PSVR 2 – Stuck in neutral?

PSVR 2 – Stuck in neutral?

Is PSVR 2 stuck in neutral just six months after launch? During those six months, gamers greeted the VR headset with mixed reactions. Long-suffering and long-awaited, PSVR 1 fans have received it with open arms. Casual gamers treat it with the same indifference or complete disdain as any other VR headset.

VR is expensive, which skews expectations and reality about the cost of PSVR 2 headsets. An accessory that costs more than the base console? The PSVR 2 price seems too high because Meta sold Quest 2 for less than PSVR 2. This is because Meta sold Quest 2 below cost. Also, PSVR 2 requires a PS5 to work. Oh yes, and it’s also wired.

Cost factor aside, the strength of PSVR 2 technology shined immediately. The stunning OLED display with deep blacks and vibrant colors is unmatched by any other similarly priced VR headset. Foveated rendering allows graphics to be on par with AAA flat games. The tactile feel of not only the controller but also the tactile of the headset adds a new level to the VR gaming experience.

The highlight in the PSVR 2 cap is the plug-and-play aspect of the experience. No need to mess around with display settings, drivers, software utilities or VR drivers that are not required for PCVR gaming. Technologically, PSVR 2 delivers a powerful VR experience on par with a high-end gaming PC. It has a few flaws like a small sweet spot and a mura – a gauze-like filter that is most noticeable in dark scenes.

Huge game library

In terms of games, the platform launches with a stronger lineup of games than the parent platform or Xbox. Gran Turismo 7, Horizon Zero Dawn – Call of the Mountain and Resident Evil 8 gave AAA First Party the virtual experience of flat gameplay. The rest of the lineup comes from independent and third-party developers. Many games have previously been released on other platforms, such as Quest 2, but PSVR 2 has released the best versions.

So the initial excitement and rush of the launch has come and gone. More games were released in the following months, including some notable ones like Beat Saber, but the buzz about PSVR 2 stopped. Worse yet, the negative talk has already begun. Is PSVR 2 dead?, has become the subject of discussion, social media, and news articles again and again.

Sony was of no help. Overall, the company lacks public engagement with this generation of consoles. Not only PSVR 2 gamers but also core console gamers were disappointed. Aside from Spider-Man 2, Sony has yet to let the public know what their roadmap for the next few years will look like.

This lack of communication hurts the PSVR 2 as VR Gaming is getting into a rut. It’s been like that since the standalone VR headset. While standalone VR headsets offer a wireless experience, they can’t currently deliver AAA-level games. Their popularity halted any AAA PCVR game development as their creation was no longer financially viable.

The necessity of AAA VR game

The announcement of PSVR 2 has VR gamers hoping that AAA Gaming will be revived. Hope is bolstered by Gran Turismo 7 and Resident Evil 8 will be available to play in VR at launch. It’s no secret that software drives sales and mainstream gamers prefer to buy and play AAA titles. Something the PSVR 2 seems designed to deliver.

The occasional announcement of a big AAA title coming to PSVR 2 like Resident Evil 4 Remake isn’t enough to entice new players. Many gamers don’t like horror games even on flat screens, let alone virtual reality. No, what PSVR 2 needed to drive sales was a steady stream of AAA-level games.

Imagine Sony tackling their AAA game portfolio behind and adding VR Mode to them. Games like Uncharted, The Last of Us, Killzone, and Resistance, to name a few, would be great in VR. And they don’t need to be reworked in first-person mode, playing in third-person, over-the-shoulder also works well in VR.

To date, the PSVR 2 library is already huge and has some epic games. But they are still unknown to the general gamers. And this is the crux of today’s PSVR 2. Without the AAA bang, the peripheral is still an overpriced product. It won’t take VR Gaming out of the canyon it currently exists in.

Matching game = The next level of VR games

Until and if Sony implements hybrid gameplay, PSVR 2 will be a suitable accessory. The potential of this unit is undeniable – see how the recent upgrade of No Man’s Sky finally takes advantage of the flawless rendering! The results are amazing and stunning. This is the kind of top-level VR gaming experience PSVR 2 gamers have dreamed of and expected.

Although Sony has never stated that it will support hybrid gaming – flat mode and VR – for first-party AAA games. However, hope still rises in the hearts of PSVR 2 gamers. Why develop a VR headset capable of doing that but not using it? And why create a tactile VR headset and not use it for a game of Spider-Man?

Spidey Sense, anyone?

Imagine how much buzz Sony would make if they announced the launch of Spider-Man 2 with VR Mode included!

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