PlayStation VR 2 Is the Second Chance for Blockbuster VR

SONY'S PLAYSTATION VIRTUAL REALITY (PSVR) 2 headset represents the next generation of highfidelity VR

- HUNTER FENOLLOL

These goggles pack some of the most advanced technology of any headset, like eye tracking and a crisp 4K HDR resolution OLED display for just $549. This makes PSVR 2 the most affordable way to play the latest, most graphically demanding VR games. The rest of the VR industry is stagnant, focusing efforts on wireless standalone headsets held back by weak mobile chipsets. On the other hand, Sony's powerful hardware and talented game studios are poised to revive blockbuster VR experiences that are sorely needed in the space.

While virtual-reality headsets like the original PSVR have been around since 2016, VR finally broke into the mainstream with the 2020 release of the affordable all-inone Meta Quest 2. This standalone system removed all the barriers of room-scale VR by building the computer needed to run the games directly into the goggles, adding cameras to track your body as it moves around a space, and cutting the cord by having a built-in battery. Its ease of use, portability, and $299 price tag made it a must-have gadget-and popular holiday gift. Even after a price increase up to $399 late last year, the Quest 2 remains the VR headset of choice for many people.

"The Quest 2, before its price hike, was at the perfect sweet spot for sales and, as a result, was able to sell north of 10 million units, with some claiming it shipped upwards of 15 million units" says Anshel Sag, Senior Analyst of Mobility & VR at Moor Insights & Strategy. One way to keep prices down was by using a mobile Snapdragon XR2 chip to power the Quest 2's processing and graphics. This eliminated the need for a separate expensive console or PC but lacked the power to render large-scale environments and sharp details. While this low-spec, low-cost approach made VR more approachable, it came at the cost of visual fidelity, which you can see in the screenshots in the sidebar to the right.

Quest 2 vs. PSVR 2