Testing PlayStation VR2 » Vortex

In October 2016, Sony launched the PlayStation VR headset. Despite some shortcomings and limitations, it was a success, and thanks to him we have a successor here today. A successor who learned in many ways from the previous generation. The successor, which has a much better symbiosis with the console, because it was calculated in advance. I spent about a week with the new product and now I will share my impressions and findings with you. I intentionally say that we are still testing this product. As with consoles, I find it tricky to give a definitive verdict and talk about a review after such a short period of time. Only time and other games will properly test the qualities. But we can already try to estimate the potential of PlayStation VR2.

I don’t want to burden this talk with technical details and specifications, which we already knew a long time ago and everyone can study them for themselves. I want to talk about what it’s like to use the new headset in practice. According to Sony, the new generation of virtual reality has been in development for about six years and was worked on together with the PS5 so that the two devices understand each other perfectly. I’m not just mentioning this for nothing, because it’s a key impression I take away after a week of playing in VR on PS5. Both pieces of hardware complement each other perfectly and form a natural pair. It starts the moment you bring home the PS VR2 box and unpack it. Inside there is a headset, which does not deny the kinship with the first generation, but at the same time, like the new controllers, it “speaks” the same design language as the current console.

Warning: When recording custom footage from PS VR2, image distortion and degradation occur. But we tried to get as close to the original as possible.

The accessory looks nice, but connecting it will make you even more happy. In addition to the aforementioned, you will only find instructions, headphones and only two cables in the box. The first one is the same as the PS5 and DualSense gamepad, and you charge the new Sense controllers with it. The second one is part of the headset itself and is several meters long. There are no other reductions, boxes, power supply, camera or fossils waiting for you, like the PS Move controllers originally from the PS3. This simplicity will instantly make the first contact with the novelty more pleasant, but also its repeated use and connection. Just plug the cable into the single UCB-C port and you’re good to go. It also made me want to go back to playing much more, everything is easier and ready to work. Sure, it would be even nicer if the headset was wireless, but the flexible, relatively thin cable is a huge improvement over the first generation. A possible question mark only hangs over the fact that the cable is a fixed part of the headset and the question is whether it will not face any problems in this place with increased strain and long-term use. Being able to easily replace it could be a more practical solution.

Setting up the headset directly in the console environment is just as easy as connecting it physically. This synergy and easy user accessibility was already an advantage of the first generation. In my opinion, PS VR2 is even more open to newcomers and less technically proficient players. A brief interactive guide will guide you through everything from putting on the headset, adjusting it, and familiarizing yourself with the basic functions for the first time. Right from the start, you will undoubtedly appreciate how sophisticated the cameras on the headset are compared to the previous solution. This won’t surprise users of the Quest or some other modern devices, but it’s great to get rid of the camera at the TV and use the view-through capabilities to show you your surroundings. You can use it already when scanning the room and setting up a safe space for standing and sitting. Paradoxically, you will appreciate it even more often during much more common and ordinary moments. Now it’s no longer a problem to put on a headset and only then pick up the controls or sit down in a chair, because you can simply see around you. It’s not for reading text messages, but you can now handle a number of common little things while playing without having to take the headset off your head.

What I’m most happy about is that the Sense drivers are included in the package, so developers can count on them automatically.

After all, speaking of it, it’s appropriate to continue with what it’s like to have it on your head. First of all, I would say that in addition to the smoother display and nicer graphics, thanks to the higher performance of the console, which does not slow it down, the little things will also please. For example, better shielding of peripheral vision, when light from the room does not penetrate the headset. You can achieve sharper vision thanks to the possibility to adjust the distance between the lenses. The ventilation, in turn, allows for better air flow and successfully prevents fogging. Also new are the vibrations of the headset itself, which, according to my impressions so far, do not mean a revolution, but sometimes they can really emphasize some dramatic effect in the game. Finally, a lot of attention is also paid to eye tracking technology, thanks to which something can be selected in games in this way, but it can also be used to optimize performance, where the best is concentrated in the place where you are looking, and the rest can be rendered at a lower resolution.

From eye control, we can move to the new spherical Sense controllers. They have the same haptic feedback and adaptive triggers as DualSense, but follow the competition’s model and come with finger detection without pressing a button. In practice it works very well and I have basically nothing to complain about. Perhaps the battery life could be a little longer, but it is clear to me that the controllers are constantly in the clutch while playing. What I’m most happy about is that the Sense drivers are included in the package, so developers can count on them automatically. They are not just an optional better option. Everyone will have them and there is no need to come up with an alternative, worse control for the classic gamepad, unless of course the authors themselves come to the opinion that DualSense is better suited for their game. The 3D sound also deserves praise. While I’m not the most discerning listener, I really appreciate how the audio enhances the virtual space experience.

What I struggled with a bit was a slight headache when playing for extended periods of time. At first I put it down to being tired after a hard day, but it turns out that it occurs even when I’m completely rested. Please don’t get me wrong. It is not nausea or discomfort caused by motion sickness. I didn’t experience this with the first generation, but I see it as a purely subjective feeling. Experiences with PS VR2 are very intense in places and its worlds are immersive. I just had to take a break more often than I’m used to. In addition, I can state with relief that it was not a headache that would start and not stop. Very shortly after removing the headset, the pain always began to subside quickly. Since I have suffered quite a lot from headaches since childhood, I may be more prone to it, but I also think that thanks to this, years later, I can guess well where the pain comes from and how it manifests itself. I can say with certainty that this is not related to the otherwise comfortable fit of the headset itself, although its weight is still quite noticeable. Here, I still perceive the limitations of current technology and look forward to further development and miniaturization in this area. For example, looking upwards can be somewhat uncomfortable due to the weight of the headset. It is also very important to fit and tighten the device correctly so that the device is stable and you have the sharpest possible view. Nor do prescription glasses of normal size and shape. I didn’t have the slightest problem with them.

Worth noting is the fact that you can still watch games and other non-VR content with the PS VR2 on your head, as if you were looking at your own private screen. On the contrary, if for some reason you want to use the Sense controllers without VR, you will not succeed yet. Of course, they work in the console’s main menu, where the option to quickly set the headset was also added, but I couldn’t use them in any of the randomly selected cases in normal games. And with that, we smoothly reached the first tested titles. Some might be disappointed that you don’t get any special demo or other presentation software with the PS VR2. But the generous offer of launch games should make up for it. Right from the start, Sony promises dozens of compatible titles, which seems like an unprecedented lineup to me. There are more than a hundred other games in development. Although the PlayStation VR2 is not compatible with the first generation, a number of authors have already started to update, and some of them will even be free.

Sony’s headset has great potential to attract a lot of customers. I don’t think the price tag will be an obstacle either.

So what did I play? Unfortunately, I didn’t get to try out the VR modes in Gran Turismo 7, Resident Evil Village, or No Man’s Sky like I would have liked. 10 compatible games gradually landed in my library, but I only got to some of them in the last hours before the embargo and there was no time to even test them. I gave Horizon Call of the Mountain a separate review and at the moment it’s one of the best I’ve tried. I devoted a lot of time to Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge – Enhanced Edition or Jurassic World Aftermath Collection, but I was mainly attracted to them by the famous license. In terms of interactivity, they lag behind Horizon and you can tell that they come from other platforms. That Moss and its sequel looks like another gem, although it is not new in the true sense of the word. The biggest and most pleasant surprise for me was the relaxing Kayak VR: Mirage with amazing graphics. I’m just getting around to Townsmen VR, Song in the Smoke: Rekindled, and Thumper, which I got at the last minute. We will continue to focus on them according to your interest. At least in the stream.

Yes, one could argue that this is not one exclusive after another. That you can play such titles elsewhere and perhaps directly on a standalone headset without a console. It could also be said that some of PS VR2’s technological innovations have already appeared on other headsets and will not surprise you if you play on PC, for example. But that doesn’t change the fact that it’s a significant advance on consoles, and Sony’s headset has a lot of potential to attract a lot of customers. I don’t think the price tag will be an obstacle either. I understand that someone may have deeper pockets, but it seems adequate to me. It is better to pay extra now than to undersize the hardware at the beginning, when it is supposed to serve us for several more years.