2023 is sure to be a fascinating year for the VR market. While most manufacturers are aligning their latest releases with the ever-approaching Metaverse concepts, PlayStation has released its latest foray into virtual reality, doubling its potential in gaming and just gaming.
At first there was a lot of outrage over the price of PSVR 2, especially given that it would be tethered to the PS5 and launched at a higher price point than its sibling console is now. Even so, the specs and features on offer elevate PSVR 2 well above this price point in the VR market. Now that I’ve had a chance to try out the platform for our PSVR 2 review for myself, I can help answer the question: is PSVR 2 worth it?
In my opinion, PSVR 2 is one of the best VR headsets out there, offering a premium feature set for its money. Below I’ve tried to include the biggest questions that need to be answered when making a purchasing decision. I’ve also outlined a few of the top reasons that I think should influence you one way or the other.
PSVR2 price
The important things first; PSVR 2 costs $549.99 in the US. In the UK £529.99 inc VAT will be refunded to you. One purchase gets you the headset itself, a set of VR2 Sense controllers, and a stereo headphone attachment.
However, that’s probably not where your investment ends. If you want a package that gets you at least one game out of the gate, you can opt to pay £569.99/$599.99 and get Horizon Call of the Mountain with your headset. At the time of writing this is the only package available. Also available is a charging station for the VR2 Sense controllers. So far, this is the only accessory that is officially offered.
If you think of PSVR 2 as a console peripheral, then $500+ seems like a steep price tag. Especially considering the PS5 launched at this same price point and has since gotten cheaper after two years on the market. However, looking at this as a VR platform that happens to be integrated into the PlayStation family, the narrative shifts very quickly. Unfortunately, VR is still an expensive gaming platform, and it doesn’t look like that’s going to change any time soon.
PSVR 2 might be inseparable from the PS5 at the moment, but overall you’re talking about half the cost of PC VR loadouts
For a VR headset that gives you the same features as PSVR 2, you’d have to shell out $800 or more (usually around a grand), all things considered. Headsets like these – the HTC Vive Pro 2 or the Valve Index, for example – require one of the best gaming PCs to access these features. After all, VR gaming can be CPU and GPU intensive. Normally, one of these VR-enabled PCs will set you back a grand, if not more. So all in for a PC VR headset you’re talking about a full investment of around two grand or more.
PSVR 2 might be inseparable from the PS5 at the moment, but overall you’re talking about half the cost of PC VR loadouts. Sony has also made moves into the PC market over the past year, so it’s not entirely out of the question that PlayStation will open PSVR 2 to PC platforms in some way in the near future. That alone can help Sony push more units. However, at the time of writing this may be wishful thinking.
(Image credit: Sony)PSVR 2 features
PSVR 2 has some great VR features for the money. Perhaps most notable for VR enthusiasts is eye-tracking and foveated rendering, typically reserved for headsets well over $700. This was a particularly tricky feature to test, but visual detail wherever I looked at the 120Hz OLED panel looked clear as day. PSVR 2 gives you 2000 x 2040 resolution per eye, and you get a 110-degree field of view – just 10 less than the HTC Vive Pro 2’s gargantuan 120-degree field of view. All that, and you’re just stuck with a long USB Connected C-wire which doesn’t seem to weigh the headset down at all.
There are four embedded cameras on the front of the headset that support PSVR 2’s room tracking capabilities. These also help keep track of controllers and headset height. Spatial and spatial tracking was definitely a standout feature for me during my testing time with PSVR 2 as it was always a very efficient process that never took long enough to be a faff and never once let me down.
PSVR 2 also gives you haptic feedback in the headband itself, which is an ingenious piece of design
PSVR 2’s Sense controllers are easily some of the best out there. They’re comfortable to hold, surprisingly light, and feature haptic feedback, trigger resistance, and capacitive sensors that make you feel so present when playing games like Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge. PSVR 2 also gives you haptic feedback in the headband itself, which is an ingenious piece of design that feels amazing every time you use it.
Last but not least, there’s PSVR 2’s Theater Mode, which allows you to access non-VR PS5 content with your headset on and view it on the incredibly sharp OLED panel. This is my favorite feature of PSVR 2 so far and I think it goes a long way towards adding value when you don’t have the opportunity to play a lot of VR games. This brings us straight to…
(Image credit: PlayStation Studios)PSVR 2 games
At launch, the range of games is perhaps one of PSVR 2’s biggest weaknesses. While there are plenty of options, especially for people who haven’t experienced much virtual reality, it’s the only flagship game designed specifically for PSVR 2 at launch Horizon Call of the Mountain. This is the only title that properly leverages next-gen features in an all-in-one package, as it’s built specifically for this VR platform.
There are absolutely other highlights – Resident Evil Village VR, No Man’s Sky and Gran Turismo 7 get free updates for VR. Elsewhere, there are some excellent VR experiences like The Last Clockwinder, Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge, Kayak VR, and What the Bat.
(Image credit: PlayStation Blog)
While it’s easy to argue that the lackluster games library at launch means PSVR 2 isn’t worth buying just yet (an argument I can totally endorse), there have been very few major console hardware releases that haven’t with the “There aren’t enough games to start” line have been met. If Sony gives PSVR 2 the same kind of support that PSVR does, there’s no doubt the gaming offering will be worth it in the long run.
For more information on our best PSVR 2 games, check out our list of the best PSVR 2 games.
(Image credit: Future)Who should buy PSVR 2?
PSVR 2 is undeniably an expensive piece of kit, even if it represents excellent value for money in the VR realm. When you weigh the price of PSVR 2 against the cost of an average rent check, a utility budget, a grocery store, or even the cost of the PS5 and Xbox Series X, you can’t deny that it’s a lot of money. Because of this, we wouldn’t recommend everyone to urgently buy a PSVR 2.
But for many people, PSVR 2 is easy to recommend. Take a look at the list below. I think you should buy PSVR 2 if…
You are someone who has a vested interest in playing VR games. If you have the money to spend it. They’ve gotten a lot of use out of PSVR. Final Features and Specifications. If you have enough space at home to play VR games standing up – some games take up a lot of space. You’re a PS5 owner who wants a future-proof device that can also serve as a second means of displaying PS5 games (Cinematic Mode is great for that). You don’t have the budget for PC VR games. You are a gamer interested in VR but not Metaverse. You’re a PS5 owner who wants a display with a 120Hz refresh rate, but you have no use for a monitor or a high-end TV. Who Shouldn’t Buy PSVR 2?
If you don’t fall into the above categories, you might consider waiting for the PSVR 2 price to drop if you’re still interested in getting one. In the list below, I’ve tried to think of people who don’t get much value out of PSVR 2, or at least should wait until more games are available to play and the price will inevitably drop.
People who put pressure on the cost of living (food is more important, that can wait). If you don’t have the budget to buy VR games for PSVR 2 – at the moment they aren’t free on PS+ either. People who often get nauseous while playing VR games. Unless you’re really into VR games, you don’t need to buy one for the sake of it, especially if it’s over $500/£500. People who already have a VR headset for PC – there are probably more games on PC than PSVR 2. People interested in owning a VR headset with gear at Metaverse Concepts.
(Image credit: Future) Overall – Is PSVR 2 Worth It?
I would argue PSVR 2 is totally worth it, both in terms of price and hype. As a VR headset it has so much value and is a lot of fun to use. It doesn’t come with half the effort or money that PC VR games typically bring to the table, and there’s bound to be great games coming for months and years to come.
Even if there aren’t that many VR games available, PSVR 2 can still be worthwhile thanks to the Theater Mode, which essentially gives you another display that immerses you in the best PS5 games and lets you experience them in brand new ways.
I wouldn’t say it’s an emergency and you need to pre-order one right away. This platform just keeps getting better with time and support from Sony. While it’s not immediately worth it for the list of people above, I’d be surprised if PSVR 2 wasn’t worth it in the long run. Overall, it’s so much more than a console peripheral or even one of the best PS5 accessories. Like PSVR, this is a new way to play and an excellent way to further explore the world of video games.
Today’s best offers for PSVR 2 and PS5
(opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)
Ready for PC VR? You might want to check out the best CPUs for gaming, the best GPUs for gaming, and the best SSDs for gaming.
