Sony has announced the price for its upcoming PlayStation VR2 headset – and it’s even more expensive than the console you need to use it.
The new virtual reality device will cost £529.99 when it launches on 22 February 2023, compared to £479.99 and £389.99 for the current models of the PlayStation 5.
Much like how the previous headset plugged into a PS4, the new one needs to be hooked up to a PS5 – which means you could face spending north of £1,000 if you’re keen and don’t yet own the console.
The first PS VR launched in October 2016 for £349, although – unlike the sequel – it did not come with controllers.
Two so-called Sense controllers will come packed in with PS VR2, offering what Sony says are similar levels of haptic feedback and adaptive triggers seen in the PS5’s own DualSense pads.
The headset will also offer eye tracking, which the original did not, and will no longer require an external camera to work out where the player is standing or sitting and how they move.
Its display panels for each eye use OLED technology, like many modern TVs, with 4K resolution. There will also be a built-in microphone and headphone jack.
What about the games?
The marquee launch title appears to be Horizon: Call Of The Mountain, a new entry in the existing action-adventure series which has proven popular with fans and critics.
Previous Horizon games have been large, open-world experiences focused on exploration and fast-paced combat, which makes the upcoming first-person VR installment something of a departure.
Sony will sell it separately and in a bundle with the headset, priced higher at £569.99, both available for pre-order from 15 November.
Other games coming for PS VR2 include Resident Evil Village, an updated entry in the long-running horror franchise, plus fresh takes on other existing titles Cities: Skylines and Jurassic World Aftermath, built with the headset in mind.
Prices have not been announced, but many new PS5 games now launch at £69.99.
What are my other options for VR gaming?
Until now, one of the most popular options has been the Meta Quest 2.
Unlike PlayStation’s VR offering, it works as a standalone device and doesn’t need to be plugged in.
It’s also more affordable than the competition at £399 for the base model, although that’s well up on what was an original launch price of £299.
Other options are pretty high-end and expensive, catering to the PC crowd.
These include the Valve Index, which goes for a whopping £919, and the HTC Vive Pro 2, which is £499.
And for the real diehards, Mark Zuckerberg will sell you his ultimate gateway to the metaverse – the recently launched Meta Quest Pro – for an eye-watering £1,499.
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