After a lot of teasing by Sony, the PSVR2 is finally being shown off by the Japanese giant. The PSVR2 is a successor to the niche but beloved PlayStation Virtual Reality (PSVR) headset released for the PlayStation 4.
PSVR2 release date is February 22, 2023, and pre-orders will go up on November 15, 2022. It is priced at $550 in the US. PSVR2 is launching with more than 20 VR titles at launch including the much-awaited Horizon Call of The Mountain.
PSVR enjoyed mild success when it launched for the PS4. The virtual reality headset sold 5 million units in the six years since its launch. Sony seems to have a lot more confidence in the PSVR2, as they are preparing 2 million units for launch.
PSVR2 is just around the corner, so we’ve rounded up every piece of information we could find in one place. The PSVR2 release date, price, confirmed features, and specs are all included.
PSVR2 Release Date
PSVR2 is releasing on February 22, 2023, and preorders will be up on November 15, 2022.
Previously sony only posted a release window on social media. An untraditional way of announcing a product release but a welcome one. The post simply read, “Coming early 2023. #PSVR2” and showed a photo of the VR headset and controllers. Other regional PlayStation social media accounts on Twitter also shared the image with the caption in their own languages.
This is the first time Sony has acknowledged a release date for the PSVR2. It was previously thought to come around the holidays in 2022, but the post confirmed a solid time frame for the release. Whether Sony will have a global release or be available in waves in certain regions remains to be seen.
The exact PSVR2 release date is set now. We are hoping Sony releases the much-awaited Horizon Call of the Mountain during the first three months of 2023. Hopefully, there are no supply chain or logistical hiccups along the way, and the accessory will see no further delays.
PSVR2 Price
The Price of PSVR2 is $549.99 / €599.99 / £529.99 / ¥74,980 recommended retail price (including tax for GBP, EUR, and JPY).
The package will include the PSVR2 headset, PSVR2 Sense controllers,, and a pair of stereo headphones.
There is a Horizon Call of the Mountain bundle scheduled to launch as well. It’ll cost $599.99 / €649.99 / £569.99 / ¥79,980 recommended retail price (including tax for GBP, EUR, and JPY). The bundle will come with the headset, controllers, and headphones, along with a digital code for Horizon Call of the Mountain.
As for the accessories, the PSVR2 Sense controllers have a charging station that’s sold separately. The PSVR2 Sense Controller charging station is priced at $49.99 / €49.99 / £39.99 / ¥5,480 recommended retail price (including tax for GBP, EUR, and JPY). It’s an optional accessory that will free up USB ports on the main PS5 console. You can still charge the controllers with a USB type C cable attached to the PS5.
The Design
Sony introduced the design of their new VR headset via a PlayStation Blog post. Sony isn’t doing anything drastic with the design either, as they did with the base PS5 and its futuristic look. The PSVR2 looks almost like its predecessor but follows the black-and-white color scheme of the PS5. The “Orb” design, as Sony states, is stylish and gives the headset a fresh look without deviating from the basics.
The controllers are also orbs and follow the same black-and-white color scheme. Sony says, “Our goal is to create a headset that will not only become an attractive part of your living room decor but will also keep you immersed in your game world, to the point where you almost forget you are using a headset or controller.”
Sony is also putting a lot of emphasis on the ergonomics of the headset. The PSVR2 design includes returning quality-of-life features like the adjustable headband and adjustable scope that can place the lens closer or further away from your eyes. “That’s why we paid very close attention to the ergonomics of the headset and conducted extensive testing to ensure a comfortable feel for a variety of head sizes.”, states the blog post.
Overall, the design and look of PSVR seem great. The controller looks like it will offer a better grip and a higher degree of movement. The wand design of the PS Move controllers is nowhere to be seen here.
The Features
PSVR2 comes with industry-leading specs and features. Some are going to be game changers for not just PlayStation players but also PC. That is if Sony makes it compatible with PC.
The biggest improvement would be the OLED display with a resolution of 2000 x 2040 pixels per eye. The second improvement would be four built-in cameras right in the headset itself, eliminating the need for any external cameras. The field of view is also increased to 110 degrees for better immersion.
Resolution
The resolution is a big step up and will allow players to be fully immersed in the game world. The higher the resolution, the better the picture quality, and PSVR2 is aiming to provide 4k resolution. The headset will also offer 120Hz framerate support for games; the higher the frame rate, the smoother the gameplay. The OLED nature of the display will also have pitch-black blacks and bright whites.
Foveated Rendering
Foveated Rendering is a resource-efficient way of rendering game worlds. Basically, it renders stuff that you are actively looking at, at full fidelity, while anything in your periphery gets lower resolution and detail. This allows the system to amp up the details on things you are actually focusing on. There is also eye tracking available on the PSVR2.
Sensors
The new controllers are called the PSVR2 Sense Controllers and will offer a wide array of new features for better player immersion. The new controllers will have haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. The headset itself will have a motor for vibration, further adding to the immersion. The PSVR2 headset will feature 3D audio capabilities as well.
See Through
The new view mode will allow you to look at your surroundings while wearing the headset.
Broadcasting and Play Area
The new headset will have a broadcast feature that’ll make it easy to record yourself playing a game. The customized play area will automatically scan your room and set up a play area.
PSVR2 vs. PSVR
Sony has improved almost everything about the PSVR. Here is a simple table to explain what improvements PSVR2 will bring:
| Spec | PSVR 2 | PSVR |
| Display | OLED | OLED |
| Resolution – Each Eye | 2000 x 2040 pixels | 960 x 1080 pixels |
| Field of View | 110 Degrees | 110 Degrees |
| Refresh Rate | 90 – 120HZ | 90 – 120HZ |
| Vibration Feedback | Single Motor | None |
| Cameras | 4 in the headset | None |
| Connection | USB-A HDMI USB-C | USB-A HDMI |
| Audio | Stereo jack | Stereo jack |
| Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Haptics on Controller | Yes | No |
| Adaptive Triggers | Yes | No |
| Eye Tracking | Yes | No |
| Lens Separation | Adjustable | No |
| Finger Tracking | Yes | No |
| Analog Sticks | Both Controllers | No |
Conclusion
With up to 20 games coming at launch, the PSVR2 is looking like a great product for PlayStation fans. Hopefully, it will take VR games to the mainstream and help move the industry forward. The headset is not compatible with PSVR games either, so we’ll have to wait for new titles to release.
What are your thoughts about the price and release date of PSVR2? Are you going to pre-order or wait to see what games are going to release for the platform? Do tell us in the comments!
