved controllers — but the big day is inching closer. There’s now an official PlayStation landing page for PS VR2 with some visuals. Progress, people!

Granted, the updated site is mostly reiteration (unless you haven’t been keeping tabs). Admittedly, the VR-on-PS5 news cycle has been pretty scattershot until now.

The PS VR2 site hits the headset’s main talking points:

  • 4K High Dynamic Range visuals and up to 120fps, as two 2000 x 2040 OLED displays deliver over four times the resolution generated by the original PlayStation VR headset.”
  • Eye-tracking cameras follow your line of sight when aiming or looking around, while advanced foveated rendering techniques improve the visual experience by adjusting resolutions to pinpoint and enhance whatever you’re focusing on.”
  • “Your movements and the direction you look are reflected in-game without the need for an external camera.”
  • “Feel subtle, responsive headset vibrations at key moments during gameplay.”
  • “Jump straight into new virtual worlds with a simple one-cable connection to the PlayStation 5 console’s front USB port.”
  • Tempest 3D AudioTech with audio that “dynamically adapts to your position and head movements.”

Sony also recapped the PlayStation VR2 Sense controller features:

  • A place-your-hands-in-our-orbs design that is “well-balanced and ergonomic.”
  • “Take additional control of your in-game actions and gear with traditional analog sticks and action buttons split across two controllers, along with an Options button and a Create button. As well as the adaptive triggers, both controllers also feature a ‘grip’ button to grab in-game object.”
  • “Feel realistic, detailed responses to your in-game actions” through haptic feedback.
  • “Interact with in-game items and environments naturally, even when you’re not actively pressing a button as finger touch detection allows the PS VR2 Sense controller to replicate natural motions and gestures, letting you reach out and touch the virtual world.”

If that’s all a rehash, there’s still an ounce of news. The bottom of the PlayStation VR2 site has a sign-up (using your PlayStation Network account) for “PS VR2 news, including game announcements, release dates, and when you can pre-order your headset.”

A player holding the PlayStation VR2 Sense controllers
Have you ever met a hand model? What were they like?

As someone who has truly gotten “enough” out of PlayStation VR on PS4 with games like Resident Evil 7 and Astro Bot Rescue Mission, I’m ready for this next phase. At one point or another, I’m sure we’ve all convinced ourselves to buy slick new gaming hardware — accessories, gimmicks, you name it — only to ultimately feel like the product didn’t live up to its potential or have enough support, and we should’ve put our money elsewhere.

For some of you, PS VR may fall into that category. While I kind of shudder at the idea of pulling out the headset’s bits and pieces in 2022 and getting everything (chairs, lighting, Move controllers, etc.) situated, I’ve got good memories. And I’m hopeful that PlayStation VR2 will feel like as much of a step up as it needs to given its timing and the competition.

It’s tough to beat the easygoing nature of the Meta Quest 2, but getting PS VR2 down to one wire is a compromise I’m personally willing to accept. We’ve already heard about one exclusive — Horizon Call of the Mountain — and you just know that Sony is striving to put together a splashy launch-window lineup with other internal and external VR games.

Bare minimum, I’ll be bummed if PS VR2 doesn’t get Half-Life: Alyx and more Resident Evil.