Sony has showcased its next-generation PlayStation VR2, outlining the specs and features like a 4K OLED display, 110 degree FoV and much more. We’ve yet to see full-fledged demos of the same but it seems that attendees of the Game Developers Conference 2022 had a chance to go hands-on with the hardware.
Chet Faliszek, former writer at Valve and Bossa Studios, talked about his experience with the head-mounted display on Twitter. “Had one of those VR moments today playing in the new PSVR2 HMD…You know where the world just feels different when you return? Sooooo good…”
Some may find these statements to be a bit over-the-top, if not hyperbolic. A developer at Truant Pixel, which is working on RUNNER for PlayStation VR2, gave their thoughts on ResetEra. First noting that Faliszek’s tweet was “not hyperbolic,” they explained that, “Sony has been extremely deliberate with a lot of their choices about this thing. They’ve been reading the room for a long time now. Performance and immersion goes beyond resolution. The numbers certainly matter, but the whole is definitely greater than the sum.
“Stop sweating about the wire. It’ll disappear once you start playing. Unless you’re spinning in circles or something. Haptics make a bigger impact than you realize. Think about the first time you experienced DualSense, now consider it in the context of VR.” Concerning the lack of gameplay footage, they responded, “People asking for videos, etc – it should be clear by now that that is never representative of the experience for VR, which often is unfairly scrutinized by gamers who are already very skeptical and jaded. I say this from experience.
“VR already has enough to ‘prove’ for people, and showing unfinished builds with incomplete assets or performance hitches would not be in anyone’s best interest.” While Sony hasn’t indicated when the PlayStation VR2 could launch, rumors indicate a holiday 2022 release window. As such, we could see even more in-person previews and showcases as the year progresses.
Aside from RUNNER, the only other PlayStation VR2 title that’s been confirmed is Horizon Call of the Mountain. It’s being developed by Guerrilla Games and Firesprite Studios as a “unique new Horizon experience.” Stay tuned for more details on the same in the coming months.