PS5’s new VR technology makes a great first impression

Sony’s PSVR for PlayStation 4, the first serious VR add-on for a console, has done damn well. It was reasonably affordable, well-received by gamers and critics alike, and garnered much more support post-launch than many previous PlayStation hardware efforts (RIP, dear Vita). Now various outlets have received their first hands-on sessions with an early version of Sony’s upcoming PSVR2 for PlayStation 5. The expected new VR hardware does not yet have an official price or launch date (just “early 2023”), but is based on these impressions, it is already making waves with critics.

A variety of outlets that have received these hands-on demos describe the experience as on par with what are presumably more powerful PC VR offerings from Valve or Meta. That said, it’s still up to Sony and other developers to make compelling games, and for now, the only new platform exclusive experiences are a horizon Spin-off and a VR version of last year’s Resident Evil Village. The latter can be played in VR on Sony’s headset for the first time. There is also a Living Dead game and one war of stars VR experience, both ports of previous PC/Quest VR games.

Overall, reviewers sound impressed, even enthusiastic, with the experience. Qualities mentioned include the overall build quality and comfort, which seem to compete well with headsets already in existence. It’s still tethered, but the cord length sounds reasonable enough. In particular, the graphic quality and the general “immersion” draw a lot of attention. One of the most cutting-edge features is the headset’s eye-tracking, which allows the device to optimize rendering based on where you’re looking or to join gazes with other players in the future. There’s also haptic feedback in the headset itself. polygon notes that both functions are used in horizonthe most advanced hardware showcase to date.

Basically, all it takes is a few killer apps, and the quartet of existing demos sounds like a solid start. Here are some highlights from the hands-on impressions of each outlet:

“Last week I tried Sony’s new headset for the first time and was amazed at how stunning two of their branded games, horizon call of the mountain and Resident Evil Village, saw. They didn’t rely on particles or stylized art direction; They looked like AAA console games that happened to be in VR. The last few years of playing Quest have recalibrated my expectations of how VR games look and feel, and it’s been great to see games once again progress visually without the need for an elaborate setup.”

“But how does it feel playing games on the PSVR2 with all their new bells and whistles? It was a pleasure to use the actual PSVR2 hardware. As with most modern VR headsets, you can adjust the head strap to ensure everything rests comfortably on your noggin, and you can adjust the interpupillary distance (IPD) so that the actual lenses in the headset are the right distance for you. The screens looked great, although things felt a bit blurry around the edges at times, which could also happen with the first PSVR.”

“Wow. Wow wow wow. That’s the word that keeps coming to mind when trying to sum up my time with PlayStation VR2. As a passionate VR fan for many years, it’s safe to say that my first hands-on experience with Sony’s upcoming headset blew my VR loving socks off, this sleek and stylish device was everything I could have asked for in an enhanced PSVR headset and much, much more.

“In terms of technological and visual quality, this feels like one of the most memorable leaps of the console generation. Experiencing the visual difference between PSVR1 and PSVR2 brought back memories of transitioning to the sparkling, crisp HD games of a PS3 after years of playing standard definition games on the PS2.”

“Sony has touted much higher visual fidelity for PSVR2, which for the spec-obsessed people out there is tantamount to an OLED display capable of 2000 x 2040 per-eye resolution, HDR, 90Hz and 120Hz refresh rates, and a 110 – Degree field of view. It’s all impressive on paper, but when you experience it with the headset on, it’s a bit magical.

“The level of detail was really mind-blowing, especially since I wasn’t expecting it from a VR game. I know how dismissive that sounds from all the VR games out there, of which there are certainly more than a few impressive looking ones. However, there’s a clear line between what a VR game looks like and a non-VR game – there’s a level of richness, detail, and polish that separates the two. horizon call of the mountain blur that line on PSVR2.”

“Thankfully, PlayStation VR2 feels like a modern entry into the VR landscape, with premium visual fidelity and comfortable ergonomics. Its haptics and adaptive triggers, if implemented well, will be a welcome addition to the immersive experience. As with any new hardware, the question now is whether there will be enough games to make the investment worthwhile. First party games like horizon call of the mountain certainly help to allay those fears and while nothing has been announced yet I would be shocked if that is yet to come Half-Life: Alyx didn’t make it to the platform.”