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PS VR2 expected release date, specs, and features

The PS VR2 release date is finally upon us, revealing various new specs and features that the new headset will be sporting
Last Updated on November 3, 2022
PS VR2 expected release date
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Sony has officially announced the release date and price ranges for its new VR headset. The PS VR2 will release on February 22, 2023, and will have a starting cost of $549.99. This information now gifts gamers something else to look forward to in 2023.

And this immense hype is normal. PlayStation VR has been one of the most popular systems thus far. Back in 2019, it reached over five million units sold, which is an incredible number for this kind of device. That is, up until the Meta Quest 2 started selling over 14 million units in 2020 and dominated the market ever since.

Having in mind the poor sales and return rates of the new Meta Quest Pro, Sony decided to take advantage and wrote up a press release talking about the pricing and PS VR2 release date, plus highlighting upcoming games that the new headset will support.

When can we expect the release of the PS VR2?

In its latest blog post, Sony stated that the PS VR2 will launch on February 22, 2023. The company also stated that it will open pre-orders on November 15 to help its customers get ready for what might be a quickly sold-out device. If you want to pre-order Sony’s headset and you know you’ll forget about it on launch day, you can subscribe right now for the pre-order via the firm’s registration page.

To make the sales more streamlined, Sony will be selling directly to consumers in the US, UK, France, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg through PlayStation’s online store at direct.playstation.com. In other regions, the PS VR2 will be sold by participating retailers. Pre-orders will work exactly the same whether you are in one of the former countries or not.

PS VR2 Price

The PS VR2 will release at a starting price of $549.99 for the standard version. This will include a PS VR2 headset, two PS VR2 Sense controllers, and a set of stereo headphones. Sony will also sell a special Horizon Call of the Mountain bundle at $599.99 that will include a PlayStation Store voucher code for its Horizon VR experience, a PS VR2 headset, two PS VR2 Sense controllers, and stereo headphones.

The controllers can be charged via the PS5 through a USB port. However, if you want to free up that space and make charging easier, Sony is separately selling a PlayStation VR2 Sense controller charging station at $49.99.

PS VR2 Specs

The 4K functionality on the PS VR2 is its most exciting new feature. People haven’t experienced a more immersive encounter within VR gaming as they will with the visually dynamic experience situated at a maximum of 120 fps via the headset’s dual 2000×2040 OLED displays. This leaves the previous iteration far behind, without the need to even mention how it will compare to its competition.

Eye-tracking is an additional new piece of tech that the PS VR2 will be sporting, allowing for different modes of input on the device within games. If the 4K video wasn’t enough, you can now use sensory feedback to further immerse yourself in games.

 Playstation VR 2Playstation VR
Display MethodOLED HDROLED
Panel Resolution2000 x 2040 per eye960 x 1080 per eye
Panel Refresh RateUp to 120HzUp to 120Hz
Field of View (FoV)110°100°
Lens SeparationAdjustable 
SensorsMotion Sensor: Six-axis motion sensing system (three-axis gyroscope, three-axis accelerometer)​・Attachment Sensor: IR Proximity sensorSix-axis motion sensor and LED tracking via PlayStation Move
Cameras4 cameras for headset and controller tracking​・IR camera for eye tracking per eyeNo internal camera. Outside-in (external camera)
FeedbackVibration on headsetNone
Communication​ with PS5USB-CUSB and HDMI
AudioInput: Built-in microphone​・Output: Stereo headphone jack3.5mm input

A side-by-side of the PS VR2 with its predecessor is just unfair. The new PlayStation VR2 delivers a four-time better image resolution than the PSVR. Reaching this king of 4K resolution is an achievement worth mentioning. On the other hand, the FoV didn’t change all too much. We could expect to see a much wider field of view increase due to the number of pixels the new headset offers. For all that, it only means better image quality and probably a more immersive experience.

To give a sense of comparison, the Meta Quest Pro could only offer two LCD binoculars at 1800×1920 per eye and a dimmed-down refresh rate of 90Hz. This headset costs $1,499.99, so it’s pretty neat to see a piece of technology with that kind of resolution and image quality for less than $600.

Moreover, the PS VR2 got rid of the unnecessary add-ons wrought by the older headset. Previously, users had to install an external camera and a large breakout box. This made the usage of the product somewhat difficult, boring, and even dangerous with the mass of cables running about. Add that to the need for an external camera, and the PS VR2’s predecessor didn’t quite capture the movements right, which made the experience laggy.

The Playstation VR2 will adapt to these malfunctions with its four internal camera system and a USB-C connection for a simple plug-and-play experience.

PS VR2 features

Sony decided to enlighten users with professional eye-tracking systems. They partnered with Tobii, a worldwide-known eye-tracking technology company to deliver possibly the first consumer-based VR headset with this very technology.

Eye-tracking is an amazing feature to have in a VR gaming headset. Right out of the box it can help the system deliver a more accurate and precise image while reducing the system requirements due to the Foveated rendering. This basically adjusts the image to the way our eyesight works. In real life, your eyes focus extremely well right at the center of your field of view, but when it comes to the sides or peripheral sight it starts to get blurred and lose definition. Adding this life-like capability to the system, knowing where exactly your eyes are looking, allows the VR system to render the image more efficiently.

Furthermore, eye-tracking could help with IPD recognition. This has been a big problem for lots of VR headsets, as not everybody can adjust the lenses to their IPD, and some devices are too close when they need to make these adjustments. Eye-tracking could automatically identify the user’s IPD and configure the headset accordingly.

PS VR2 Controllers

Another great enhancement behind the Playstation VR2 is the inclusion of the brand-new Sense controllers. This new set of controllers will be monitored by the internal cameras of the headset in a way that the movement and precise position can be tracked seamlessly, reducing latency and improving response.

This improvement will be immediately felt by the gamers because within the new PS VR2 system they will be able to move around more freely without thinking of keeping the controller in the camera’s sight. Sony also added two thumbsticks (one on each controller) to give the gamer a better facility to control the game and, of course, open up the possibilities of game compatibility.

PS VR2 Games

PlayStation’s VR headset not only comes with better performance but, thanks to the controller and power improvements, it also comes with a multitude of games to enjoy on the system. The most renowned titles are currently Horizon Call of the Mountain and Resident Evil Village. Both are games developed specifically for an immersive and perfect VR gaming experience.

But, there’s more. Below are some titles that will be available on the PS VR2:

  • The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR
  • Crossfire: Sierra Squad
  • The Light Brigade
  • Cities VR – Enhanced Edition
  • Cosmonious High
  • Hello Neighbor: Search and Rescue
  • Jurassic World Aftermath Collection
  • Pistol Whip VR
  • Zenith: The Last City
  • After The Fall
  • Tentacular

If you’re in the market for a nice piece of VR technology, subscribe to PlayStation’s newsletter and sign up for pre-orders as soon as they become available because sales will be hot for this device.

Camilo is a contributor for PC Guide. He's been into tech since he was a teen, surfing through the web and local stores trying to find the cheapest way to play the latest Half-Life on his old Windows