If you’re trying to decide whether or not to buy the new PlayStation VR2 virtual reality headset, the decision probably comes down to a comparison. Is it superior to what you have, or is it just an upgrade to finally blow it up? So, instead of dancing around the topic, let’s get straight to the point: is PSVR2 better?
Is PSVR2 better than PSVR?
The PlayStation VR2 is definitely leaps and bounds from the original PlayStation VR in terms of technology. This first attempt cut as many shortcuts as possible to lower prices, such as using Move controllers and adhering to limited tracking capabilities. PSVR2 supports room scale tracking. Sense motion controllers are accurate and usually have the features you want. There’s no clumsy case or camera to set up, and everything connects via a decent-length cable to the front of the PS5. What he retains is the practicality of the original, a real selling point for Sony. Other companies’ offerings are getting better and better, but in terms of feel and ease of use, it’s hard to beat Sony’s engineering.
Still, it’s not as simple a question as you might think. For this first effort, Sony has invested heavily in software. There were prestigious proprietary games like Astro Bot: Rescue Mission, as well as a seemingly generous amount of float funds to fund ports and third-party VR conversions. There is Horizon: The Call of the Mountain – We’ll drop that name a few times – but overall it seems like Sony is making less money bringing experiences to the new platform. At least, to our knowledge. And with no backwards compatibility for PSVR games and limited efforts to patch compatibility with PSVR2, the second headset may not be better than the first for a while.
(Seriously, why isn’t it fixed astronomical robot the first item in the to-do list?)
Is PSVR2 better than PC VR?
It really depends on what you want from a VR experience. PC VR headsets offer the breadth of PC content, and it’s unparalleled. There are fan projects, mods, and exclusive PC releases that do more than PSVR2 will ever do, not just its launch lineup, but throughout its lifespan. This could be mitigated with PC support for headsets, and while Sony has shown no indication of officially doing so, fan work has closed the gap for the first PSVR and could do so for VR2. Still, it could be difficult and we’re not counting on it anytime soon.
But a console approach results in streamlined technology and a lot less time spent setting things up. This is true for the entire PC console division, and it’s the reason for many efforts like Steam Deck to make PC gaming more predictable and preconfigured. But it’s especially important in VR, where little glitches and stutters are less annoying and more of an illness-inducing nightmare. Playing VR2 is simple and straightforward, and even launch bugs are minor and fixes are fast.
We hope the updates will make VR2 even smoother. The problem we encounter most often concerns lighting and room detection. The sensors that know where you are in the room seem more confused by midday lighting conditions, as we had frequent episodes of stuttering and error messages that made games room-wide virtually unplayable as they were breaking every 30 seconds or so. However, when that didn’t happen, the tracking worked just fine.
For now, the console’s usual advantage of robust self-development isn’t really there. Perhaps future announcements can bridge the software gap and help sell the VR2.
Is PSVR2 better than Quest?
If you’re a fan of the pioneering fare of headsets formerly known as Oculus, it’s probably because the hardware is wireless. VR2 has significantly reduced the setup and equipment of Sony’s first attempt, but there’s still a cord that ties you down and sometimes tangles you. Of course, sometimes you feel the cord on the shoulders. Still, it’s a far cry from the hassle and mess of last-gen setups.
So again? PlayStation VR2 is much more powerful than the new Quest. The resolution of the screens helps a lot, and VR2 uses eye tracking to render what you see in more detail to maximize what you can squeeze out of the console’s processing power. Right now the software lineup is largely ports, which means the difference isn’t there yet, unless you really like the world of Horizonte.
And oh yeah, it’s not part of some dystopian data-gathering monolith, which seems like a plus.
Is PSVR2 better than $550?
This is perhaps the most difficult question to answer. It’s early days and it doesn’t have software support yet, so any purchase is, at least in part, a bet on Sony’s commitment to the platform. So far, what you’re getting are largely ports that don’t take advantage of the platform’s strengths. Does this fill the library? Absolutely. But without solid exclusives to rely on, they are not fit to be system providers.
However, we are definitely getting to a point where the problems of the first generation are resolved. If you were hoping VR would be less hassle but didn’t want a compromising experience, this might be the place you’ve been waiting for. There’s a range of fun, if not particularly robust or tech-heavy games on the platform. We are optimistic about the future of PSVR2! But until we see more big games, any skepticism you have is warranted.
The PlayStation VR2 is available to purchase now for $549.99 through the PlayStation Direct site. An optional charging base is also offered for Sense motion controllers. For more on Siliconera’s PSVR2 coverage, check out our archive.