Sony Confirms PlayStation VR 2 2023 Launch

Eagle-eyed followers of PlayStation’s Instragram page may have been excited by a recent update in their feed. On August 22nd, Sony shared a post stating that its much anticipated PlayStation VR 2 headset would launch in early 2023. 

Information on the teaser post was scarce consisiting soley of an image of the headset and a caption that read “coming early 2023 #PSVR2”. 

But before we get excited about this piece of news, what can we expect from Sony’s newest generation of VR headsets?

Here’s what we already know about the PSVR 2.

When Can We Expect to See PlayStation VR 2?

Although we don’t know an exact date for the PSVR 2 launch quite yet, we can presume that they’re aiming for a Q1 launch. This flies against their usual launch schedule tactic, as the company has previously only ever released new hardware during Q3 or Q4 ahead of the festive season. This includes every console released since the PS1 and the original PSVR headset which was released six years ago.

So, why the change in tactic? One possible theory is that Sony expects issues around inflation and the international supply chain to affect the consumer electronics market this Christmas, meaning the company wound have to endure an uphill battle against rival products offering similar products at more competitive prices. 

Another possibility is that the global tech giant did want to aim to release the PSVR 2 at the end of 2022, but has faced delays in production due caused by a shortage of parts.

While we won’t be able to try the new VR headset before Christmas, we can still wait with eagre anticipation for a release early next year.

What Features Can We Expect?

In the years since Sony released the PlayStation VR, things have come on in leaps and bounds and the company has already shared exciting information about the new headsets. So far, we know that we can expect several features that aren’t available in any other consumer VR headset. 

These include, HDR, eye-tracking, advanced trigger haptics, and head-haptics. 

The resolution is considerably higher than the current headset at 2,000 x 2,040 (4.1MP) OLED, HDR. This means that you can expect the image quality to be around four times sharper than the previous PSVR, and the HDR display will make everything noticeably brighter.

The new headset uses fresnel lenses offering a 110° field of view. Unlike the Sony’s previous VR headset, you’ll be able to make IPD adjustment. 

There are four external IR cameras and two internal. The onboard cameras will be used for “inside out” tracking, which removes the need for the additional peripherals required to track “outside in”. 

The headset will work with the PS5; however, it’s not expected to be compatible with previous consoles. Controller wise, we can expect rechargable PSVR 2 Sense controllers along with the innovative eye-tracking feature. Connectors will be USB-C without the bulky breakout box.

Is It Time to Get Excited?

We’re potentially six months away from seeing the PSVR 2 hit the shelves. But should we be getting excited? Sony’s previous offering did lag behind its competitors; however, if the specs of the PSVR 2 live up to expectations, this could be a game-changer.