Look, here’s the deal. There are so many factors to consider when reviewing a VR headset like the PlayStation VR 2 that it makes it a little tricky to please everyone. I think John Linneman from Digital Foundry will have the tech-heads and VR veterans covered with his brilliant Digital Foundry review, and I’ll definitely touch on what the headset is like for beginners as I’m sure there’ll be a fair few new adopters coming in on launch. For this review though, I’ll mainly be comparing the experience of using a PSVR2 with that of the original PSVR, a headset I am super familiar with. Chances are, previous PSVR owners will make up the majority of people who have pre-ordered the PSVR2. More importantly however, they will also be the people who will be most aware of all the technical advancements and innovations that Sony has made over its first generation of VR gaming.
PSVR2 reviewMade by: SonyAvailability: Out 22nd February from Sony
To spot the first innovation you don’t have to look any further than the PSVR2’s inner packaging, which now doubles as a fancy storage box for your headset and controllers when you’re not using them. It’s a nice, simple idea but I, along with a fair few other reviewers who unboxed the headset last week, were taken by surprise by the fact that the flip top lid of the storage box does not have a catch built into it. This means it’ll easily swing open on its own if you turn the box over, instantly dumping your new headset onto the floor. Mine only fell about an inch and it was fine but please bear this in mind when you’re unpacking yours.
Once your PSVR2 is safely removed and gravity is no longer a threat, it’s time to set it up. This process is incredibly simple and streamlined compared to the initial setup of the original PSVR. The PSVR2 is powered by one simple 4.5 metre long cable that is thin and light, and plugs straight into the console via USB-C. It’s the literal definition of plug and play and is super convenient compared to any other wired headset I’ve used.
1 of 4 Caption Attribution The interior box is really stubborn to remove from the outer packaging so learn from my mistake and remove the headset and controllers before you attempt to remove the storage box!
The first time you turn on the PSVR2 headset, you’ll be asked to run through a short setup process which allows you to quickly and easily calibrate the headset to your specific room and face shape. It’s a super simple process made interesting by some fun little setup screens that help to demonstrate the headset’s new features. To adjust the IPD (interpupillary distance – the distance between your pupils) for instance, you simply roll a little wheel on the top of the headset until the digital representations of your eyes on screen end up in the centre of two circles that represent the headset’s lenses. It’s as easy as that.