PS VR2 is a technological masterpiece that is inaccessible to many – 02/16/2023 – Tech

The PlayStation VR2 will be one of the most advanced virtual reality devices when it hits stores next Wednesday (22). Still, the PlayStation 5 peripheral will be restricted to an audience of technology enthusiasts due to its limitations and price.

The most impressive news is the eye tracking technology. With the ability to detect where the player is looking, the system approaches something like a thought reader. Just looking at a menu item, for example, for the device to understand that you want to select it, without any extra commands.

More than that, the technology optimizes the equipment’s performance, giving priority to rendering graphics in the areas the user is looking at. In addition, it allows the software to fine-tune the player’s commands. This ability can be important in virtual reality games, especially in those with motion detection commands, which often lack precision.

At this point, another good news from Sony is the introduction of PlayStation VR2 Sense controls. They have a finger positioning detection system and features already present in the DualSense (traditional PlayStation 5 controller), such as varying levels of vibration and triggers that are firmer depending on the situation presented in the game.

As with the DualSense, the controls have an internal battery. In the tests carried out by the report, it lasted about five hours.

In graphic terms, Sony’s new device represents a leap forward compared to its predecessor, the PlayStation VR, released in 2016 for the PlayStation 4. Each of the two screens on the equipment’s display is capable of playing videos in 2,000 x 2,040 resolution. , against 960 x 1,080 in the previous model, with a viewing angle of 110°, 10% greater than that of the old device.

These novelties, added to the headset’s vibration capacity and compatibility with 3D audio technologies, help to increase the user’s sense of immersion. But technological limitations and the feeling of discomfort with the device still exist and hinder the experience a little.

PlayStation VR 2 has four built-in cameras and, unlike its predecessor, does not require an external camera. However, the new device still needs to be connected to the console via a USB cable.

As some of the best virtual reality games force the player to turn sideways several times, the wire invariably wraps around the user’s legs and can move the headset, taking it out of the ideal position and interrupting the immersion in the world of virtual reality .

It is a problem already solved by competing devices, such as Meta Quest 2. Although the Facebook owner’s device does not have the same graphics capacity as the PlayStation VR2, the exchange for greater freedom of movement is justified.

A thoughtful addition to Sony’s hardware is a button located on the underside of the headset that pauses the game and displays the user’s surroundings on the device’s screen. With this, it is possible to take quick breaks (for example, to get a glass of water) without having to take the equipment off your head.

A little lighter (560 g to 600 g) and with more lens adjustment options, Sony’s peripheral also shows improvements compared to PlayStation VR in terms of comfort, but it’s still far from ideal.

The headset’s halo-shaped support gives the device an interesting futuristic look, but puts pressure on the forehead, even leaving a red mark on the skin after a few hours of use. In addition, it is common to feel the equipment heat up.

The PlayStation VR2’s biggest sin, however, is the cost.

The equipment arrives in Brazil with a suggested price of R$ 4,499.90 in its cheapest version, the same price as a PlayStation 5 console (in the version with support for physical media), and 50% more expensive than the Meta Quest 2 —the device it was not officially released in Brazil, but it is possible to find it for sale on the internet for prices around R$ 3,000.

In addition, the device is not compatible with the more than 400 games already available for PlayStation VR. With that, the user who already has games for the old peripheral may have to buy a second version of the game to use it on the new equipment – ​​some developers, however, claim that they will release updates of their games for the PlayStation VR2 in a way free or at a reduced cost.

Sony says it will have more than 30 titles available for the new peripheral at launch, including an expanded version of “Star Wars: Tales from the Edge of the Galaxy”, “Jurassic World Aftermath Collection” and the exclusive “Horizon Call of the Mountain”. , title developed to demonstrate all the capacity of the equipment.

Datasheet

PlayStation VR2

Manufacturer: sony

Display: Two screens (one for each eye) OLED HDR with 2000 x 2040 resolution, with 90Hz/120Hz refresh rate

Field of vision: Approximately 110°

Cameras: Four integrated, for headset and controller tracking, and two infrared, for eye movement detection

Audio input: built-in microphone

audio output: Stereo headphone jack

Connection with the console: 4.5 m cable with USB Type-C output

Weight: About 560 g (excluding cables)

Dimensions (LxHxL): 21.2 x 15.8 x 27.8 cm

Suggested price: BRL 4,499.90