PSVR 2 vs. PSVR – How Far Has PlayStation VR Come Since 2016?

PlayStation VR 2 is simply across the nook, and by this level Sony detailed the entire headsets core specs and options. Evaluating PSVR vs. PSVR 2 specs side-by-side exhibits us how a lot has modified since Sony’s first shopper headset launched in 2016.

Replace (February sixth, 2023): With PSVR 2 launch day simply across the nook, we’ve up to date this spec sheet and commentary with the newest information, now together with PSVR 2’s weight and cable size.

Among the many main gamers within the VR area, Sony has bided its time on a follow-up to the unique headset. By the point PSVR 2 releases on February twenty second, 2023, it’s going to have been six years and 4 months because the authentic PSVR launched again in 2016.

The unique PSVR was launched about six months after the primary main shopper VR headsets—HTC Vive and Oculus Rift—hit the market again in 2016. Nonetheless HTC, Oculus, and others have launched many new headsets within the interim. To its credit score, PSVR managed to really feel aggressive for a few years after its launch, however finally started to really feel dated as the remainder of the pack charged forward into VR’s ‘gen-2’ epoch.

Now right here we’re in 2023 with PSVR 2 on PS5 set to convey new life to Sony’s VR ambitions. Let’s check out how PSVR and PSVR 2 specs evaluate:

PSVR 2 Specs & Options – Past the Numbers

It’s straightforward to get misplaced within the numbers so let’s actually break down the key adjustments between the headsets.

Decision, Subject-of-view, & HDR

For one, PSVR 2 has about 4 instances the pixel rely of PSVR. All issues being equal, meaning photographs contained in the headset would look about 4 instances sharper, which is a considerable enchancment.

Nonetheless, we all know that all issues gained’t be equal. Sony quotes the field-of-view of PSVR 2 at 110° in comparison with 100° for PSVR 1. That implies that whereas PSVR 2 has many extra pixels, they’ll be stretched over a barely wider space. General the sharpness of the headset ought to nonetheless be considerably higher, however not fairly as a lot because the sheer improve in pixels would counsel.

As for the field-of-view itself, 100° to 110° isn’t an enormous leap, however you’d absolutely discover it if you happen to in contrast the headsets side-by-side.

Except a shock headset beats it to the punch, PSVR 2 would be the first commercially obtainable VR headset to launch with an HDR (high-dynamic vary) show. Meaning it’s able to a a lot wider vary of brightness than a typical headset. Functionally this implies the headset will be capable to produce scenes with extra life-like brightness which in principle may enhance immersion significantly.

Granted, in our PSVR 2 preview we didn’t clearly discover the headset’s HDR capabilities, although it isn’t clear if the video games on show had been optimized for the function but. One other risk is that the HDR mode merely might have the sort of peak brightness you’d see from an HDR TV. So at this level it’s unclear if HDR might be a ‘good to have’ function, or one thing that defines the headset in comparison with its contemporaries.

Lenses & IPD

The unique PSVR was for a very long time the one main headset in the marketplace that didn’t use Fresnel lenses, that are recognized to trigger glare (in trade for different advantages). PSVR 2, however, might be following the remainder of the business which has lengthy moved to Fresnel lenses because the business customary.

The lenses within the authentic PSVR had a big sufficient eye-box that Sony didn’t really feel the necessity to embody an IPD adjustment (which adjusts the lenses to match the space between your eyes). Nonetheless, PSVR 2 does have an IPD adjustment which is a good suggestion for a lot of causes, so we’re glad to see this addition. In the meantime, PSVR 2 retains the eye-relief function discovered on the unique PSVR, which is helpful for dialing in probably the most snug view and to make room for these with glasses.

Ease-of-use & Monitoring

Regardless that this reads minimally on a spec sheet, it is a large deal for PSVR 2—no extra breakout field and no extra exterior digicam.

PSVR 1 ships with a big breakout field that accepts two plugs from the headset that run alongside a thick cable. The breakout field needs to be related to the host console by a USB cable and an HDMI cable (and likewise needs to be plugged into the TV). And don’t neglect that it wants its personal energy provide. That’s six… sure, six, particular person plugs working into and out of the field.

For sure, the breakout field was a little bit of a ache. Not solely did it complicate the consumer’s A/V arrange, in some circumstances it even created decision and HDR points for sure TVs; this was partly fastened with a later revision to the PSVR {hardware}, besides the breakout field was a hindrance to the general expertise.

Oh and don’t neglect in regards to the digicam. PSVR 1 required the PS4 digicam for monitoring, which meant having one other peripheral plugged into your console. Not solely that, however the digicam was by no means made for VR within the first place and it suffered from poor monitoring accuracy and restricted protection.

Sony has recognized and eradicated these points for PSVR 2. The breakout field is totally gone; the headset will plug into the PS5 with a single USB-C cable by means of the USB-C port conveniently positioned proper on the entrance of the PS5. That’s nice information however we absolutely hope that little connector can maintain the cable in tightly sufficient to not get yanked out if the wire will get tugged throughout intense VR periods!

And the PS4 digicam is gone too. As an alternative of utilizing ‘outside-in’ monitoring with a digicam that sits in your TV, PSVR 2 has on-board cameras for ‘inside-out’ monitoring. Meaning the cameras on the headset itself are used to trace the participant’s head actions. This eliminates one other further peripheral in comparison with PSVR 1.

However there’s a danger in Sony’s transfer to inside-out monitoring. The standard of inside-out monitoring varies significantly between headset makers. Whereas the inside-out monitoring on Quest 2, as an illustration, is excellent, the inside-out monitoring on Home windows VR headsets leaves a lot to be desired. Solely a handful of corporations on this planet have proven that they’ll ship top-tier inside-out monitoring for VR.

Granted, the bar is fairly low on this case. Monitoring on PSVR 1 was arguably the worst amongst main headsets in the marketplace, but it surely nonetheless bought very properly regardless. Even when PSVR 2 has simply ‘okay’ inside-out monitoring, it may nonetheless be an enchancment over the poor monitoring of the unique.

All that mentioned, Sony tends to be fairly critical about VR, and I anticipate they’ll have an honest resolution for inside-out monitoring, if not an excellent one.

Proceed on Web page 2: Eye-tracking, Controllers, Audio, & Headset Haptics »