*This article is compiled from IGN US and is not reproduced without authorization.
Not long ago, Meta held the second annual Meta Quest Game Showcase, announcing a series of news, including a new Ghostbusters VR game. The presentation sparked lively discussions within IGN about the relative dominance of Meta Quest 2 in the VR market (now accounting for about 78% of the market) and whether Sony's PlayStation VR2 could succeed in such an environment.
PSVR2 was first announced in February 2021 that it will purportedly focus on "console-quality" VR games on PS5, primarily including hybrid games that can use VR or not. Sony officially unveiled the new product and the new "Sense" controller at CES, and Sony confirmed that it will be equipped with a high-definition OLED display, an infrared camera for handle tracking, and four cameras for the headset itself. Developed by Guerilla Games and Firesprite, Horizon: Call of the Mountains will be an "ambitious AAA narrative adventure game" that looks set to be a model game for Sony to build on this new platform. So far, though, we still don't know exactly what the game's lineup is, or even whether it supports backward compatibility.
When PSVR2 finally launches, it will be a test of whether AAA VR games can appeal to mainstream audiences. It will also inevitably be compared to meta's all-in-one headset. But can PSVR2 succeed on its own? Are these fair? Here's what we think.
Will PS VR2 be the next PS Vita?
Senior News Editor Kat Bailey: We're talking about this interesting topic right now, Taylor, because I actually just happened to buy a Meta Quest 2. I made this decision several times in Star Wars: Fighter Squadron setting up valve Index incorrectly. I haven't used it a few times since I bought it (Valve Index), and in a way, using a wired headset is too much of a hassle, so I finally decided to buy the Meta Quest 2.
I think it's quite iconic, and the VR market has been very different since Sony first released the PlayStation VR in 2016. Even very early on, I realized that VR would only succeed if cheap, high-resolution all-in-one headsets appeared on the mass market. Meta Quest 2 cracked this cipher, and as a result, it became the most popular VR headset today.
In other words, I think PSVR2 is likely to be the VR version of playStation Vita. I'd like to hear your thoughts, Taylor.
Taylor Lyles, Assistant Editor of Technology: This point you made is interesting, Kat. I was interested in VR long before the first generation of PlayStation VR came out. As someone who owns the HTC Vive and PSVR, both devices are cumbersome to use because they are optional accessories that require additional hardware to actually work.
When I finally bought a Meta Quest 2, I found that there was no longer a reason to use the HTC Vive. Not only is it an all-in-one headset, it has its own operating system and easy access to the game library, and when I want to play SteamVR games, I can also connect it to my desktop with a USB-C cable.
When I heard that Sony was announcing that it was developing a successor to the PSVR, I was optimistic. However, it is also cautiously optimistic, because it is still an optional accessory, which needs to be accompanied by a game console that is still difficult to buy. Over the past four years, the functionality of Meta and its all-in-ones has become the dominant force in the VR gaming market. Sony is at a very disadvantage.
So given the factors that are bad for it, you're not wrong to say that the PSVR2 may suffer a similar fate to the PS Vita. Even so, Sony is still able to learn a lot from the history of PSV and Meta's recent successes. PSVR2 even has the potential to push the VR market to new heights with eye tracking, haptic feedback, and adaptive triggers, even though its overall design is outdated for today's VR hardware market.
Kat Bailey: That's an interesting perspective, Taylor. I think the features you just listed definitely lead to a more immersive experience, especially eye tracking. But even so, I mention PSV because the PSVR2 is likely to focus on console-quality games, which reminds me of Sony's obsession with the AAA-quality handheld experience, while Nintendo focuses on low prices, better battery capacity, and a small screen experience, which is especially important for portable devices like the 3DS. The fate of the PSVR2 will also depend on the extent to which Sony intends to support it, both in terms of marketing and software support.
In my opinion, Sony chose to develop a wired VR headset instead of an all-in-one machine because they value performance more. That's fine, but I'm not sure if the appeal of God of War or the VR version of Horizons is worth dragging a line. Sony needs to prove that these special experiences are worth the money we pay for a troublesome cable headset.
As Shown in Half-Life: Alex, I admit that high-end VR experiences do have a lot of demand. But when I see that Sony is going to launch a successor to a less successful device, with the idea of "bigger and better" against less advanced but more convenient competitors, I think to myself, "Hasn't this happened before?"
Taylor Lyles: But the PlayStation's focus on performance doesn't seem to be limited to graphics precision, or making things as realistic as possible in virtual reality. They want to drive virtual reality games as a more mainstream option and enrich the forms of interaction people have with these games.
If you consider the unique features of PSVR2, it has the potential to take VR gaming to new heights. The PSVR2 has eye tracking, and its "Sense" controller also supports haptic feedback and adaptive triggering. These features will result in a more immersive experience, bringing players closer to the games they play. Just from the design of the controller, you can see that Sony learned a lot from the first VR hardware. We don't need the PS3-era "Move" controller anymore!
Not only will it allow you to further immerse yourself in the already familiar world of games, but it will also breathe new life into games that have been on the decline of the traditional console and PC markets, such as arcade shooters and sports simulation games.
In addition, I'm afraid I don't agree with calling PSVR a "less successful device." While selling more than 5 million units doesn't sound like a lot, keep in mind that VR is still a niche market, especially during the time when PSVR was first released. As the first console-exclusive headset, we can clearly say that PSVR propelled VR games into the mainstream. Meta's Quest series does have more players, but given the VR market when PSVR first came out — when the market was flooded with clunky headsets like the HTC Vive — PSVR was clearly successful in attracting more people to try OUT VR games.
Kat Bailey: I think you're right, it's also important that VR is able to show realistic virtual worlds. Half-Life: Alex certainly demonstrates the potential of VR in this regard. Even so, the success of Work Simulator and Rhythm Lightsaber shows that a game doesn't necessarily require VR to have strong graphics processing capabilities to succeed. I even think these are the mainstream VR experiences right now, and they fit perfectly with Meta Quest 2.
You also mentioned that PSVRs sell more than 5 million units, but that's still too little for me. Because the user base of PS4 is more than 115 million units, the price of PSVR is still quite attractive, and there is a lot of marketing at the time of launch. I'm curious if you think PSVR2 sales can match Quest 2 sales, or if you think PSVR2 can catch up with or outpace PSVR sales? Because today's PS5 sales are still not much, and there are still serious supply chain problems. If not, how else can PSVR2 succeed?
Reviews of Meta Quest 2 remain polarized
The measure of its success will be how it leverages the technology that PS5 brings. Developers need to make games that take full advantage of the new technologies in PSVR2 and "Sense" controllers, which is a reasonable practice after DualSense. They don't need to convince Quest 2 users to buy PS5 and PSVR2; they just need to convince PS5 players to buy a headset.
More first-party development and release of games also contribute to its success. Horizon: Call of the Mountains will be a good start, as will PSVR-era exclusive games such as Cosmic Robots: Search and Rescue Operations and Firewall: Zerotime sequels. It would be great if it could bring some big VR games that have never landed on PSVR, such as Half-Life: Alex, which can theoretically be played with Meta Quest 2.
And while PSVR2 is still at a disadvantage compared to the Quest 2 when it comes to hosting binding, Meta's reputation is still polarized. If you pay attention to the controversy over Meta and its subsidiary Facebook in recent years, many people don't trust Meta as a company. Some people refuse to buy Quest 2 because it still requires a Facebook account to sign in.
What's so good about this Facebook account? Let's say I have a Facebook account. If I'm banned or want to delete my Facebook account, the $299 or more thing is in vain because I can no longer use my Quest 2 and play any of the games on it.
Kat Bailey: My concern about the success of PSVR2 doesn't come from Meta Quest 2, but from its own design direction. I believe that all-in-one VR devices will be the future of VR, and even though the PSVR2 is more powerful and has superior features such as a haptic feedback controller, it still seems to be contrary to the trend. But you're right, the question depends largely on how much support PlayStation decides to give to PSVR2. If it had a truly killer app that it couldn't play anywhere else, it would have a loyal following, and the only console-exclusive headset would still be a strong selling point (no, sorry, I don't think the Nintendo Switch's VR kit counts).
We'll soon find out if Sony's first-party developers are willing to put a lot of resources into a platform that has a smaller footprint than the console, at least in the first place. Either way, if we do get a sequel to Cosmic Robots: Search and Rescue Operations, I'll be happy with PSVR2.