Article by Marcus Siu

As the technology continues to thrive and the general public starts to embrace it as mainstream entertainment, whether its gaming, or social media, it seems more and more likely that Virtual Reality will be here to stay with us indefinitely, especially when the hardware and software keeps constantly improving.

Most people are becoming well aware of VR, thanks to the ad campaigns from Meta. The company formerly named Facebook believes that VR is the future of social media, and continues to run its commercials, such as those played during the Super Bowl.

For the uninitiated, many of them are wondering what they are missing. My guess is that the many of those TV viewers have never really had the pleasure to experience VR on a stand-alone unit, such as an Oculus or an HTC Vive, or even on the original Sony PSVR.

Though many have experienced it on the Samsung GearVR headsets that came with their Galaxy smartphones that Oculus stopped supporting years ago, it’s not a comparable experience…not even close.

It has been over eight years ago since Sony PlayStation jumped aboard on the VR bandwagon, Though they were a little late to the scene, it was very gratifying to see them at this year’s CES 2022 show fully committed to the technology as they announced their upcoming new and improved “second generation” PlayStation VR2.

The PSVR2 virtual reality system pairs with the PS5 gaming console and is an optional accessory, along with the PlayStation VR2 Sense controller. Though not wireless like Meta’s Quest 2, the PSVR2 will no longer need a camera mounted on your TV, like you did on the original PSVR, but still needs to be tethered to its PS5 gaming console via USB-C on a single cord.

As far as the physical design of the headset, it’s very similar in color to the first generation model but has a much slimmer design with a headband-type visor compared to the original VR strap-on headset. Expect it to be much more ergonomically comfortable than its predecessor, as well. The headsets have built-in microphone and stereo headphone jacks, just like the original.

The PSVR2 promises to have four times the resolution compared to the original PSVR headset with two 2000 x 2040 OLED displays for each eye. The refresh rate remains the same with 90Hz and 120Hz, but the new version will have four built in cameras so you can look in your virtual environment clearly with pinpoint accuracy to whatever you are focusing on, thanks mainly to the headsets’ foveated rendering techniques, which gives you the best visual experience with less pixels.

Two features new to the headset design include an eye tracking movement that allows emotional responses and expressions when meeting people online and a single built-in motor that adds vibration to the headset that immerses the gamer with realism along with the sensor controller’s haptic feedback. Imagine all the whirring sounds flying by you in 5.1 or maybe a virtual punch to the head that adds realism, similar to the “dual shock” on the PS remotes.

According to the Sony, here are the highlights of the PS VR2:

• Visual Fidelity: For a high-fidelity visual experience, PS VR2 offers 4K HDR, 110-degree field of view, and foveated rendering. With an OLED display, players can expect a display resolution of 2000×2040 per eye and smooth frame rates of 90/120Hz.
• Headset-based Controller Tracking: With inside-out tracking, PS VR2 tracks you and your controller through integrated cameras embedded in the VR headset. Your movements and the direction you look at are reflected in-game without the need for an external camera.
• New Sensory Features: PS VR2 Sense Technology combines eye tracking, headset feedback, 3D Audio, and the innovative PS VR2 Sense controller to create an incredibly deep feeling of immersion. Headset feedback is a new sensory feature that amplifies the sensations of in-game actions from the player. It’s created by a single built-in motor with vibrations that add an intelligent tactile element, bringing players closer to the gameplay experience. For example, gamers can feel a character’s elevated pulse during tense moments, the rush of objects passing close to the character’s head, or the thrust of a vehicle as the character speeds forward. Additionally, PS5’s Tempest 3D AudioTech makes sounds in the player’s surroundings come alive, adding to this new level of immersion.
• Eye Tracking: With eye tracking, PS VR2 detects the motion of your eyes, so a simple look in a specific direction can create an additional input for the game character. This allows players to interact more intuitively in new and lifelike ways, allowing for a heightened emotional response and enhanced expression that provide a new level of realism in gaming. 

In addition to the announcement of the VR PlayStation VR2, Sony announced announced a new game designed and originally built for the PS VR2 Platform, “Horizon Call of the Mountain from Guerrilla and Firesprite”, one of the biggest PlayStation franchises.

As of this time, there is no release date or retail price.