After a week of experimenting with PS VR2, Sony's new virtual reality system for the PlayStation 5 console, we can state that yes, this is a significant leap in the field - it is an impressive gaming gadget that any technology enthusiast in general and gaming in particular will not mind giving it a spin.
On the other hand, due to some significant shortcomings and limitations, it is still a niche product with a particularly high price tag.
• Review: Xiaomi Poco X5 Pro - an affordable price for an imperfect device
• Review: Galaxy S23 Ultra – an elegant workhorse
• 200 megapixel camera: Samsung launched the Galaxy S23
In other words, the day when a magic helmet will be placed in every home that will take us to other worlds and allow us to communicate with the world with gesture inventions, is not here yet.
In our estimation, the virtual reality trend will not break into the mainstream in the next decade, at least not until the next generation of devices, which will aim to be cheaper and completely wireless.
However, based on our experiences from the past week, there is definitely something to look forward to.
What's new?
Sony is launching the PS VR2 system about six and a half years after the original PS VR, which was released in 2016.
The new kit includes a helmet and two dedicated controllers - one for each hand - this compared to the previous version, which included only a helmet, when the PS4 controllers (or the old Move controllers of the PS3) were used as its means of control.
Impressive but expensive. PS VR2 // Photo: PR
Although the PS VR2 requires a connection to the PlayStation 5 (it cannot be operated without the console), this connection is made by only one USB cable - from the helmet directly to the console.
This is a huge improvement over the cumbersome connection saga of the original PS VR, which came with an external processing unit the size of a small console itself, a host of other cables, and even required the use of an external PlayStation camera.
In short, much (much!) less mess in the living room, and as a result much greater freedom of movement.
On the other hand, the helmet is still connected to the console by a 4.5 meter long cable, which is considered relatively long, but limits movement in the room and may disconnect if you drift a little too much (it didn't happen to us, but theoretically it is possible).
The moment when the powerful VR systems (that is, not the negligible toys that connect to smartphones) will become completely wireless and their price will be reasonable, the rules of the game will change completely.
see the light
Until we get to that perfect wireless day, we'll have to make do with what we have.
Right now, the PS VR2 is the leader in its field (with some major drawbacks, which we'll get to later), at least until Meta introduces the Meta Quest 3, and Apple unveils its own competing VR product.
It is not impossible that these two things will happen this year.
Be that as it may, the most significant step-up of Sony's new system manifests itself, as expected, in the graphics.
The PS VR2 boasts a 4K resolution (2K per eye) - more or less double the resolution of the first generation version.
Add to that an impressive and extremely bright OLED screen, and you will get a sharp, bright and very impressive graphic experience compared to the previous system, which received a lot of criticism for its pixelated and dark display.
There really is nothing to compare, it's a night and day difference.
The OLED screen of the PS VR2 is even better than the LCD screens of Meta's immediate competitors - the Quest 2 and Quest Pro, and its resolution is also slightly sharper.
Less mess in the living room. PS VR2 // Photo: PR
Another revolution is the set of cameras and sensors of the VR 2. If the previous system was helped by a simple external camera that you were asked to connect to the console, then the new one is armed with four built-in cameras that face outward and track your position in the game space, and two more cameras that face inward and record your eye movements.
The pair of new controllers, called VR2 Sense, are also equipped with position and motion sensors - and of course also all the buttons and handles that the regular PlayStation 5 controllers have.
These controllers are easy to use, lightweight, look great and are very intuitive for those who are used to PlayStation.
No complaints in this section.
The installation of the new system is simple, fast and we are not ashamed to admit it - even throbbing.
After putting on the helmet (which weighs about 50 grams more than its predecessor) and connecting the controllers to the console, we found ourselves standing inside an augmented reality (AR) version of our living room.
The system scanned and surveyed the room, located potential obstacles (Pierre, we received a recommendation to clear the area before starting the process), measured the height of the floor and created a kind of "net" that surrounded us from all directions, and in fact enclosed our playing area, while windows with information and instructions appeared in front of our eyes and explained to us what to do.
All this, as mentioned, without taking the helmet off.
Make eyes
Another step in installing the device was to "direct" the eyes, with the help of two cameras whose entire purpose is to focus on our pupils.
The PS VR2 is able to track our gazes, essentially turning the eyes into independent means of control.
The use of this feature may be reflected in navigating between menus by looking only (look up - mark the top option, look down - choose the bottom option), and in some cases also be part of the game itself: imagine a shooting game where you can move the aim using only your eyes and destroy spaceships as soon as you see them.
The potential is amazing, although for now we had to settle for navigating between menus only - as part of the installation process of the system, and in the new game Horizon: Call of the Mountain.
We haven't yet moved targets with the power of sight alone, but we're sure that will come as well.
PS VR2 room scan, photo: PR
Missing: exclusive games
And that brings us to the main problem, for now at least, of the PS VR2: a severe lack of
exclusive
launch games .
Of the 30 titles that are expected to be released during the system's launch period, that is, in the next two months, only a few of them will be exclusive to Sony's new virtual reality platform.
Beyond that, only one of these exclusive games - Horizon, which comes with the launch box and was developed by Sony itself - is
currently
available for purchase .
All the other titles are either new versions of older virtual reality games that have been released for PC in recent years, or additions of VR2 modes to existing games such as Gran Turismo 7 and Resident Evil Village.
Add to that the unfortunate (and some would say outrageous) fact that the first generation PS VR games cannot be run on the new system, and you get a particularly thin supply of titles.
Unrealistic price
So, as much as Horizon: Call of the Mountain, a spin-off of the two excellent Horizon titles for PlayStation, is a spectacular action game that undoubtedly shows what the PS VR2 is capable of, buying a new VR system just for one original game is not
a
move Extremely clever.
And if we've already talked about purchases, the following figure may very well deter potential customers: the PS VR2 kit costs about NIS 2,900 in Israel (including Horizon, and everyone needs this game), and about $600 (before taxes) in the US. For those who are less in the know , we will make it clear that this virtual reality system
costs more than a PlayStation 5 console
, and as mentioned - it cannot be operated without such a console. In other words, you will have to part with about NIS 5,500 if you are interested in purchasing both items together. A piece of investment.
From the game Horizon: Call of the Mountain, photo: PR
A final and rather puzzling disadvantage in our opinion is Sony's choice not to integrate internal speakers into the helmet (probably to save on the product's cost and weight).
Therefore, in terms of sound, you will have to make do with the surround system in the room, the internal speakers of the TV, or the unique in-ear headphones attached to the system that connect to the helmet by a strange clip.
Our problem is less with the headphones themselves (they are quite powerful and of high quality) but more with the unpleasant situation that arises when you want to pass the helmet to someone else - and he politely (and rightly) refuses to insert objects deep into his ears that a moment ago were inside our ears.
Gainey is not.
Bottom line:
no matter how impressive, high-quality, and potential the PS VR2 is (and trust us, it's all of those things), at this point in time it's simply not worth buying.
Maybe in a few months, with a larger selection of games and hopefully also a price reduction, we'll think differently.
PS VR2 room scan, photo: PR
were we wrong
We will fix it!
If you found an error in the article, we would appreciate it if you shared it with us