The spec dump is here at last 🤓

After much anticipation, PlayStation has finally unveiled the official name of their next-gen virtual reality headset and they are calling it PS VR2. I had a feeling they would keep the name simple, just like they have with all PlayStation consoles.

The official PlayStation blog dropped a post full of new intel. I was ecstatic to read through all of it and figured that I may as well go over everything that I saw there and give my opinions on it all.

You may have seen a couple of my previous articles from May 2021 where I was going over some of what we already knew about PS VR2. If you haven't seen those, then I'll link them below:

• Next-Gen PS VR announced for PS5
• PlayStation announces orb-style controllers for next-gen PS VR

The controllers have been officially dubbed PlayStation VR2 Sense controllers. This makes total sense to me since the new VR controllers will feature a lot of the same tech that the fancy PS5 DualSense has gained so much popularity over. The adaptive triggers and haptic feedback will be implemented into the VR controllers.

Let's break it all down 🎙

Now let's discuss the blog post from PlayStation discussing all of the PS VR2's new features. There is a lot to unpack here and most of it is pretty revolutionary.

Visual Fidelity: For a high-fidelity visual experience, PS VR2 offers 4K HDR, a 110-degree field of view, and foveated rendering. With an OLED display, players can expect a display resolution of 2000×2040 per eye and smooth frame rates of 90/120Hz.

These specs are slightly above that of the Oculus Rift S. Of course that means the PS VR2 trumps the Oculus Rift 2 as well. Check out this article for more spec comparisons with other VR options. I had a feeling that this thing was going to be impressive since it needed to meet the new standards that the next-gen PS5 has set. I am already spoiled and couldn't imagine going back in time. It is a good thing they are offering nice visuals like this and OLED to boot!

Headset-based Controller Tracking: With inside-out tracking, PS VR2 tracks you and your controller through integrated cameras embedded in the VR headset. Your movements and the direction you look at are reflected in-game without the need for an external camera.

Inside-out tracking is a cheaper alternative to lighthouse tracking. I hope that this cost-cutting measure doesn't sacrifice too much, at least we can count on PlayStation to hopefully keep this cheaper than a PS5. No promises though. The headset will connect with the powerful PS5 console via a USB Type-C cable. It sucks this thing won't be wireless, but they are relying on the power of the console itself rather than the headset. At least latency will not be an issue.

New Sensory Features: PS VR2 Sense Technology combines eye tracking, headset feedback, 3D Audio, and the innovative PS VR2 Sense controller to create an incredibly deep feeling of immersion. Headset feedback is a new sensory feature that amplifies the sensations of in-game actions from the player. It’s created by a single built-in motor with vibrations that add an intelligent tactile element, bringing players closer to the gameplay experience. For example, gamers can feel a character’s elevated pulse during tense moments, the rush of objects passing close to the character’s head, or the thrust of a vehicle as the character speeds forward. Additionally, PS5’s Tempest 3D AudioTech makes sounds in the player’s surroundings come alive, adding to this new level of immersion.

There is a lot to unpack here. It sounds like they really are pushing for deeper immersion with PS VR2. If headset feedback is anywhere near as powerful as the DualSense's haptic feedback, then we are really in for a treat here. I imagine bullets whizzing by our heads will soon be a sensation we will become normalized with. I already have been loving the PS5's Pulse 3D Wireless headset. Audio is at a new level of realism and it benefits big time to have a nice headset to take advantage of these new 3D audio features. Adding that into VR games is certainly going to make for a more realistic experience.

Eye Tracking: With eye tracking, PS VR2 detects the motion of your eyes, so a simple look in a specific direction can create an additional input for the game character. This allows players to interact more intuitively in new and lifelike ways, allowing for heightened emotional response and enhanced expression that provide a new level of realism in gaming.

Did I just read this correctly? The eye-tracking will allow the headset to know when I am looking in a direction without moving my head. That is absolutely insane. For somebody like me who still hasn't played a VR game before, I feel like I am going to be shocked at how wild all of this turns out to be when we actually get to experience it.

The hype keeps building 🤩

I keep learning more about the PS VR2 which makes me very enthusiastic about the upcoming release. We do not have an exact date yet, but production is said to begin soon. This means we likely could see the release happen by the holiday season of this year.

PlayStation also revealed the first official PS VR2 game and it is a Horizon spin-off called Horizon Call of the Mountain. More on that here. The new hardware paired with an exclusive title like this one is sure to encourage many people to pick up a PS VR2.

I have been holding out on getting a VR setup for many years now. It looks like my time is finally approaching. I am planning on purchasing one of the PS VR2s on day one. I simply cannot wait to begin experiencing games in VR any longer. As a hardcore gamer, I am not sure how I have gone this long and still not tried it out. My first experience is sure to drop my jaw to the floor.

To close this out 🎬

I can only imagine the unique games that will be coming to PS VR2. I already have a large library of PS VR games that are stacking up very nicely thanks to my PlayStation Plus freebies over the years. I will have no shortage of games to experience once this thing releases. I currently own several VR titles that I've never been able to play, games such as:

Until You Fall
The Walking Dead Saints & Sinners
Hitman
Star Wars Squadrons
The Persistence
Concrete Genie
Farpoint
Gran Turismo Sport
Thumper
Paper Beast
Rise of the Tomb Raider
Mortal Blitz Combat Arena
Dreams
Trackmania Turbo
Astro Bot Rescue Mission
Moss
Rez Infinite
Firewall Zero Hour
Here They Lie

That is a list of nearly 20 games that I already have waiting to be played. I may have even missed a few. Plus there are so many other unique looking experiences both free and paid to choose from. Sitting on the VR sidelines all of these years has me very far behind.

I almost failed to mention the fact that you can use the PS VR headsets as a cinema-like monitor for games that aren't even VR-enabled. That means if you wish to play for instance Call of Duty, you totally could. Plus there is also the option to watch movies in VR. The possibilities continue to pile up.

That is about all I have to say about PS VR2, I'm pretty hyped about it. I cannot wait to see what this new headset actually looks like. I feel like we won't have to wait very much longer before we get a showcase. I figured I'd link a video of the PlayStation VR2 presentation at CES 2022, the teaser trailer for Horizon Call of the Mountain, and a great breakdown of all the news from Virtual Reality Oasis for those of you that would rather listen than read: