In a new developer update, the VRChat team confirmed that it is developing mobile versions of its social VR experience, with an Android release coming first.
In the update, the VRChat team shared some footage of the game running on Android, but stressed that it was an in-development build and everything in the video is not finalized, but merely an indication that development is in progress.
The team says that it has been working on this mobile version “for a while” already and is already being used by some team members. The mobile version of VRChat for Android will only initially be available for members of VRChat Plus, the service’s optional paid subscription. The team plans to give members access to the mobile Android build within the next 3 or 4 months (subject to change), which will help them refine the UI and UX before a full public launch down the line.
The team says that any world or avatar that works on Quest will load “just fine” on this mobile build, as both systems run on Android. However, some more advanced world content with complex controls may need to implement changes to account for those using a touchscreen. That said, the team says that many worlds work great as is on the Android mobile version.
In terms of hardware requirements, VRChat says it requires a “mid-range device,” which it states is generally one including 6GB or more of RAM.
Regarding iOS devices, VRChat says they are working on a mobile version for iOS, but it is farther out than Android. “The challenge here is content, since iOS uses a completely unique and different graphics framework,” explained the team. “This means you would have to upload content built for iOS, which means three builds for one piece of content. Not ideal! So, we’re working on it. More on this Eventually.”
VRChat is not the only VR service that has released – or is working – on a mobile-equivalent. Walkabout Mini Golf plans to release Pocket Edition for iOS soon, while competing social VR service Rec Room released an Android mobile version in 2021.
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A free Gran Turismo 7 update adds five new cars and additional track layouts.
Following its high-profile PSVR 2 release last month, Polyphony Digital will add five new cars in the free Update 1.31 for Gran Turismo 7; Audi RS 5 Turbo DTM ‘19, Porsche 959 ‘87, Porsche Carrera GTS (904) ‘64, Mazda 3 X Burgundy Selection and the Toyota Alphard Executive Lounge ’18. Two new Nurburgring track layouts, Sprint and Endurance, are also available with additional race events. Here’s the official description:
Introducing two new layouts for Germany’s ‘Nurburgring’. The ‘Endurance’ layout combines the ‘Nordschleife’ and the ‘Grand Prix’ courses into a total 23,864m long track. This challenging technical course takes a shortcut through the Grand Prix section for a faster return to the Nordschleife. This layout has famously been used in races like the Nurburgring Endurance Series (NLS). The ‘Sprint’ layout takes a shortcut on turn 4 of the ‘Grand Prix’ circuit to form a 3,629m short course.
Further adjustments regarding tire models, aerodynamics, suspension physics and more are also included. There’s also mention of support for 120fps on PS5, but the text is unclear whether this extends beyond the standard PS5 mode and also applies when playing PSVR 2. Currently, GT7 runs at 60fps on PSVR 2 with 120Hz reprojection, so a boost up to a native 120fps would be quite the upgrade.
However, we tried the game out today with the new patch installed and it still appears to be running at 60fps reprojected at 120Hz, not native 120fps. Nonetheless, we reached out to Sony for official clarification, but have not received a response. We’ll update this article if we receive more info.
Gran Turismo 7 is available now exclusively on PSVR 2 and Update 1.31 is available now.
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PlayStation VR2 launch sales have been disappointing, analyst firm IDC claims.
IDC (International Data Corporation) is an analyst firm that sells reports detailing its estimates of market size, market share, and unit sales of popular product categories. Analysts use sources in the supply chain, though their accuracy can vary wildly, especially for lower volume products.
IDC told Bloomberg News that Sony is “likely” to have sold only around 270,000 PSVR 2 units between launch and the end of March. In October, Bloomberg reported Sony was producing 2 million units for launch. In January, the outlet reported Sony was disappointed with pre-orders and projections were cut “dramatically”. When asked about this, Sony told us “we have not cut PlayStation VR2 production numbers”.
The original PlayStation VR took just under 8 months to sell 1 million units, so it’s too early to tell whether PSVR 2 is doing better or worse. As more games were released for the platform and holiday seasons saw attractive discounts on hardware bundles, PSVR went on to sell over 5 million units, despite its clunky setup and shoehorned Move controllers.
Sony May Be Just Getting Started
PlayStation VR2 isn’t yet sold by retailers such as Amazon or Best Buy (other than in Canada) and thus isn’t available in stores either.
It’s also one of the only major PlayStation products to launch early in the year. Almost every console releases close to the holiday season. While it already has some wide-appeal titles like Horizon Call Of The Mountain and Resident Evil Village, the system doesn’t support some of the most popular titles of the original such as Skyrim VR and Star Wars Squadrons.
The timing might set up Sony to treat PSVR 2’s introduction as a soft launch, with bigger and better new games – and perhaps ports of old games – planned to release over the next few years.
Will There Be A Price Cut?
Of course, simply expanding availability and releasing more games won’t make a difference if people can’t actually afford it. At $550, PlayStation VR2 is the most expensive first-party console accessories in history and one of the only priced higher than the console itself.
While there are undoubtedly some expensive components in PSVR 2, such as the HDR OLED displays, it’s unlikely to cost anywhere near $550 to make. Given that cinema mode (sort of) works on PC there is some degree of onboard compute, but the lack of a full-fledged mobile processor with battery, storage, and RAM and the use of fresnel lenses suggests Sony may be making a decent profit on the hardware. And if that’s the case, there’s plenty of room for a price cut to boost demand.
Price cuts in response to weak sales aren’t exactly unheard of in the VR market. The original Oculus Rift and Touch dropped from $800 to as low as $350 over its lifetime, and Meta recently cut Quest Pro from $1500 to $1000 just 4 months after launch. Given the current inflationary period and associated cost of living crisis, will Sony be next?
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Digital Lode released an Espire 2 update today, introducing 13 new “highly-replayable short missions” missions called Espire Ops on Quest 2.
First released last November, Espire 2‘s latest patch is available now. Titled Update 1.4, this adds quality-of-life improvements like new public matchmaking parameters, reworked aim assist, and a main menu UI refresh. More prominently, Espire Ops introduces these new missions across three separate Ops modes. These occur between Espire 1 and Espire 2 and, according to the developer, “provide players with more narrative through their descriptions.” In total, this new short missions should up to about 90 minutes of extra content.
You can read the full Espire Ops description below:
Sneaking Ops: Designed for players who love stealth, these four increasingly difficult missions require the player to get to the objective without raising any alarms.
Take Down Ops: The ultimate panther challenge. In these five ops, the player is required to pacify all guards in the area silently.
Elimination Ops: For players who enjoy action, these four ops allow players to go loud and will need to clear the area no matter the cost.
Ops were previously confirmed in the Espire 2 2023 roadmap last December and so far, Digital Lode’s hitting these release targets. After initially adding co-op voice chat, bHaptics support and public matchmaking, Q2 2023 promises further co-op missions and a hardcore difficulty, while Frame skins and weapons variants will arrive at an unknown date later this year.
Espire 2is available now onMeta Quest 2 and Meta Quest Profor $29.99. While though no specific platforms were confirmed,Digital Lode previously announced its coming to new VR platforms later this year, and the team states they will have “more to announce in 2023.”
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Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) is a yearly developer-focused Apple event where upcoming versions of its operating systems and SDKs are revealed, and sometimes new Mac hardware too.
In recent years WWDC has been fully remote due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but this year Apple will host a “special in-person experience at Apple Park on June 5″ too.
Some have noted that Apple’s teaser image for the event resembles a VR headset lens.
Apple’s headset has reportedly been in development for more than 5 years now. Last year The Information published an investigative reportdetailing the product’s troubled development and changing form factor. The report outlined an evolution from a thin client wirelessly paired with a custom console to a fully standalone device covered with sensors and an external display showing the wearer’s eyes.
In August an Apple-linked company filed to trademark ‘Reality One’, ‘Reality Pro’, and ‘Reality Processor’, suggesting the headset and its processor will be branded Apple Reality. Gurman previously reported Apple is working on a VR client for FaceTime with face tracking for driving avatars, a VR version of Maps, spatial versions of Notes and Calendar, the ability to view a Mac’s display in-headset, and AR/VR tools for developers.
The Information and Gurman have previously reported the product will be priced around $3000. Kuo claimed it will weigh noticeably less than current VR headsets and feature high resolution OLED microdisplays, while The Information has claimed it will be powered by the M2 chip seen in the latest MacBooks and feature hand tracking, eye tracking, face tracking, leg tracking and iris scanning for logins and payments.
Quest Pro
Rumored Apple Reality
Field of View
106°
120°
Lens Separation
Guided Manual
Automatic
Screen Type
QD-LCD w/ Mini-LED
Micro OLED
Resolution Per Eye
<2K
~4K
Chipset
Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 1 (7nm)
Apple M2 (5nm)
Passthrough
Low Resolution
High Resolution
Room Meshing
𐄂
✓
Eye Tracking
✓
✓
Face Tracking
✓
✓
Hand Tracking
✓
✓
Leg Tracking
𐄂
✓
Battery Location
Back Padding
Waist Tethered
Battery Life
1-3 Hours
2 Hours
External Display
𐄂
✓
2D Native Apps
Android (sideloaded)
iOS (via store)
Price
$1000
~$3000
So if the reports are to be believed, Apple’s product will have higher resolution, a more powerful processor, more features, and a slimmer design thanMeta’s Quest Pro– though at perhaps three times the price.
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It’s exceedingly rare to see a VR software startup transition to making hardware, let alone decent hardware. But that’s exactly what Bigscreen—creators of the long-running social VR theater app of the same name—has done with its upcoming Beyond headset.
Bigscreen has clearly targeted PC VR enthusiasts who are willing to pay for the best hardware they can get their hands on. And with major players like Meta and HTC focusing heavily on standalone headsets, Bigscreen Beyond could prove to be the best option they’ll find any time soon.
Photo by Road to VR
The company has set out to make a headset that’s not just better than what’s out there, but one that’s much smaller too. And while it remains to be seen if the headset will hit all the right notes, my initial hands-on shows plainly the company knows what it’s doing when it comes to building a VR headset.
IPD (fixed, customized per customer)
eye-relief (fixed, customized per facepad)
IPD Adjustment Range
58–72mm (fixed, single IPD value per device)
Connectors
DisplayPort 1.4, USB 3.0 (2x)
Accessory Ports
USB-C (1x)
Cable Length
5m
Tracking
SteamVR Tracking 1.0 or 2.0 (external beacons)
On-board Cameras
None
Input
SteamVR Tracking controllers
On-board Audio
None
Optional Audio
Audio Strap accessory, USB-C audio output
Microphone
Yes (2x)
Pass-through view
No
Weight
170–185g
MSRP
$1,000
MSRP (with tracking & controllers)
$1,580
Custom-made
Bigscreen is building something unique, quite literally—every Beyond headset comes with a custom-made facepad. And this isn’t a ‘choose one of three options’ situation, Bigscreen has a sleek app that walks buyers through the process of capturing a 3D scan of their face so the company can create a completely unique facepad that conforms to each specific customer.
And it really makes a difference. The first thing that Bigscreen CEO Darshan Shankar showed me during a demo of the Beyond headset was the difference between my personal facepad (which the company created for me prior to our meetup) and someone else’s facepad. The difference was instantly obvious; where mine fit against my face practically like two connected puzzle-pieces, the other facepad awkwardly disagreed with my face in various places. While I’ve recognized for a long time that different facial topology from person-to-person is a real consideration for VR headsets, this made me appreciate even more how significant the differences can be.
The facepad may look rough, but it’s actually made of a soft rubber material | Photo by Road to VR
Shankar says the custom-fit facepad is an essential part of making such a small headset. It ensures not only that the headset is as comfortable as it can be, but also the user’s eyes are exactly where they’re supposed to be with regard to the lenses. For a headset like Beyond, which uses high magnification pancake optics with a small sweet spot, this is especially important. And, as Shankar convincingly demonstrated by shining a flashlight all around the headset while I was wearing it, the custom-fit facepad means absolutely no external light can be seen from inside.
And the custom facepad isn’t the only way each headset is dialed in for each specific customer; instead of wasting weight and space with the mechanics for an IPD adjustment, the headset ships with one of 15 fixed IPD distances, ranging from 58–72mm. The company selects the IPD based on the same face scan that allows them to make the custom facepad. And given the size of the Beyond headset, there’s no way that glasses will fit inside; luckily the company will also sell magnetically attached prescription inserts for those who need them, up to −10 diopter.
Diving In
With my custom facepad easily snapped onto the headset with magnets, it was time to dive into VR.
The baseline version of the $1,000 Bigscreen Beyond headset has a simple soft strap, which I threw over the back of my head and tightened to taste. I felt I had to wear the strap very high on the back of my head for a good hold; Shankar says an optional top-strap will be available, which ought to allow me to wear the rear strap in a lower position.
Photo by Road to VR
As I put on the headset I found myself sitting in a dark Bigscreen theater environment, and the very first thing I noticed was the stellar darks and rich colors that are thanks to the headset’s OLED displays. The second thing I noticed was there was no sound! That’s because the baseline version of the headset doesn’t have on-board audio, so I still had to put on a pair of headphones after the headset was donned.
While the baseline headset lacks on-board audio, Bigscreen is offering a $100 ‘Audio Strap‘, which is a rigid headstrap with built-in speakers. As someone who really values rigid straps and on-board audio, I’m glad to see this as an option—for me it would be the obvious choice. Unfortunately the company wasn’t ready to demo the Audio Strap.
Shankar toured me around a handful of VR environments that showed off the headset’s 2,560 × 2,560 (6.5MP) per-eye displays, which offered a level of clarity similar to that of Varjo’s $2,000 Aero headset, but with a smaller notably field-of-view (Bigscreen claims 90°H × 93°V).
On many current-gen headsets like Quest 2 you can’t quite see the individual lines of the screen-door effect, but it’s still clear that it’s there in aggregate. While the Beyond headset isn’t ‘retina resolution’ there’s essentially no evidence of any screen-door effect. Everything looks really sharp. This was best demonstrated when I ran around in Half-Life: Alyx and the game felt like it had instantly upgraded graphics compared to a headset like Valve’s Index.
There is, however, some persistence blurring and glare. Shankar openly demonstrated how the brightness of the display directly relates to the level of persistence. While there’s some noticeable persistence at the default brightness, when overdriving the display’s brightness the persistence becomes entirely unbearable. The reverse is true; turning the brightness down below the default cuts the persistence down noticeably. While it would be nice if the default brightness had less persistence, at least users will be able to trade brightness for lower persistence based on their specific preference.
Meta released a Haptics SDK for Unity, and Haptic Studio for authoring haptics.
These tools appear to be the result of Meta’s acquisition of the German startup Lofelt last year, as we speculated at the time of the acquisition. Lofelt offered a haptics SDK for Unity and its flagship product was a haptics authoring tool called Lofelt Studio.
Haptics Studio
Haptics Studio is a desktop app for Windows and macOS with a VR companion app for Quest headsets.
It lets developers create haptics clips and wirelessly test them on Quest 2 and Quest Pro controllers. Clips can be created from audio files or by editing one of the existing haptic samples.
Meta recommends testing on Quest Pro controllers when developing haptics, because they have a higher fidelity haptic actuator.
Finished haptics clips can be exported as .haptic files which can be used in the Haptics SDK for Unity.
Haptics SDK
The Haptics SDK for Unity allows developers to integrate the .haptic files created in Haptics Studios into their apps.
According to Meta, the actuator in Quest 2 controllers has lower vibration data sample rate than the actuator in the Pro controllers, and runs at a fixed frequency. At runtime, the Haptics SDK detects the haptic capabilities of the controller currently in use and “optimizes the haptic pattern.” Meta says this also ensures support for future Quest controllers.
Quest Pro controllers also have independent actuators under the index trigger and thumb rest, but the Haptics SDK documentation doesn’t mention anything about this.
The SDK includes 34 premade haptic files any Quest developer can use, including the feeling of water, bushes, rowing, grass, snow, touching virtual UI, punching, opening a box, opening a drawer, flicking switches, using a servo, and hitting or scrapping with a sword.
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Not For Broadcast is the propaganda broadcasting experience available now for Quest 2 and PC VR. This flatscreen-to-VR port translates nicely, delivering a wonderfully entertaining job sim filled with clever adult humor. Find out more in our Not For Broadcast VR review.
It’s the 1980s and you’ve been appointed the studio director for the National Nightly News. A political party named Advance has also been voted into power and their increasingly tyrannical behavior means that things in the country soon start to take an Orwellian turn. You have the power to sway public opinion about the party one way or the other – the choices you make inside and outside the broadcasting studio will have significant ramifications.
A game about broadcasting the National Nightly News might initially sound a bit pedestrian, but Not For Broadcast is nothing of the sort. There are two main elements to the gameplay. First is the interactive elements, all about keeping the audience tuned in by operating the right controls at the right times to deliver an entertaining broadcast.
Then there’s the 43 hours of video footage that delivers a top-notch story – replete with political satire, slapstick comedy and dark humor – that is so engaging it will make you forget you’ve got a job to do. Watching the news team exchange acid-tongued barbs off-air and being privy to the deliberately over-the-top drama in the newsroom is hilariously entertaining.
Not For Broadcast eases players into the game, keeping things interesting by having you learn on the job but also starting out fairly forgiving at the same time. Laid out in front of you is a control panel and two large screens mounted to the wall – one screen shows what the public is seeing on their television sets and the other shows the live feed that lags a few seconds behind the public broadcast.
There are also four additional smaller screens with each showing a different camera angle, which you can switch between with the push of a button. Sound overwhelming? That’s the point – a big part of the challenge in Not For Broadcast is prioritizing specific jobs whilst multiple things vie for your attention.
Choices Have Consequences
Life as a studio director is fraught with challenges; switching between feeds to capture the onscreen action, quickly censoring uninhibited guests who curse at the drop of a hat, and battling unexpected interference.
Do these things well and your audience will grow but mess it up and your employer will soon be on your case about the dwindling viewing numbers. A good performance will also bring a higher rating and more money which can be used to buy equipment to make your broadcasting days easier.
Another important aspect of the game is carefully choosing which ads to run and what images to broadcast. These are choices that influence public attitude and can alter the trajectory of the game. For example, choosing not to run Advance party ads and using images that show them in a less than favorable light will undermine their authoritative agenda and also draw their ire, which can have serious consequences for you both in the workplace and at home.
Sessions in the broadcasting studio are broken up by text-based story sequences that follow the life of you and your family. The text-driven storyline has a branching narrative with value-laden choices to be made that influence the direction of events in the text story and the broadcast room. For example, what’s more important to you – time with the family or time spent climbing the corporate ladder? Will you be generous with your limited cash or a frugal miser?
Not For Broadcast VR Review – Comfort & Audience
Not For Broadcast can be played either seated or standing. The lack of artificial motion makes it a good choice for anyone prone to VR sickness. There are also accessibility options that let you change some of the in-game colors to accommodate players with color blindness.
While Not For Broadcast is meant to be taken lightly, there are some dark themes, foul language, and sexual content that may be uncomfortable for some.
Minor Issues
There’s a certain megalomaniacal joy to having the power to shape a nation at your very fingertips. However, some minor issues with the VR controls detract from what is otherwise a fun interactive experience flipping switches and adjusting dials.
For example, your virtual hand automatically points with the index finger when nearing a button, which would have felt more natural to control manually myself with controller triggers or capacitive sensors. Similarly, the little joystick on the control panel, used to adjust wavelength frequency and reduce broadcast interference, feels a little off when moving the stick. It makes it more difficult to control than it should be.
Plenty Of Content
The game maintains a nice pace, chunking broadcasts into sections that last around 20 minutes each and mixing it up with the non-broadcast text storyline sequences. Just when you’ve started to get tired of doing one thing, the game will often throw in something new to keep it engaging.
Five different difficulty settings and a custom mode that allows players to adjust the difficulty of specific aspects of the game provides a lot of control over the level of challenge. The easiest setting is best for players who just want to enjoy the story, while the most difficult setting is a brutally unforgiving slog aimed at more seasoned players.
The game takes about 8 hours to complete one full playthrough, with potential for replayability given the choices you make can result in one of fourteen different endings. There’s also a challenge mode that lets you replay some sections for rewards and an archive where you can relax and view all of the footage without any broadcasting responsibilities.
Not For Broadcast VR Review – Final Verdict
Not For Broadcast successfully balances thought-provoking writing with a mix of clever political satire, light-hearted slapstick comedy and dark humor for a hilariously captivating story. Making morally difficult choices while dealing with the stress of managing a live broadcast gives players plenty to engage with beyond the entertaining narrative.
With the exception of some minor interactivity issues, operating a TV broadcasting station translates beautifully into VR, with Not For Broadcast offering up one of the most unique and entertaining VR games I’ve played this year.
UploadVR focuses on a label system for reviews, rather than a numeric score. Our reviews fall into one of four categories: Essential, Recommended, Avoid and reviews that we leave unlabeled. You can read more about ourreview guidelines here.
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Looking to find the best PlayStation VR2 games available on Sony’s new headset? Here’s out full list of the top 25 best PSVR 2 games for PS5.
At launch in February 2023, PSVR 2 came running through the door with a fairly hefty library of VR games and exclusive titles. It’s only getting bigger too, with more games launching every week and many more to come. Since launch, we’ve been trying out as many PSVR 2 experiences as possible to put together our list of the best options across the entire library.
Across the list, we’ve tried to represent a wide range of titles from different genres, showcasing the best picks in each and ranking all 25 games in ascending order. There’s some obvious picks and first-party exclusives you might expect to make an appearance, but there’s also a pleasant selection of hidden gems from indie developers as well. Some of the games are also available on other platforms such as Quest 2 or the original PSVR, but offer improved visuals and other upgrades on PSVR 2.
Without further ado, here are our picks for the best PSVR 2 games available right now.
Keep an eye out as we continue to try PSVR 2 releases and update the list with more entries over the next few weeks and months.
25. Rez Infinite
Originally a PSVR launch title, Rez Infinite is back once again . Featuring the original game’s full campaign mode and Area X level, it remains as gorgeous as ever on PSVR 2. That’s boosted further by eye tracking for tracking and aiming at enemies, alongside haptic feedback support from the headset and controllers.
24. Tetris Effect
Tetris Effect: Connected reimagines the classic arcade puzzle game into an immersive sensory experience, featuring a full campaign and several game modes, as well as online multiplayer. On PSVR 2, Tetris Effect features uses headset haptics, eye tracking and Sense controller haptics to increase the immersion and bring you closer to feeling the indescribable Tetris effect.
23. Puzzling Places
One of the best puzzle games in VR is now available on PSVR 2 with 120fps support, eye tracking support, haptic feedback support, and a 1000-piece puzzle. A 3D jigsaw game, Puzzling Places recreates worldwide iconic landmarks like Thailand’s Chiang Rai Blue Temple through realistic miniatures, letting you choose puzzles usually ranging from 25 pieces to 400. Thanks to regular free and premium updates, expect support to continue for a long time.
22. Zenith: The Last City
For MMOs fans, Zenith: The Last City is the clear frontrunner on PSVR 2. The game was a massive success when it launched in early 2022 and since then it’s received a multitude of content updates and overhauls to existing systems, now featuring a new player onboarding experience and brand new areas to explore. On PSVR 2, it features eye tracking mechanics for aiming and locking on during combat, alongside haptic feedback in the Sense controllers and headset.
21. Tentacular
One of the hidden gems on the Quest platform, Tentacular is now available on PSVR 2 and looks better than ever. This wonderful VR kaiju game features interesting physics-based puzzles and a whole lot of heart. Not only does it bring its VR-first design over to PSVR 2, but looks incredibly crisp on the new headset. Plus, the game cleverly uses eye tracking on PSVR 2 to allow quick dialogue navigation and menu selection, which is a nice quality-of-life update.
20. Song in the Smoke: Rekindled
We awarded Song in the Smoke the honor of Best PSVR Game in our Best of 2021 Awards. Now, Song in the Smoke: Rekindled brings one of VR’s best survival games to the next generation on PSVR 2. It features eye-tracked foveated rendering and upgraded visuals, alongside many new features driven by feedback from the original release.
19. No Man’s Sky
No Man’s Sky is notorious for its rocky launch in 2016. Since then, however, the game received VR support and a wealth of updates that have turned it into an expansive survival space simulator. Recent updates also overhauled many of the VR mechanics, adding new interaction methods and immersive menus.
On PSVR 2, No Man’s Sky brings the entire experience across to the next generation. While it does feature some upgraded visuals compared to the original PSVR release, don’t expect a shocking makeover – all things considered, the game still isn’t the most visually impressive, even on PSVR 2. However, if you want to explore an infinite, endless universe in VR, look no further – No Man’s Sky is the perfect fit.
The PSVR 2 version of this movie tie-in game significantly improves on the original Quest and PC VR release, featuring an extra story level, three new remix levels, additional Gun Range challenges, new weapons and more. Plus, the adaptive triggers in the Sense controllers and the headset haptics add a little extra in terms of immersion.
Yes, the basic gameplay is still the same as the Quest and PC VR release, which isn’t particularly ambitious or lengthy. However, the PSVR 2 version features a new cel-shaded art style with new character models and animations, which is a night and day difference to the original. If you’re looking for an enjoyable arcade shooter on PSVR 2, this is a good bet.
Originally available on Quest as a hand tracking-exclusive game, Unplugged on PSVR 2 is a slightly different premise. With no support for hand tracking on Sony’s headset, developers Anotherway offer the controller-only version on Unplugged on PSVR 2. While this isn’t quite as magical as the original concept, it’s nonetheless an engaging rhythm game featuring an absolutely stellar lineup of rock tracks to play along to.
Yes, without hand tracking it’s a little less air guitar and a little more Guitar Hero, but that’s isn’t wholly a bad thing – there’s still a fantastic game here for those looking to rock out on PSVR 2.
The Light Brigade is a VR roguelite that merges fantastic gunplay with an interesting world and beautiful environments. Developers Funktronic Labs launched the game on both PSVR 2 and Quest in late February, so while it’s not a PSVR 2-exclusive, it was one of the few new releases available at the headset’s launch.
While we haven’t got around to a review of The Light Brigade just yet, we’ve played enough to know that it’s deserving of a spot on the list. You’ll journey through a mist-covered world and shoot down enemies with guns that feel meaty and satisfying to use, requiring a level of patience and precision to reach mastery. Runs are split up into smaller areas to clear with a few enemies in each, alongside chest and coins that will grant buffs as you go. Between runs, you can unlock new classes, acquire new weapons or upgrade existing ones, giving you different options depending on your play style.
For fans of roguelikes, The Light Brigade is definitely one to check out on PSVR 2.
15. Star Wars: Tales From The Galaxy’s Edge – Enhanced Edition
Two years after its release on Quest 2, both parts of Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge get combined into this new ‘enhanced’ release on PSVR 2. The resulting package is one that lacks new content but does receive visual upgrades that push it far above its Quest 2 counterpart. It features more detail in character models and environments, with better lighting and a higher level of detail overall. It doesn’t sound like much, but it comes together to create a much more immersive experience that Star Wars fans should enjoy.
One of VR’s earliest titles and a consistent best seller on the original PSVR, Job Simulator is still a shining example of excellent VR-first design. This is an experience for everyone, easily enjoyed by those fresh to VR or those who are seasoned veterans. Featuring sharp writing and wacky satirical gameplay, Job Simulator performances flawlessly and looks visually crisp on PSVR 2. It’s easy to see why it stayed high on the original PSVR charts for so long, and even with many new releases and exclusives since its original debut, this latest PSVR 2 of Job Simulator release remains a solid pick.
13. Cities: VR – Enhanced Edition
While the original Quest release felt like a disappointment, Cities: VR feels like it’s finally living up to its true potential on PSVR 2. Featuring upgraded visuals and an improved UI, this version of the game also features an increased world size, which is nine times larger compared to Quest 2.
If you’re looking for a Left 4 Dead-like co-op experience on PSVR 2, then After the Fall is a great pick. Vertigo Games launched After the Fall in late 2021 and while we enjoyed it, we also wanted to see more content added to the game over time. Since then, there’s been loads of new content added in, including many new maps, weapons and enemies, alongside a horde mode as well.
All of those additions are rolled into the PSVR 2 ‘Complete Edition’ release, which is a fantastic platform to play the game on, thanks to some PSVR 2-specific upgrades. While After the Fall was never an overly stunning game on Quest or the original PSVR, it looks significantly better on PSVR 2 and reaches a pretty impressive level of fidelity. Graphics aside, the Sense controllers are also used to great effect, with great haptics and excellent use of adaptive triggers that makes guns feel fantastic to fire.
For some zombie-shooting co-op fun, After the Fall is a great option on PSVR 2.
11. What the Bat?
What the Bat? was easily one of the best indie VR releases of 2022, so much so that we awarded it the title of our VR Game of the Year. On PSVR 2, the game remains as engaging and hilarious as ever. It’s dipping in charm and creativity, placing you in a bunch of scenarios where you’re given a pair of baseball bat hands and tasked with doing almost anything besides actually playing baseball.
It’s a deceptively complex game that begs to be shown to family and friends who might be interested in VR. With spectator mode on the TV, PSVR 2 is the perfect fit to play What the Bat? with a room for of friends, passing the headset from person-to-person.
So yes, technically these are two separate games. We’re slightly cheating by combining them here, but to be fair, they are two releases that form one larger story and are both fairly similar in terms of gameplay.
The original Moss, now known as Moss: Book I, released on the original PSVR and has since made its way across many VR platforms and headsets. Its sequel, Moss: Book II, released last year, expanding on the platforming concepts of the original in some places and continuing on threads from the first game. Together, they form a wonderful VR platforming experience and feature PSVR 2-specific upgrades, such as subtle uses of eye tracking and improved visuals compared to the original releases. Book I and Book II are both available on PSVR 2, either in a bundle or purchased separately.
Pavlov has long been a favorite among PC VR players, but now it’s also available on PSVR 2.
The game is a VR first-person shooter experience modeled after Counter-Strike. That means that while it does have limited offline single player modes, it’s best experienced online with its variety of team-based FPS game modes. Pavlov is a shooter based around precision, balancing itself between realism and engaging gameplay mechanics. The guns feel fantastic to use and playing online with friends will be your best bet for ongoing entertainment – there’s little in the way of progression, nor is there any kind of true campaign to work through.
Unlike Pavlov Shack on Quest, which brings a ‘lite’ version of the game to standalone hardware, Pavlov brings the full PC VR experience to PSVR 2, with support for cross-play with PC players as well. The only missing part is the mod support available on PC VR, meaning that the current game modes are the extent of what you’ll be playing.
Another PSVR 2 exclusive, this release from Supermassive Games sees you take part in some arcade shooter gameplay while traveling aboard a horror-themed rollercoaster. You’ll play through several scary scenarios, with a plethora of villains and jump scares to keep you on the edge of your seat. It features entertaining, arcade gun mechanics reminiscent of The House of the Dead, alongside some fantastic horror theme park scenarios that feel ripped out of a dark version of Disneyland.
While it’s not the most visually impressive title on the list, nor is it the longest campaign ever, it’s nonetheless an engaging horror shooter with fantastic enemy designs and some brilliant settings. It’s also worth nothing that some users have reported graphical issues and ‘blurriness’ since launch, which Supermassive Games recently acknowledged. The studios is working on the issues, which seemingly only affect some users.
Kayak VR is a quiet highlight of the PSVR 2 launch lineup, offering a stunning visual presentation and a relaxing experience across locations four locations: Papagayo, Antartica, Bjørnøya and Australia. There’s a competitive multiplayer mode, but it’s free roam where the game shines, allowing you to sit back, relax and enjoy the view. It may not feature a fully-fledged campaign or an extensive selection of game modes, but Kayak VR is one of the most relaxing VR experiences available on the platform and a joy to look at from every angle.
Pistol Whip is one of VR’s longest-running and well updated games across all platforms. Luckily, it shines on PSVR 2, looking fantastic and taking advantage of PSVR 2’s unique features such as adaptive triggers in the Sense controllers, which gives you a ‘more realistic firing experience.’ Headset haptics on PSVR 2 also add to the immersion, letting you truly feel each time you get shot and giving those moments a much greater sense of impact.
For those who aren’t aware, Pistol Whip is the beautiful intersection between rhythm games, Superhot-like action and Matrix-style cinematic flair. You’ll move along on-rails scenes with enemies popping up to a pumping soundtrack – your task is not just to shoot the enemies as they approach, but do so in time with the beat of the music.
It’s a fantastic concept and developers Cloudhead Games continue to expand the game with numerous free content updates and expansions, making it a great option for PSVR 2 players.
5. Before Your Eyes
Before Your Eyes is a tragic yet beautiful narrative experience, with the VR version available exclusively on PSVR 2. It’s a unique 90-minute story, with an eye tracking mechanic that is unlike any other use of the technology. You’re transported back into the memories of the protagonist Benny, experiencing them from his first-person perspective as they happened. The catch is that every time you blink, the story moves forward. Sometimes it’s just a moment, sometimes it’s a jump forward a few years into the future.
What follows is a unique, compelling and innovative VR experience that demonstrates how the medium can tell stories that movies, games and other media can’t. Plus, it’s a controller-free experience and very little artificial movement, making it an accessible experience to almost anyone.
Demeo, the tabletop dungeon crawler RPG from Resolution Games, remains one of the best social VR games across all platforms, and its PSVR 2 release is up there with the best. Not only does the game support cross-platform play – so you can team up with players on Quest or PC VR – but it also looks better than ever on PSVR 2. There’s no jagged edges to be seen and the game looks better than ever, thanks to the PSVR 2’s OLED display with HDR support, allowing for much deeper blacks than you’ll get on a headset like Quest 2.
With several expansions available since release, Demeo offers players a wealth of content and an engaging social experience among the best that VR has to offer. On PSVR 2, it’s the best non-exclusive release so far. On PS5, you also have the option to play flatscreen as well – the best of both worlds.
3. Gran Turismo 7
Gran Turismo 7 is one of the most potent racing sims to ever grace VR and it’s available exclusively for PSVR 2. While the menus display on a flat screen in-headset, the races and gameplay itself will take place in full, immersive VR – it’s a sight to behold. Not only is the game stunning, but offers fantastic racing simulation with various levels of difficulty and a full campaign and many other mode, all available in VR. For racing fans, this is an absolute must.
Village marks the second mainline Resident Evil game to get VR support, after Biohazard launched with PSVR support in 2017. Much like Biohazard, Village is a phenomenal launch title for PSVR 2 and an amazing horror shooter with a fully-fledged campaign that is captivating from start to finish.
It’s particularly impressive given that the game was designed for flatscreen platforms first, however that also means that it features sequences that might be fairly intense for new VR users. Expect your head and field of view to be quickly repositioned, shoved and moved around without notice. Nonetheless, the well-paced campaign, gorgeous visuals and engaging gunplay make Resident Evil Village easily one of the best experiences on PSVR 2 right now.
It’s a tough call to pick a number one on this list, but Horizon just edges out the other to take the top spot. This PSVR 2-exclusive is one of the most visually stunning and dense VR experiences available, with some stunning environments that feature a level of detail rivaling Half-Life: Alyx.
While the gameplay isn’t necessarily revelatory for VR, it is nonetheless incredibly polished and a stunning experience to behold in-headset. For any PSVR 2 owner, Horizon Call of the Mountain is a must-have.
Half-Life 2: Episode Two will soon join its predecessors in PC VR, arriving as a free Steam mod on April 6.
Having previously confirmed plans for an Episode Two VR port, the Source VR Mod Team revealed the release date for this final part (sorry Half-Life 3 hopefuls) of Valve’s iconic FPS last week when Half-Life 2: Episode One VR Mod released. Like the Half-Life 2 VR Mod and Episode One, you must own the base Episode Two game on Steam to access this. Furthermore, the Source VR Mod Team states anyone using someone else’s account via family sharing feature won’t work.
Offering full room-scale VR with motion controls, new weapon interactions, comfort options like motion vignettes and more, that’s compatible with any headset supported by SteamVR. You can check out the mod page for more information. Based on the quality-of-life updates Half-Life 2: VR Mod received post-launch, support for bHaptics TactSuit vests and Steam Workshop also seems likely.
Half-Life 2: Episode Two is available now on Steam for $7.99, and included in the The Orange Box bundle for $19.99 alongside the Half-Life 2 base game and Episode One.
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With three versions of SteamVR trackers under its belt, HTC has been a leading enabler of full-body tracking in VR. Now the company’s latest tracker could make it even easier to bring your body into VR.
HTC’s new standalone Vive tracker (still unnamed) has a straightforward goal: work like the company’s existing trackers, but easier and on more platforms.
The ‘easier’ part comes thanks to inside-out tracking—using on-board cameras to allow the device to track its own position, rather than external beacons like those used by the company’s prior trackers.
Photo by Road to VR
To that end, things seem really promising so far. I got to demo the new Vive tracker at GDC 2023 this week and was impressed with how well everything went.
Photo by Road to VR
With two of the new Vive trackers strapped to my feet, I donned a Vive XR Elite headset and jumped into a soccer game. When I looked down at my feet, I saw a pair of virtual soccer shoes. And when I moved my feet in real-life, the soccer shoes moved at the same time. It took less than two seconds for my mind to say ‘hey those are my feet!’, and that’s a testament to both the accuracy and latency being very solid with the new tracker.
That’s not a big deal for older trackers that use SteamVR Tracking, which has long been considered the gold standard for VR tracking. But to replicate a similar level of performance in a completely self-contained device that’s small and robust enough to be worn on your feet… that’s a big deal for those who crave the added immersion that comes with bringing more of your body into VR.
Throughout the course of my demo, my feet were always where I expected to see them. I saw no strange spasms or freezing in place, no desync of coordinate planes between the tracker and the headset, and no drifting of the angle of my feet. That allowed me to easily forget that I was wearing anything special on my feet and simply focus on tracking to kick soccer balls into a goal.
While the tracker worked well throughout, the demo had an odd caveat—I had feet but no legs! That makes it kind of weird to try to juggle a soccer ball when you expect to be able to use your shin as a backboard but watch as the ball rolls right over your virtual foot.
Ostensibly this is the very thing that trackers like this should be able to fix; by attaching two more trackers to my knees, I should be able to have a nearly complete representation of my leg movements in VR, making experiences like ‘soccer in VR’ possible when they simply wouldn’t work otherwise.
I’m not sure if the demo app simply wasn’t designed to handle additional tracking points on the knees, or if the trackers are currently limited to just two, but HTC has confirmed the final inside-out Vive tracker will support up to five trackers in addition to the tracked headset and controllers.
Trackers can, of course, be used to track more than just your body, though apps that support these kinds of tracked accessories are rare | Photo by Road to VR
So the inside-out factor is the ‘easier’ part, but what about the other goal of the tracker—to be available on more platforms than just SteamVR Tracking?
Well, the demo I was playing was actually running purely on the standalone Vive XR Elite. To connect the trackers, a small USB-C dongle needs to be connected to the headset to facilitate the proprietary wireless connection between the dongle and the trackers. HTC says the same dongle can plug into a PC and the trackers will work just fine through SteamVR.
The company also says it’s committed to making the trackers OpenXR compatible, which means (in theory) any headset could support them if they wanted.
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I only got to use it in one configuration (on my feet) and in one environment (a large office space). So there’s still the question of how robust they will be. For now though, I’m suitably impressed.
If these trackers really work as well as they seem from their first impression, it could open the door to a new wave of people experiencing the added immersion of full-body tracking in VR… but there’s still the lingering question of price, which historically never seems to be quite right consumer VR market when it comes to HTC. Until then, our fingers shall remain crossed.
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