The PlayStation VR provides a top-notch immersive experience with a comfortable headset and a wide field of view that will allow you to enjoy a new dimension of virtual reality.
Let’s find out more about this VR headset.
How Good is PlayStation VR?
With its impressive visuals and smooth performance, the PlayStation VR offers some truly stunning experiences. It is one of the best PlayStation VR.
PlayStation VR Review
It’s compatible with both the PS4 and PS5, but the PSVR remains the premier VR system for consoles. With its impressive library of first-party games and great third-party content, it’s hard not to recommend it.
Price
Originally launched at $399 in 2016, the PlayStation VR is now available in bundles that include the headset, DualShock 4 controller, camera, and games ranging from $249 to $499.
The PSVR is a fantastic VR headset for PlayStation 4 and 5 gamers who are already invested in Sony’s game console ecosystem. But if you’re looking at buying one now, you might want to wait until we know what the PSVR 2 has to say.
What We Liked
Headsets and Controllers
The PS4 was clearly the visual inspiration for the PSVR’s look. It has a sleek rounded shape that matches the console’s black-and-white color scheme.
Visual Aesthetic
Once the LED light turns on, the headset really looks beautiful.
Once the PSVR is turned on, the headset lights up between the controller LEDs, making for an interesting light show when people play at night.
Comfortable
Compared to other VR headsets from HTC, Sony, and HP, PlayStation VR is one of the comfiest for a few reasons.
Weight
It weighs.2 pounds less than the Meta Quest 2 but feels just as light when operating.
It has a good balance of weight so that it’s easy to move your head freely.
Strap
Unlike most VR headsets, the PlayStation VR features a circular ring that rests on top of the user’s head.
This allows users to adjust the fit of the headset by pressing and pulling the headset up or down using buttons located at the front of the headband.
Cushions
The cushions on the forehead and behind the neck are comfortable. However, after using them for several years, they’ve become somewhat worn out.
Headset Jack
On the back of the case is a 3.5 mm headphone jack with cutouts for holding the included earbuds. It’s a nice feature that keeps the look uniform and avoids having your headphones dangle or get in the way when playing games.
Audio
Audio enthusiasts who want to hear better sound can use any headphone, earbud, or gaming headset they prefer.
Move Controllers
The wand-like controller feels comfortable to hold, and its button placement is easy to understand.
Tracking
There are two lights on the PS VR headgear itself, one for each eye. One light is used for tracking, and the other is used for communication between the PS Camera and the PS4 system.
Using the Move controllers feels great, and using the buttons never felt tiring, even when playing for hours at a time.
Aim Controller
The best input device for the PSVR is its Aim controller when it comes time to play first-person shooter games.
Respectable Library of VR Games
Sony has earned a serious reputation for producing some of the best AAA first-party blockbusters available on console systems, including staples like God Of War, The Last of US, and Ratchet & Clank.
Sony’s strategy for VR isn’t quite at the level of their more traditional games, but they’ve certainly set a wonderful foundation for the industry.
First-Party Games
First-party games available for download include
- Astro Bot Rescue Mission
- Blood & Truth
- Until Dawn: Rush of Blood
- Firewall: Zero Hour
- Farpoint
- Marvel’s Iron Man
provides some of the best VR (virtual reality) experiences available on any platform.
PSVR
With its powerful graphics card, the PSVR offers some pretty impressive visuals. Sometimes these look just as good as their PC counterparts.
They’re not just beautiful; they also run smoothly because of the PSVR’s support of up to a 120Hz display refresh.
Multiplatform Games
The PSVR also has plenty of multiplatform games, including
- Superhot VR
- Werewolves Within
- Arizona Sunshine
- The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners
Fitness
If you want to improve your fitness, you’ll enjoy games like BoxVR and Beat Saber.
There’s a lot of stuff here for gamers, but most of the VR titles available tend to be geared toward hardcore gamers rather than casual ones.
Traditional PS4 Games
There are also several traditional PlayStation 4 games that have special VR mode packs included.
- Star Wars: Squadrons
- Hitman 3
- Gran Turismo Sport
- Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
Can be played almost exclusively in VR. Resident Evil VII: Biohazard in VR feels even scarier than playing it in front of a TV.
Gran Turismo Sport
With Gran Turismo Sport, playing with both a VR headset and steering wheels is arguably the best immersive racing game experience available on any VR system.
Most importantly, players can simply use their PlayStation controllers for input.
Cinematic Mode
One particularly cool thing about the PSVR is its Cinematic Mode. If you live with someone else who likes to watch TV in the living space, then you can use the PSVR as a second screen for watching movies or television shows.
It’s all very similar to the virtual desktop apps used by Meta Quest 2 or HTC VIVE.
Screen Sizes
The effect is similar in a private cinema where screens can be adjusted from 117 inches to a massive 226 inches.
Watching Movies
Watching movies and TV on the PSVR feels like you’re watching them in a private cinema or movie theatre.
If you add a good set of headphones, playing games or watching videos through PSVR’s cinematic experience feels incredibly advanced technologically.
What We Didn’t Like
Complicated Setup
It’s definitely easier to set up the PSVR on the hardware and software sides of things than on other VR headsets.
It’s not a “pick up and play” device. You’re going to need a free USB port on your PlayStation 4 or 5, plus an additional wall socket.
Fortunately, the instruction manual does a good job of helping you figure out how to connect everything despite how complicated it might seem at first glance.
Processor Box
To connect the PSVR, you need to connect the PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5 HDMI cable from the console to the processor unit included.
The processor box has an HDMI passthrough port for connecting to a TV or computer screen.
Besides plugging the PlayStation VR headset into the PlayStation 4 via micro USB, it requires its own wall socket to operate and plugs into the console’s USB ports.
Limited Capabilities
One of the biggest issues with this system is that everything needs to be connected and running even when no one wants to use their PSVRs.
Because of the PS VR camera’s limitations, calibrating the PS VR and Move controllers is a hassle as well.
Tracking
You’re also likely to need a large amount of space for the tracking system to function properly when using either headsets or controllers.
Hardware Has Some Limitations
This usually refers to the fact that the PlayStation VR works best in a darker environment than most other VR headsets. Tracking isn’t quite as accurate as other headsets due to this.
Conclusion
With the PSVR2 creeping around the corner, Sony’s PlayStation VR remains an excellent entry point into VR for PlayStation 4 and 5 players.
The first-party titles are the real stars of the console generation, with some truly incredible titles like Blood & True and Marvel’s Iron Man
It has a great selection of third-party games too.
If you have any further questions, please leave them here.