The PSVR 2 will be PS5 exclusive hardware, Sony has confirmed. This means that the upcoming PlayStation VR 2 headset won’t be compatible with the last-gen PS4, with it set to utilize the power of Sony’s current-gen console to provide a more immersive experience… with far fewer wires.
Why PSVR 2 is PS5 exclusive
Sony confirmed during CES 2022 that the PSVR 2 is on its way, with the successor to its initial VR headset set to boast a number of improvements. However, those upgrades will come with a price — it won’t be possible to hook up the new PSVR to a PS4.
Hideaki Nishino confirmed as much in a blog post:
Building upon our innovations from PS5, PlayStation VR2 adds a true next-gen experience with high-fidelity visuals, new sensory features, and enhanced tracking – along with a simplified single-cord setup.
Additionally, the post only mentions the VR headset being compatible with the PS5, with it making use of the latest PlayStation console’s variety of upgrades. This includes it being able to utilize the PS5’s power enough to ensure that it only needs a single cable in order to function — a big step up from the myriad of wires present with the original.
There’s no word yet on when the PSVR 2 will be released, nor what its price point will be (though we have our theories…), but those looking to get their hands on the “next-gen” VR headset will also need to make sure they own a PS5 first. Time to start fending off those scalpers.
Opinion: PSVR 2 finally introduces a current-gen console VR headset
Paul writes… The original PSVR was a mess, but an impressive mess. It felt like there was no way virtual reality should work on an underpowered PS4 and, in a way, it didn’t; every game looked like it was covered in vaseline, and there were so many wires coming out of it that it felt like you were being hooked up to a bacta tank.
But Sony making that thing work as well as it did considering the technological drawbacks was a true achievement, and considering that the PS5 was presumably built with eventual VR functionality in mind, things should be much smoother with the PSVR 2. Sony has a habit of dropping its peripherals and accessories almost as quickly as it launches them, and while the PSVR had a better shelf life than most, it still never really competed with the heavy-hitters in the PC space. Hopefully, with the added technical power of the PS5, the PSVR 2 sticks around for a lot longer.
[Source: PlayStation Blog]
