PlayStation VR2 Officially Announced; Promises To Take Virtual Reality Gaming To A Whole New Level
Sony has officially confirmed that the next iteration of their virtual reality gaming software will be called PlayStation VR2 with PlayStation VR2 Sense being the name of the controller. The announcement was made on January 4th, 2022 by Hideaki Nishino, Senior Vice President, Platform Experience via the PlayStation Blog which kickstarted the 2022 gaming year with Nishino adding: “PlayStation VR2 takes VR gaming to a whole new level – enabling a greater sense of presence and [allow] players to escape into [their favourite] game worlds like never before. With the headset on and controllers in hand, players will feel a heightened range of sensations thanks to the creativity of the game worlds being built by our world class developers and the latest technology incorporated into the hardware.”
PlayStation VR2 was originally unveiled to the gaming community on February 23rd, 2021 but Sony had not disclosed any details other than the fact the it was currently being developed. Nishino was able to confirm at that point in time that PlayStation VR2 was being built exclusively for PlayStation 5 consoles with features and innovations taken directly from the latter – dramatic leaps in both performance and interactivity [which] will facilitate a high-fidelity visual experience. And while an exact release date has yet to be established, the future is looking bright for the virtual reality market once again.
One of the biggest complaints that the original PlayStation VR hardware received from the community was how incredibly cumbersome it was to setup and operate; lots of cables. It would appear that Sony has rectified the situation by implementing and making use of a single cable connection which will provide a more streamlined setup process to the PlayStation 5 console. Players will resultingly be able to instantly jump into a more visceral PlayStation VR2 experience right out of the box. A complete list of specifications for the PlayStation VR2 has been provided and includes:
- Visual Fidelity: For a high-fidelity visual experience, PlayStation 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, PlayStation 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
- Eye Tracking: PlayStation 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
PlayStation VR2 Specifications:
| 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) Attachment Sensor: IR Proximity sensor |
| 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 |
PlayStation VR2 Sense Controller Specifications:
| Buttons | [Right] PS button, Options button, Action buttons (Circle / Cross), R1 button, R2 button, Right Stick / R3 button [Left] PS button, Create button, Action buttons (Triangle / Square), L1 button, L2 button, Left Stick / L3 button |
| Sensing/ Tracking | Motion Sensor: Six-axis motion sensing system (three-axis gyroscope + three-axis accelerometer) Capacitive Sensor: Finger Touch DetectionIR LED: Position Tracking |
| Feedback | Trigger Effect (on R2/L2 button), Haptic Feedback (by single actuator per unit) |
| Port | USB Type-C® Port |
| Communication | Bluetooth® Ver5.1 |
| Battery | Type: Built-in Lithium-ion Rechargeable Battery |
Alongside the PlayStation VR2 announcement, Jan-Bart van Beek, Studio Director and Studio Art & Animation Director, Guerrilla was thrilled to reveal that Guerrilla and Firesprite Games are teaming up to develop a brand NEW adventure set within the popular Horizon franchise. While details surrounding the upcoming exclusive title are scarce, Horizon Call of the Mountain will not focus on Aloy and instead feature an entirely different character; familiar faces will still be encountered. Players will soon have the opportunity to team up with Aloy and explore Horizon Forbidden West which is scheduled to release on February 18th, 2022 exclusively for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 Pro, and PlayStation 4 consoles.
PlayStation VR is available now exclusively for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 4 Pro with compatible titles playable on PlayStation 5 consoles.
