If it can stick to its slated deadlines, PlayStation is set to have a pretty phenomenal 2023. While third-party games like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and Hogwarts Legacy are sure to do well on all platforms, Sony clearly has the upper hand when it comes to first-party exclusives, with Marvel's Spider-Man 2, Final Fantasy 16, and more releasing just for the PS5. But Sony doesn't just have software up its sleeve, as this year it also has the PlayStation VR2.
Released all the way back in October 2016, the original PlayStation VR headset was a surprisingly good first foray into the VR market, offering gamers an option that was actually affordable, albeit for inferior visuals, framerates, and controls. PlayStation VR2 is still much more affordable than some of its competition, but for the general public, the $500+ price point is just way too high. So in 2023, Sony not only needs to release PSVR 2 without a hitch, but it also needs to prove to general masses that it's a product worth picking up, which is no easy feat.
The PSVR2 Is Set To Launch in February 2023
PlayStation VR2 is set to launch on February 22 2023 for an eye-watering $549.99, even more than the PS5 console itself. However, this gigantic price leap between PSVR iterations isn't entirely greed-based, with the PSVR 2 actually having some pretty innovative features. In the headset itself, the PSVR 2 has built-in eye-tracking hardware that will apparently be used in quite a few games to determine when the player is blinking and where their attention is focused. The headset also has haptic feedback, which should help to immerse players even further in their next-gen experiences.
The PlayStation VR2 also comes packaged with a set of brand-new Sense controllers. Taking the next-gen technology of the PS5's DualSense, these controllers are a massive step-up from Sony's outdated Move controllers. Instead of using a light on the end of the controller to be tracked, these Sense controllers are actually tracked by the headset itself, ensuring more accurate movements. These Sense controllers also boast the same haptic feedback and adaptive trigger technology as the DualSense, which are some of the PS5's best features. This new controller apparently even has finger-touch detection, which tracks what fingers are currently holding the controller and shows that in-game.
Of course, the PSVR2 is also launching alongside a slew of games, some of which are brand new and exclusive to the platform, and some of which are next-gen ports. By far the most anticipated game on the list is Horizon: Call of the Mountain, a VR spin-off of the action-adventure franchise that puts players in the boots of a Carja defector proving his worth by slaying a horde of Machines. Resident Evil Village is getting a free VR update alongside the PSVR2's launch, turning the whole game into an immersive VR title. The Dark Pictures: Switchback is also set to be a great day-one experience for PSVR2, taking the groundwork laid by Until Dawn: Rush of Blood and expanding on it with some frightening new features.
The PSVR2 Should Get A Lot of Support in its First Year
While PlayStation VR2 is launching alongside an impressive total of 26 games, the peripheral is set to get far more support during the course of 2023. A few weeks after PSVR2's initial launch, a whole slew of new games is coming to the platform. Gran Turismo 7 is getting a free VR update, Resident Evil 4 Remake will have some form of VR content baked in, and both Beat Saber and Among Us VR have been confirmed to release at some point later this year for PSVR 2. While Sony may not be marketing the PSVR 2 nearly enough, it seems like the new platform will get plenty of support during its first year, which should make early-adopters feel a little better about their hefty purchase.