PS5 VR aka PSVR 2: News and Expected Price, Release Date, Specs; and More Rumors

With the PS5 in distribution, Sony and various press outlets have been releasing tidbits of information on the update to the current PlayStation VR. We're not sure yet about the specific release date or price, but we know which games are coming, the hardware specs, and some of the new features.

When Will the PSVR 2 Be Released?

The official word from Sony is that we'll see the PS5 VR in "early 2023".

This has been building for a few years now. In 2019, the company's senior vice president of R&D, Dominic Mallinson, told CNET "it's good to have a little breathing space between those things" in a clear signal that consumers should just sit back and enjoy their PlayStation as-is for now.

And then, in late 2021, hardware analyst and VR designer Brad Lynch tweeted that the PSVR 2 would be entering its mass production phase soon. More recently, in mid-2022, analyst and leaker Ming-Chi Kuo said a full launch is possible in Q1 2023 (which we now know is accurate).

Price Rumors

Sony doesn't do anything inexpensively, so we're expecting the new PSVR to start at $399. The original PSVR was priced at $499 but has now settled firmly into a $349 price tag, so it makes sense a brand-new, upgraded version would set consumers back just a bit more than the current product.

The closest competitor, the Oculus Quest 2, is priced at $299 to $399 and Sony will undoubtedly want to be seen as the premium option. Still, a high price tag doesn't help position VR as something for the average consumer, which is what Sony needs to achieve if it wants to capture the mass market. Since the PS5 (with disc) is priced at $499, the company needs to come in lower than that to help consumers see it as an accessory worth buying.

Pre-Order Information

There's already a PlayStation VR2 page on PlayStation.com, but pre-ordering won't commence until Sony makes it official. We'll update that link as soon as pre-ordering starts.

PSVR 2 Features

Sony revealed some details about the PlayStation VR2 in early 2022. It adds a "true next-gen experience with high-fidelity visuals, new sensory features, and enhanced tracking – along with a simplified single-cord setup."

We found multiple patents awarded to Sony for executing a video game being played by a user via a head-mounted display. For example, in September 2020, a U.S. patent was granted involving 'motion capture data indicate of motion of plurality of markets disposed on a surface of a first subject.'

Another U.S. patent we saw was granted in June 2020, clearly shows a headset user playing on a cloud-based gaming network. The description is intriguing: It appears to indicate the re-creation of gameplay sessions in the cloud, which could indicate two users in separate locations can play a VR game together.

Based on these and other rumors we're hearing, plus official news from Sony, we think you'll see the following in a next-gen VR headset from the company.

• Foveated rendering to reduce peripheral vision image quality and reduce rendering requirements
• Improved resolution (2000×2040 per eye), pixel quality, and refresh rates (90/120Hz)
• Avatars
• A single, detachable USB-C cable connecting the headset with the PlayStation
• A lighter-weight headset overall
• Cloud gaming options for interactive play in remote locations
• Livestreaming with the PS5 camera
• Integrated cameras embedded in the headset track you and your controller without the need for an external camera
• Enhanced realism through eye motion tracking so you can look in a specific direction to create an additional input for the game character
• Headset feedback that amplifies the sensations of in-game actions
• Built-in microphone
• Cinematic Mode to let the PSVR 2 display whatever is running on the PS5 via a 1920×1080 HDR virtual screen with 120Hz refresh rate
• Set up your space and view your surroundings while wearing the headset via the pass-through feature
• Gesture-based shadowbanning (via a patent filed in 2017)

Techradar claims to have found evidence of the future of VR in the new PS5 game Astro's Playroom, and a Twitter user named Lumen started a flutter about other potential PS5 references to VR. However, Ask PlayStation UK is firmly encouraging users on Twitter to use current accessories with the PS5, so any 'clues' could just be red herrings.

PSVR 2 Specs and Hardware

These are the official specs from Sony:

Attaching the headset, and sizing it appropriately for you, is really easy through a knob on the back. The PSVR 2 headset supports IPD (interpupillary distance) adjustment so you can fine-tune it to your face specifically. But what makes this really helpful is you don't need to know your IPD to get the headset set up.

Instead, you're put through a calibration that make sure your eyes are situated properly. It works by showing you two circles on an animated face. Just adjust the headset's fit and IPD so your eyes (the circles) look normal on the cartoon's face.

Official footage of the full system is available via hands-on testers. For example, The Verge was able to take a look at the PSVR 2 in this video, where we see how the headset and controllers are put on, a review of some of the specs, and a few game demos.

PSVR 2 Controllers

Sony revealed the PS5 VR controller in March 2021. The orb-like design looks ergonomic and will, according to Sony, allow developers more freedom to create unique gameplay experiences. The controllers have exciting new features like adaptive triggers, haptic feedback, and finger touch detection for smoother and more realistic gameplay.

Confirmed PSVR 2 Games

The following games have been announced:

It's worth noting here that there will be no backwards compatibility for PSVR games, so you will not be able to play original PSVR games on the PSVR 2.

The Latest News About the PSVR 2

You can get more gaming news from Lifewire on all kinds of topics; here are more stories and rumors about Sony's plans for the PSVR 2.