Our biggest remaining PlayStation VR2 questions have been answered

Ahead of Sony’s arrival at Tokyo Game Show 2022 this weekend, the company’s PlayStation division has shared several tidbits with fans over the past 24 hours. Perhaps the biggest news comes from Impression to touch From the PlayStation VR2 add-on for the PS5 console.

The new virtual reality system, which is slated for a retail launch in “early 2023,” is now being touted from Sony’s careful PR arm, and has the impression of both providing early testers with the hardware and some more obvious startup software.

PSVR2: What we already know

thank you Sony ad earlier this yearWe know that the PSVR2’s OLED display has a pixel resolution of 4000 x 2040, which can run VR software in either 90Hz or 120Hz mode. That performance is boosted by a new rendering system that aims to emphasize full pixel accuracy where your eyes focus and blur the parts where your eyes don’t – and surprisingly, is paired with new internal eye tracking sensors.

We also know that the PSVR 2 will ship with two brand-new gamepads, one for each hand, following the Meta Quest prototype for VR controllers (complete with buttons, triggers and joysticks) but Sony’s latest features the DualSense gamepads with technological upgrades added – More subtle buzzing and pressure “push” stimulation.

Like Meta Quest and many Windows mixed reality headsets, the new “inside-out” tracking system uses the built-in camera to scan players’ surroundings in the real world and track them in VR mode, and requires no external camera or tracking box. But on the contrary MetaQuest 2 Wireless VirtualPSVR2 requires a wired connection for power and data transfer to the PlayStation 5 console

PSVR2: What we learned this week

Speaking of wired connections, we’ve now seen it in action. The new single cable connection via the PS5’s single USB Type-C slot is a revelation compared to the external ‘processor unit’ and ubiquitous cables required for Sony’s first virtual reality system. This 4.5m cable is said to be engineered to weigh as little as possible, but a cable that can wrap around your leg may still be a deal breaker for some.

Sony has also confirmed that the PSVR will not have built-in audio. Just like later models, PSVR2 owners will need to connect headphones via the 3.5mm jack. The original PSVR came with budget earbuds, which may happen again with the PSVR2 – and to Sony’s credit, the new headset has sleek built-in “earbuds” that you can squeeze over your existing earbuds for neat storage. However, this is a problem compared to the onboard audio input LED display and all meta quest models. This week’s demo videos show that Sony’s larger PS-brand headphones are restricting users in VR, reducing airflow and making people sweat, so interested users should consider high-quality, lightweight wired headphones ahead of the PSVR2 launch in 2023. (My recommendation is 3.5mm The Koss KSC32-i is affordable and powerful.)

Happily, Sony’s lens mechanism includes a precise interpupillary distance (IPD) slider, which can be accessed via an easy-to-use dial when the system is face-mounted. (This is a big difference from Quest 2, that is Avoid such a slider as a cost-saving measure.) New users can always access a manual calibration menu to ensure that the IPD setting is aligned with their unique face. It also prompts users to see a series of moving dots to calibrate the PSVR2’s eye-tracking sensors. So far, the PSVR2’s “floating” fit, with a foam back strap and slim ports for a snug fit, looks just like we liked the original PSVR. The fit around the eyes is said to be roomy enough for glasses wearers, though we’re still waiting to hear about the weight and distribution of the new system compared to the original – beyond hints that the current headset is too light, at least.

The new PSVR2 room tracking system, based on four built-in cameras, seems to automatically record objects in your play area. When users point the system camera at a new room, the black-and-white walk-through view overlays objects (furniture, entertainment centers) with a three-dimensional pattern of 3D triangles as the PSVR2 camera scans over them, instead of users pointing their hand and “color “game room”. If the PSVR2 gets it wrong, users can still use the system controller to set their VR “limits” before the game starts. The headset has a button on the bottom that can be used to activate the PSVR2’s cross camera mode at any time. , allowing users to see what’s going on around them without removing the headset

We’ve previously learned that PSVR2 has a number of built-in Thunder engines – a first in consumer-level virtual reality – and now we know how they actually work. The intensity of the rumble can vary between slight sensations, such as b. When flies buzz around your face during a sequence Resident Evil: Dorf VR, Horizon VR: Call of the Mountain. Reports so far suggest that this sentiment is overwhelming rather than overwhelming

Sony has yet to confirm the peak brightness of its OLED displays and is only citing an “HDR” rating, but Sony clearly takes screen quality and light bleeding seriously. OLED panels are generally better at handling an “infinite” contrast ratio, placing the deepest blacks and bright lights side by side, and the PSVR2 appears to have a superior light-blocking arrangement of foam and nose liner.