Sony first announced it is working on a new virtual reality headset in early 2021, a device made for the PlayStation 5. Then earlier this year, the company revealed a little more about the specifications of the headset like the utilization of inside out tracking and an eye tracking feature.
Today, Sony finally unveiled the design of the PlayStation VR2 (PS VR2) headset and the final designs of the accompanying PlayStation VR2 Sense controllers. According to Sony senior vice president Hideaki Nishino, the look of the devices was made to be similar to the rest of the PlayStation 5 family of products. The tiny PlayStation symbols present on the PlayStation and DualSense are present on the PS VR2"s front and back bands.
Owing to the white color of the outer plates on both the headset and controllers, the PS VR2 does look similar to the Quest 2. However, Sony"s upcoming headset is wired unlike Meta"s all-in-one design.
Comfort is also a major factor, with testing being done to ensure the headset will fit a variety of head sizes well. Returning features from the original PS VR headset include optimal weight balance, an adjustable headband, adjustable scope for the lenses, and the stereo headphone jack on the same location.
As for new features, Sony has implemented a lens adjustment dial to change the distance between the lenses (IPD), a slight weight reduction over the original, built-in vibration feedback on the headset itself, a single cord set up, and an integrated vent to help airflow within the device to avoid fogging up the lens.
The PS VR2 still does not have a release date attached to it, but Sony has said development kits are already in the hands of developers. Pricing is another unknown factor. The first-generation PS VR came out with a $399 price tag, though with all the new bells and whistles, the latest hardware may be priced higher.