At CES 2022, Sony provided more details on PSVR 2, the company's upcoming next-gen headset for PS5. It means we finally have a better idea of what the successor to PSVR will be capable of, even though we haven't actually seen what the headset looks like yet.
The next-generation VR headset from Sony will work exclusively with the PS5 and follow in the footsteps of the original PlayStation VR, which launched back in 2016. It's due to launch towards the end of 2022, however, supply chain issues could see its release date pushed back to 2023.
In a post on the PlayStation Blog, Sony revealed the official name of its headset, PlayStation VR2, as well as the official name of its new VR controller, PlayStation VR2 Sense controller.
Sony says that PSVR 2 will take VR gaming to “a whole new level” and that the headsets drastically improved specifications will allow “a greater sense of presence” which will allow players “to escape into game worlds like never before”.
Using the headset's new technology and the PlayStation VR2 Sense controller's haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, Sony believes it will be able to offer “a heightened range of sensations unlike any other”, which sounds promising, to say the least.
In early 2021, Sony announced that its new PSVR system was in development, reaffirming the brand’s commitment to VR. The company later showed off the PlayStation VR2 Sense controller, but we've had to wait for details on the headset itself.
Below, we’ve rounded up everything we know so far about the new VR headset from Sony, including what the design of the headset might look like, the new games we’re looking forward to playing, a summary of the PSVR 2's specs, and what features to expect.
UPDATE: PlayStation creator Ken Kutaragi has dismissed the PSVR 2 – and he doesn’t like the sound of the metaverse either. In an interview with Bloomberg, 71-year-old Kutaragi said that the biggest issue with virtual reality headsets is the fact the devices stop you from being in the real world. “Headsets would isolate you from the real world, and I can’t agree with that,” Kutaragi said. “Headsets are simply annoying.” Whether you agree with Kutaragi or not, the PSVR 2 is on the way. Read on to find out what we know so far.
The sequel to Sony’s PSVR headset promises to provide a huge leap forward over the original PlayStation VR. Not only will the PSVR 2 take advantage of the PS5's more powerful hardware, but we now know that it has a significantly higher resolution display for each eye, faster refresh rates, a wider field of view, and improved tracking and input.
- PSVR 2 vs PSVR: is it worth upgrading to Sony’s next-gen virtual reality headset?
Rumors indicated that the PSVR 2 will include an OLED display that boasts a total resolution of 4000 X 2040 pixels (that’s 2000 X 2040 per eye and just slightly more than the Oculus Quest 2), a 110-degree field of view, foveated rendering (a technique that uses gaze tracking to only render certain parts of the image), and include some sort of sensory feature in the headset itself.
It turns out those rumors were spot on, as Sony has confirmed that the PSVR 2 does indeed offers 4K HDR, a 110-degree field of view, foveated rendering, and frame rates of 90/120Hz.
The headset also includes inside-out tracking, which means PSVR 2 tracks you and your controller through integrated cameras embedded in the headset itself. Your movements and the direction you look will be reflected in-game, without the need for an external camera.
The new sensory features of PSVR 2, as Sony calls it, combine eye tracking, headset feedback, 3D Audio, and the PSVR 2 Sense controller to create a deeper feeling of immersion. A single built-in motor in the headset will add an additional tactile element, that can replicate the player's pulse during tense moments, or the rush of objects passing by a player's head.
The addition of eye tracking will be particularly pleasing news for VR enthusiasts, as it lets the PSVR 2 track the motion of your eyes. Simply look in a specific direction and the headset will create an additional input for your game character. This results in a more intuitive and natural experience.
Unfortunately, despite the PSVR 2's seriously impressive specs, we still don't have a price. The headset also isn't wireless, but instead only requires one cable between the headset and the console to use.
Cut to the chase
- What is it? The next version of PlayStation VR
- When is it out? Potentially 2022 or later
- How much will it cost? TBC – probably around the PSVR's $499 launch price.
PSVR 2 release date
We don’t know exactly when the VR headset will launch and there's been no official date from Sony at the time of writing. However, holiday 2022 seems like a likely bet (that's between November and December). This backs up rumors detailed in a recent report from Bloomberg.
Given that Sony is already struggling to output enough PS5s to meet demand, we might even see the PSVR 2 launch later than 2022 to keep production pipelines focused on the console. This would give Sony more time to expand the potential PSVR 2 player base (as the new headset will be exclusive to Sony’s latest console) and would help get the console in more people’s hands.
PSVR 2 price
Right now, we still don’t know how much the PSVR 2 will cost but we can look at other VR headsets to get an idea of what we could expect to pay for the new hardware.
Firstly we have the current PlayStation VR starter bundle that retails for $200 / £259 / AU$420. This is slightly cheaper than the price of the hugely popular Oculus Quest 2 which typically sells for £299 / $299 / AU$479 but the PSVR Starter bundle has gone through several price reductions and is several years old.
The original price for a full PSVR bundle was $499 (£399, about AU$650) however that’s considerably more than consumers may want to pay, especially if they have already shelled out on a PS5.
However, the price tag could make sense if Sony uses premium tech. For comparison, a “premium” VR headset currently on the market is the HTC Vive Pro, which retails for $800, £800, or around AU$1,045.
We imagine that Sony will aim for a price somewhere between the original and current price for the PSVR bundle if it wants to see the PSVR 2 succeed but we’ll have to wait and see.
PSVR 2 controllers
The upcoming PSVR 2 controllers will be getting a significant performance and design upgrade. We also now know Sony's next-gen VR peripheral is called the PlayStation VR2 Sense controller.
These new controllers drop the design of the classic PS Move controllers from the original PSVR and instead resemble more typical VR controllers like Oculus Quest 2's Touch controllers.
The PSVR 2 controllers will feature baton-like handles with a plastic orb around them. They also make use of the same adaptive trigger features found in the current DualSense PS5 pads. This will allow for differing tensions on any given in-game action.
They’ll also feature haptic feedback and finger touch detection, letting a game know where your digits are resting without having to press a button. According to Hideaki Nishino, head of platform planning and management at PlayStation, these features mean you’ll be able “to make more natural gestures with your hands during gameplay.”
PSVR 2 specs
Sony revealed the full specs of the PSVR 2 at CES 2022, though we're still waiting to see what the headset looks like, including how much it weighs. Here's a breakdown of Sony's PSVR 2 specs:
| PSVR 2 specs | |
|---|---|
| Display Method | OLED |
| Panel resolution | 2000 x 2040 per eye |
| Panel refresh rate | 90Hz, 120Hz |
| Lens separation | Adjustable |
| Field of View | Approx. 110 degrees |
| Sensors | Motion Sensor: Six-axis motion sensing system (three-axis gyroscope, three-axis accelerometer)) |
| Cameras | 4 cameras for headset and controller tracking, IR camera for eye tracking per eye |
| Feedback | Vibration on headset |
| Communication with PS5 | USB Type-C |
| Audio | Input: Built-in microphone, Output: Stereo headphone jack |
PSVR 2 news and rumors
PSVR 2 specs officially revealed at CES 2022
Sony revealed the specs of the PSVR 2 at CES 2022 and also announced the official names of the headset and its next-gen VR controller: PlayStation VR2 and the PlayStation VR2 Sense controller. A new game is also in production, Horizon Call of the Mountain, which is a VR spin-off of the popular Horizon series by Guerilla Games.
PSVR 2 could start mass production soon
Sony’s next-gen virtual reality headset which is tipped to release this year could enter mass production in China soon. Hardware analyst Brad Lynch spotted that a well respected Chinese supply chain analyst shared the news that manufacturer Goertek will be in charge of producing the PSVR 2 headsets, and that mass production could start soon.
Our first look at the PSVR 2?
A patent filing from Sony could be giving us a first look at its PSVR 2 headset. While details are a little bare the patent discovered by DistroXR shows off a head-mounted display that bears a strong resemblance to the PSVR headset design, albeit with a few modern upgrades.
Patents are by no means an official confirmation though, so while there is a strong chance the PSVR 2 will look like what we see in the patent, we might also get something entirely different.
PSVR 2 could be backwards compatible
A new leak from ResetEra has suggested that the PSVR 2 headset will have access to a large launch library thanks to backwards compatibility – letting users play every current PSVR game on the new hardware.
We have to take every claim with a pinch of salt but honestly, we'd have been surprised if the PSVR 2 wasn't backwards compatible. Otherwise, players would be locked out of some of the best VR games and would have barely anything to play when the system launches.
No official PSVR 2 details in sight?
Sony has confirmed via the official PlayStation Blog that there won't be any PSVR 2 announcements during September 9, 2021's PlayStation Showcase. While plenty of new and announced PS5 games will make an appearance during the presentation, PSVR 2 fans will just have to wait a bit longer before the future of VR is revealed for Sony's current-gen machine.
PSVR 2 could have a second screen bolted on the front
According to a patent spotted in August 2021, the PSVR 2 might have a second screen on the front of the headset.
The patent (first spotted by VR Focus) describes how an external, front-mounted display could help those watching a VR player understand what the headset wearer is seeing in real-time – that’s one way to get around the isolating VR experience and sure would add an even more cool sci-fi look to Sony's headgear.
Is Sony making inroads to social VR?
A trademark application, submitted in July 2021, suggests Sony might be considering bringing back its PlayStation Home service – an ill-fated social hangout space that was on the PlayStation 3.
Part chatroom, part Sims-like design app, PlayStation Home was closed in 2015. But the trademark hints at its return and, given the rise of social VR spaces, we wouldn’t be surprised if this is going to play a big part in Sony’s move into social gaming and virtual reality in the future.
PSVR 2 could take a step back from VR-only titles
According to a report from YouTube channel PSVR Without Parole, PSVR 2 games could shift from VR-exclusive experiences. Instead, Sony might focus on “hybrid” titles that can be played with or without a PSVR 2 headset.
The report explains that PSVR 2 compatible titles could have two versions: the more traditional TV-based experience as well as a version that works in VR. This would mean players won't have to download two versions of the game, and can essentially choose which version suits them best.
PSVR specs could be “even better” expected
The PSVR 2 could have “even better” specs than what we’ve previously heard, according to tech experts Digital Foundry.
In an episode of Digital Foundry Weekly, host and technology editor Richard Leadbetter said “we’ve seen some leaked [PSVR 2] specs and it looks good,” but went on to add that “we’ve seen some other specs which haven’t been leaked which make it look even better.”
We're still waiting to hear more about the PSVR 2's specs, but it's rumored to have a higher resolution screen than the Oculus Quest 2, a dial for lens adjustment, gaze tracking, and a motor within the headset itself that might be used for haptic feedback. It could also use OLED panels for each eye as opposed to LCD.
Haptic feedback on the horizon for PSVR 2?
A recent patent unearthed by LetsGoDigital suggests that haptic feedback could be a feature in a future PSVR headset. The patent was filed all the way back in 2016 but was only granted in November 2020 and primarily explores ways in which VR or AR headsets could be made more comfortable to wear.
The patent suggests multiple sensors – whether they’re pressure, motion, or stretch sensors – built into the headset which can send signals indicating whether or not it’s being worn properly. If the headset isn’t on right, the user might receive tips to fix it, with feedback displayed on-screen or by speech through built-in speakers.
Haptic feedback in the PSVR 2 would tie it in neatly with the capabilities of the PS5's DualSense controller but as with all patents, there’s no guarantee anything described within this one will ever make it into a product Sony releases.
Motion Sickness Reduction Patent
A patent filed in 2019 and published on WIPO in 2020 points to efforts from Sony to reduce motion sickness in what could be a PSVR 2. The patent describes “a VR sickness reduction system, a head-mounted display, a VR sickness reduction method, and a program with which it is possible to further reduce VR sickness.”
Finding that much motion sickness in VR is caused by “a difference between the movement of the viewpoint and the user’s feeling in a situation where a moving image showing the appearance from the viewpoint is displayed on the display”, the patent posits a potential solution which appears to involve vibrations or oscillations.
The patent reads “An HMD (12) is provided with a display unit (38), which is disposed in front of the eyes of a user when the user wears the HMD (12). A shaking unit (42) can shake the head of the user wearing the HMD (12).
An entertainment device (14) causes the display unit (38) to display a moving image representing a view as seen from a viewpoint. The entertainment device (14) controls the shaking of the shaking unit (42) in accordance with the acceleration condition of the viewpoint for the moving image displayed by the display unit (38). ”
The overall aim, it would seem, is to better unite what the player is seeing in the PSVR headset with what they’re feeling outside of it. Patents are never any guarantee of a final product, but this could be an insight into problems Sony is looking to overcome in any future iterations of the PSVR headset.
Could PSVR 2 be wireless?
LetsGoDigital has unearthed a patent for the next-generation virtual reality hardware that suggests that PlayStation VR 2 will be wireless, boasting built-in cameras and a transparency mode that would give you the ability to see the world around you through the headset's screens.
This patent details a virtual reality headset with three built-in cameras – two at the front and one at the back – alongside motion detection technology. If that's not enough, it looks like the PSVR 2 headset could also be wireless, and boast a built-in power supply, microphone, and its own video/audio signal source. In other words, no more plugging in headphones for sound or cables for imagery, with speakers built-in.
This is a big change from the current PSVR headset that is wired, and lacks a built-in speaker and microphone, although the actual look of the potential PSVR 2 headset doesn't look far off its predecessor if the patent proves indicative of industrial design.
Good news for glasses wearers?
According to a published patent (spotted by Upload VR), Sony is working on “prescription glasses with eye gaze tracking and electro-optical signaling to an HMD”.
These Sony developed prescription glasses would be custom-designed for the wearer and gaze would be able to be detected by the VR headset via an encoded sensor. In other words, glasses-wearers could use VR much easier. We don't expect these glasses to come cheap, but the implementation of eye gaze software does mean we might see it arrive in the PSVR 2.
A new OLED display
At the ‘Sony Technology Day’, the company revealed it's been working on a new head-mounted display (HMD) that uses OLED microdisplay technology to deliver even more realistic visuals. There's been no confirmation this is planned to be added to the PSVR 2. But what's interesting is that as well as improving the display, the new HMD also includes low-latency compensation, which means it should stop users from feeling motion sick, which is a common complaint about VR gaming.
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