Is the PSVR 2 Worth Its New, Lower Price?
This March, the price of the Sony PlayStation VR 2 headset will be permanently reduced to $400 from $550. This will include a headset, controllers and a pair of wired headphones – but is it worth worrying about? Well, for Sony, maybe. The price cut comes a year after Bloomberg reported that Sony had stopped producing new PSVR 2s and was focusing on getting rid of excess inventory. This points to lower-than-expected peripheral sales, and it’s easy to see why.
Sony VR supporters were surprised to hear, for example, when the headset launched, that it wouldn’t work with the existing library of games built for the PSVR 1. That’s because the PSVR 2 uses improved tracking technology and controllers compared to Sony’s first foray into virtual reality, but the difference nonetheless meant gamers had to buy back their entire libraries or simply abandon games that weren’t ported to the new headset at all. This means that PSVR 2 gamers have a slightly smaller selection of games than on other systems, and it’s unlikely that their games will continue to work as hardware upgrades. Even Sony’s mascot Astro Bot has yet to appear on the new system, and Astro Bot Rescue Mission is still stuck on PSVR 1.
However, this does not mean that the headset is completely undeserving of an upgrade. It has a higher resolution than the PSVR 1, with a wider field of view, more precise controllers and eye tracking. Having tried it myself, I was very pleased with the experience, but didn’t see much point in using it with the PS5.
Fortunately, in terms of release timing, Sony made the PSVR 2 available for PC with the release of a $60 adapter . This practically solves the library problem if you have a VR-compatible computer, but it also opens the headset up to more competition. Namely, while the PSVR 2 is well priced compared to luxury PCVR headsets like the Valve Index (which can run upwards of $930), it still has to compete with headsets like the Meta Quest 3 and 3S, which also work with PCs.
Compared to other devices, whether this price cut is a good deal depends on your priorities. It’s still more expensive than the Quest 3S ($300), but it has higher resolution displays and a built-in halo strap that I find more comfortable than the standard Quest strap. On the downside, it doesn’t have a processor for standalone gaming, and it loses out to Meta-exclusive games like Batman: Arkham Shadow.
The PSVR 2 is cheaper than the regular Quest 3 ($500), but you get the same disadvantages plus slightly lower resolution screens. However, the PSVR 2’s screens are OLED and, again, it’s quite comfortable right out of the box (I replaced the Quest 3’s default strap with an aftermarket halo strap that cost me $50).
Personally, I’d prefer to see another $50 chipped away before I start recommending it, but it might work in that niche case where you don’t care about standalone gaming and just want a comfortable PCVR headset that can also occasionally come into the living room to play the odd Sony exclusive like Horizon Call of the Mountain . Bloomberg also reported that Apple may soon adapt the PSVR 2 controllers for use with the Apple Vision Pro, so purchasing a set now could help you get ahead of the game if you plan to upgrade later.
Note that according to Sony’s blog, the exact date the price drop will begin may vary by region, so be sure to check with your local retailer before purchasing.