Category: playstation vr 2

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Sony Details PSVR 2 Prototypes from Conception to Production

Sony released a peek into the prototyping stages that led to PSVR 2, showing off a number of test units for both the headset and controllers.

In an extensive interview on the PS blog, PSVR 2’s Product Manager Yasuo Takahashi reveals the development process behind Sony’s latest VR headset.

Takahashi reveals that detailed discussions on the company’s next-gen PSVR began in earnest after the launch of the original in 2016. From there, the team started prototyping various technologies for PSVR 2 starting in early 2017.

Below is a condensed version of the interview, including all provided photos. If you want to read the full article, click here.

Challenges of Design & Optimization

Maintaining a light and compact design while implementing new features was a challenge, Takahashi says, requiring the teams to work closely to produce detailed technical estimates and optimize the design.

Prototype for testing inside-out in tracking cameras with evaluation board | Image courtesy Sony

While comfort was a significant focus during the development process, the initial prototype focused on evaluating functionality rather than weight.

All of that top bulk is dedicated to inside-out camera evaluation boards which would eventually be shrunk down to an SoC embedded within the headset.

Room-scale & Eye-tracking Tech

Various prototypes were created and tested before integration including both inside-out and outside-in tracking methods. Of course, we know inside-out tracking was eventually the winner, but it’s interesting to note the company was at one point still considering an outside-in approach, similar to the original PSVR.

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Inside-out tracking prototype | Image courtesy Sony
First 'Outside-in' Tracking Prototype | Image courtesy Sony
Second 'Outside-in' Tracking Prototype | Image courtesy Sony

Eye-tracking tech was also explored as a new UI feature in addition to foveated rendering, which allows developer to push the boundaries of PS5’s VR rendering capabilities and serve up higher-fidelity visuals in games.

Testing and optimizing eye tracking took time, considering different eye colors and accommodating players wearing glasses.

Eye-tracking evaluation prototype 2 | Image courtesy Sony

Comfort & Design

The development team assessed comfort and wearability, evaluating numerous configurations based on the headset’s expected weight. The team put a lot of thought into the materials and shape to make the headset feel lightweight while maintaining strength.

A cool ‘skeleton’ prototype shows all of the pieces of the puzzle together, also showing the headset’s halo strap, which like the original PSVR, keeps the bulk of the weight off the user’s forehead. This one should definitely get a spot on the museum shelves (or maybe a fun mid-generation release?).

The ‘skeleton’ prototype | Image courtesy Sony

Headset haptics were also added as a new feature based on the idea of using the rumble motor from the DualShock 4 wireless controller.

PSVR 2 Sense Controllers

The PSVR 2 Sense controllers were developed in parallel with the headset, starting discussions in 2016 and prototyping in 2017.

Features like haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and finger-touch detection were early additions, although the team was still sussing out tracking. Notice the Move-style tracking sphere on the tip of an early prototype.

Prototype 1 | Image courtesy Sony

The final shape of the Sense controller was achieved through extensive prototyping and user testing to ensure a comfortable fit and optimized center of gravity.

Here you can see a number of IR tracking marker configurations that would eventually settle on the production model’s current form.

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Prototype 2 | Image courtesy Sony
Prototype 3 | Image courtesy Sony
Prototype 4 | Image courtesy Sony
Prototype 5 | Image courtesy Sony

While Sony is undoubtedly sitting on a lot more prototypes than this—they began prototype when the original PSVR had only been in the wild for less than a year—it’s an interesting look at how Takahashi’s team eventually settled on the current form and function of what will likely be PS5’s only VR headset for years to come.

If you’re interested to learn more, check out the full interview with Takahashi.

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Leading Effort to Hack PSVR 2 into Playing PC VR Games Unlocks 6DOF Cameras, Begins Work on Controllers

It seems we’re closer to seeing a viable workaround that could allow PSVR 2 owners to play PC VR games. iVRy, the most promising project dedicated to the task, is making good headway by unlocking the headset’s outer cameras for room-scale tracking.

The effort to hack PSVR 2 was initially put on hold earlier this year, which was understandably a let-down for anyone hoping to play PC VR-exclusive titles such as Half-Life: Alyx (2020), or social apps like Bigscreen or VRChat.

The indefinite pause on development didn’t last for long though, as earnest efforts resumed shortly afterwards when the project opened a Patreon to help support development.

In a recent tweet, iVRy creator Mediator Software outlined some new milestones reached after 143 days of development, which were unlocked recently by gaining access to PSVR 2’s camera. As a result, the project now has access to the headset’s 6DOF SLAM tracking, 3DOF IMU tracking, proximity sensor, raw stereo camera data, and distortion-corrected passthrough stereo camera data.

Mediator Software says they’re now focused on “understanding the PSVR2 data and putting in code in the driver to interpret it.”

And by now it’s pretty clear Sony isn’t making it simple. The creator says in a recent tweet the project has cost “over $13K in equipment and software to date, as well as hundreds of hours of work.” That includes things like custom sniffer boards and emulator boards.

While the iVRy creator has successfully booted up 6DOF PC VR content on PSVR 2 in the lab, baking that functionality into a future software release that’s broadly accessible will be a big challenge.

“Any use of the software requires an [hardware] adapter that doesn’t exist yet, so an early access version of the software wouldn’t be usable by anyone at all,” the creator says. “There may be some kind of limited run (maybe 100) of the reference adapters that we’re making, which may be offered via Patreon.”

To boot, work on PSVR 2’s optically-tracked Sense controllers have only just begun, with the studio noting that reverse engineering the controllers is “not going to be easy at all.”

“Working on controllers at this point, means that there is nothing further we can do with the headset part right now, not that there is nothing further we can or need to do with the headset part at all. There is still a lot that needs to be done there, including lots of unknowns,” the creator said.

So, while we’re closer than ever, we may still be waiting for some time on that ‘one-and-done’ software download that could potentially uncouple PSVR 2 from PS5 for good. In the meantime, the bulk of the projects updates are published through the project’s Patreon, which offers a $10 minimum monthly membership. You can also follow along via iVRy’s Twitter for the broader strokes.

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PSVR 2 Outsold Original PSVR in First 6 Weeks, Sony Confirms

Sony revealed PSVR 2 outperformed the original PSVR in sales in the first six weeks, taking a strong early lead over the company’s first-gen PlayStation headset.

An investor relations presentation delivered by Sony Interactive Entertainment chief Jim Ryan includes some new information detailing PSVR 2 units sales relative to the original PSVR launched in October 2016.

According to a chart in Ryan’s presentation, Sony’s latest headset has sold 8% more than the original in the first six weeks, ostensibly spanning from its February 22nd, 2023 launch to April 5th.

Image courtesy Sony

The graph’s y-axis is unlabeled, although it’s likely those numbers are in the thousands of units, which would mean PSVR 2 sold around 450,000 units in its first week, trailing up to just under 600,000 at the six-week mark.

PSVR 2’s adoption curve is notably flatter than the original PSVR, which started at just north of 300,000 units in its first week, ending up at around 550,000 units by week six. When Sony last released sales figures in 2020, the original PSVR had sold around 5 million lifetime units. Notably, PSVR reached its first million in just under its five months.

PSVR 2’s game library consists of a few strong anchor titles, such as Horizon Call of the Mountain, Resident Evil Village, and Gran Turismo 7 while offering an array of upgraded PSVR content and newly ported Quest titles. Upcoming titles include Ghostbusters VR, Beat Saber, Crossfire: Sierra Squad, Resident Evil 4, Synapse, The Foglands, Green Hell VR, and Behemoth.

To keep PSVR 2’s unit sales above the original, the company undoubtably needs to focus on widening its content offering in the coming months. The company is hosting a PlayStation gaming showcase later today which we hope will reveal a little more about the company’s near-term content strategy for PSVR 2.

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An Effort to Hack PSVR 2 to Support PC VR Has Been Put on Indefinite Hold

The creator of a PC VR driver which includes support for the original PSVR 1 headset says it is are stepping away from hacking PSVR 2 to work with PC VR, citing frustrating technical, financial, and social challenges.

Mediator Software, the developer of a PSVR-to-PC SteamVR driver called iVRy, says it is putting efforts to hack PSVR 2 for PC VR compatibility on hold. Just days after saying it had managed to authenticate PSVR 2 on PC, the developer says the project is now on ice.

“I’m walking away from this project for the time being. Between spiralling costs, a never ending set of obstacles put forward by the PSVR2, unrealistic hype in blogs, abusive commenters and accusations of fraud, it has ceased to be fun. I’ll be back. Some time,” reads the announcement.

The creators also shared screenshots showing what kind of social media strife they were facing, apparently with regards to Mediator Software seeking financial support for the project from the community.

Aside from the social challenges, struggling to get PSVR 2 working on SteamVR isn’t surprising. Despite their best efforts, the iVRy developers themselves previously said it was “unlikely” that PSVR 2 would be useable for PC VR “within five years of its release,” if ever.

That’s a shame considering PSVR 2 is one of the market’s best consumer headsets to date, and even has the basic ability to act like a proper display when plugged into a PC.

While we’d love to see PSVR 2 work with PC VR, the reality is that Sony has little incentive to let it happen.

Thanks to our pal Daniel Fearon for the tip!

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PSVR 2: ‘Pavlov’ & ‘Kayak VR’ Reaffirmed as Top Downloads in First Full Month Since Launch

PlayStation VR 2 launched in late February, and it wasn’t certain just how its smallish library of games would stack up in the headset’s first monthly top download report, which critically only accounted for the first week of user downloads. Now it’s clear: Pavlov and Kayak VR: Mirage are undoubtedly fan favorites.

Taking the top spot across the US & Canada and the EU is Vankrupt Games’ online multiplayer shooter Pavlov, which offers up a wide range of content beyond its classic 5v5 attack & defend mode.

Outside of being a popular game on basically all major VR platforms, Vankrupt is continuously expanding Pavlov’s modes, which now includes a murder mystery-inspired mode, a monster hunting mode which pits one player against nine others, and even a WWII map that lets you attack or defend Stalingrad in a 4v4 tank battle.

In PSVR 2’s inaugural top download list, Pavlov was rated number two across US & Canada and Europe, coming just below Kayak VR: Mirage, a kayak racing sim initially released on SteamVR headsets in 2022 by Amsterdam-based indie studio Better Than Life.

Kayak VR is still alive and kicking though, as it remains in the top three across the US & Canada, EU, and Japan, although it’s a good sign that any online multiplayer game is doing well on the platform, since it relies so heavily on populated servers to stay relevant.

Meanwhile, the platform’s premier single-player VR-native Horizon Call of the Mountain is no longer stacking up as the third most downloaded game in the US & Canada and Europe; it’s still remaining strong in Japan though.

That doesn’t mean people aren’t playing Horizon Call of the Mountain through. It’s important to note that the chart below is counting PS Store purchases and not bundled or upgraded content, which notably includes big titles such as Horizon Call of the Mountain, Gran Turismo 7, and Resident Evil Village.

Check out the full list below:

PSVR 2 March Top Downloads

US/Canada EU Japan
1 Pavlov Pavlov
Kayak VR: Mirage
2 The Dark Pictures: Switchback Kayak VR: Mirage
The Dark Pictures: Switchback
3 Kayak VR: Mirage The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners – Chapter 2: Retribution
Horizon Call of the Mountain
4 The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners – Chapter 2: Retribution Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge Drums Rock
5 Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge Drums Rock
DYSCHRONIA: Chronos Alternate
6 PISTOL WHIP PISTOL WHIP Puzzling Places
7 Horizon Call of the Mountain Synth Riders
Onogoro Monogatari ~The Tale of Onogoro~
8 Swordsman VR Swordsman VR PISTOL WHIP
9 Drums Rock Horizon Call of the Mountain
The Light Brigade
10 Job Simulator Job Simulator Swordsman VR
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PSVR 2 vs. Meta Quest 2

To help you decide which headset is right for you, we've pitted the PSVR 2 and Meta Quest 2 against each other to see how they stack up in key categories.
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The best PSVR2 games

Playstation VR2 already has a fantastic lineup of VR titles, from VR classics rebuilt for the new headset to brand new exclusives.
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Top 10 PSVR 2 Games to Download First

It’s been over a week since PSVR 2 made its big launch, bringing with it 40+ games that let you dive head-first into virtual worlds aplenty. Here we take a look at our top titles you should think about nabbing first.

There’s a good smattering of games here to get you started which span a number of genres, including shooter, horror, adventure, platforming, and more. Here’s our selection of top PSVR 2 games at the moment, listed in alphabetical order.

Demeo

Demo isn’t DnD in VR like some would have you think, but the team-based tactical dungeon crawler certainly takes a bunch of cues from the storied role-playing game with its turn-based fantasy madness. Sit down to the game board with three other players and take on dungeon after dungeon, culminating in module bosses that will truly test your abilities. In the end, Demeo is basically PSVR 2’s premium board game experience truly worthy of an oragnized game night for both your VR headset-owning and flatscreen pals thanks to integrated cross-play.

Store Link

Gran Turismo 7

You don’t need to own a dedicated steering wheel peripheral to play Gran Turismo 7 in its optional VR mode, but you would be highly suggested to do so, as this real-world driving sim lets you go head-to-head online and in an engaging campaign that simply blows Gran Turismo Sport out of the water.

Store Link

Horizon Call of the Mountain

Come for the graphics, stay for the VR native gameplay in this single player adventure as Horizon Call of the Mountain takes players on a fun trek throughout a breathtaking world, showcasing some of the best graphics you’ll find anywhere in VR. Beyond the epic vistas, the game’s smaller details—like rich foliage, an array of climbing gadgets, and interactive props—make Call of the Mountain a very immersive game. There’s also a free demo.

Store Link

The Last Clockwinder

Studio Ghibli doesn’t make VR games, although you’d swear Hayao Miyazaki had a hand in designing this incredibly infectious puzzle game, which arms you with a fleet of your own mechanical clones to compete complex tasks. Save the tree, which holds biodiversity of the whole universe, and stock up on tissue as this narrative-based puzzler may jerk a tear or two.

Store Link

Les Mills Bodycombat

PSVR 2 is so much better geared for room-scale gaming than the original PSVR, which is why you should definitely start thinking of your headset as a piece of workout equipment since you can dive, duck, dodge, and punch your way to the new, fitter you. Coaches take you through 50+ heart-pumping workouts, all set to tracks from artist like Noam Dee, Fas Fash, & more.

Store Link

Moss & Moss: Book II Bundle

You could pick up either, but you really should consider plonking down for the Moss & Moss Book II bundle. The main character is Quill, a young mouse with dreams of greatness beyond the confines of her forest settlement, although you actually play as ‘The Reader’, who not only controls little Quill as she platforms throughout the lush fantasy world, but physically helps her by interacting with environmental puzzle pieces. Between bashing baddies, make sure to look around a bit and take in the universe’s charming and detailed visuals.

Store Link

Pavlov

“Isn’t ‘X shooter’ game in VR yet?” you may ask yourself. Well, Pavlov is a great alternative if you’re looking for competitive Counter Strike-esque gameplay, replete with immersive gun physics and bomb-defusing action. There’s a ton of modes that will give you a good helping of sqaud-based gameplay with modern weaponry, but also vehicle-based WWII battles and zombie horde-shooting modes to keep things fresh.

Store Link

Resident Evil Village

Resident Evil Village may be a VR-optional game, but this single player horror game truly feels at home on PSVR 2, as the world’s blood-chilling enemies and atmospheric world take hold of you. In our hands-on, Road to VR’s Ben Lang called it “about the best graphics in VR I’d argue the top title is certainly Half-Life: Alyx.” Thankfully, if you already own the game on PS5, you not only get a free PSVR 2 upgrade, but also a PSVR 2-accessible demo.

Store Link

Song in the Smoke Rekindled

Song in the Smoke is an unforgiving survival adventure which challenges the player to get through each day in the face of hunger, cold, fatigue, and plenty of beasts that lurk in the shadows. Visuals get a big upgrade on PSVR 2 version, making it rival the PC VR version, bringing a finer touch to the game’s large and complex levels. Keep your map open, make sure to scrounge basic supplies and craft (re: everything), survive the night, and tango with some pretty epic primeval bosses.

Store Link

Star Wars: Tales from The Galaxy’s Edge

Initially born on Quest as a trilogy, Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge Enhanced Edition casts you as a Droid Repair Technician who crash landed on Batuu, where you face off against the Guavian Death Gang, infiltrate a First Order facility and travel to other eras in the galaxy. Sure, you’re not a Jedi, but there’s no bigger slice of Star Wars VR action on PSVR 2. Yes, we’re still waiting on Vader Immortal and Squadrons, but at least Galaxy’s Edge has a free demo!

Store Link

Also Consider…

There’s more than 30 VR games (and counting) on the store right now, although here’s a list of 10 mentionable games that may also pique your interest: