Kit just got real

Console virtual reality reaches the next generation: Sony's new hardware is as high-end as the PS5 needed to play it. But is there a games library to match?

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FIRST TEST PLAYSTATION VR 2

₹59,999/shopatsc.com

Arriving on the wrong side of Christmas, and costing more than the PS5 that you need to play games on it, Sony’s second stab at a VR headset might seem like a hard sell. But with an improved design, 4K visuals, better controllers, 3D audio and eye-tracking tech, there’s no doubt that, on paper at least, the PSVR2 represents a generational leap forward.

While Meta’s all-in-one Quest headsets (see p56) can be used completely wirelessly, there’s a single 4.5m-long USB-C cable here that you need to plug into your PS5, so you can never truly forget you’ve got the headset on. But that does also mean you don’t have to worry about the battery dying halfway through a game of Pistol Whip. There’s no built-in audio either, so you’ll need to either plug in the bundled buds or connect a pair of Bluetooth ones.

Motion-tracking is handled by four cameras that also let you see your surroundings. What you won’t see is the IR camera inside, used for tracking your eyes, and the motor that subtly vibrates during games.