Playstation VR 2 vs HTC Vive Pro 2: Which VR headsets will I chose?

The Playstation VR 2 is Sony’s latest VR headset, which is exclusive to the PS5. The PSVR 2 follows in the footsteps of the original PSVR headset, which launched in 2016 on the PS4. Throughout 2022, Sony has been giving us a good amount of information about the upcoming VR headset.

HTC Vive Pro 2’s ultra-high resolution display is easy on the eyes and represents the future of immersive VR. But how does this VR headset compare to the Playstation VR 2?

	HTC Vive Pro 2	PlayStation VR Marvel’s Iron Man VR Bundle
	$779.74	$339.99

Playstation VR 2 and HTC Vive Pro 2 price and availability

PSVR 2 will launch worldwide on February 22, 2023 for a starting price of $599.99. If you want to pre-order it, you can do so through the PlayStation Direct store starting November 15 worldwide.

The HTC Vive Pro wasn’t cheap when it launched, but its price has since come down. It is currently sold at several different prices, depending on the configuration you choose.

Currently, the helmet itself is offered at 799 euros. Although this is just the headset, you will need controllers and base stations for it to work properly. There are then a number of different bundles that increase in price up to the full HTC Vive Pro kit, which costs $1,199.

Which VR headset has the best design?

The PSVR 2 doesn’t look too much like the latest PS headset, with a lens adjustment wheel to help users line up the panels with their eyes.

Four cameras are visible on the front of the headset, allowing head movement to be tracked without the need for external sensors. The PSVR 2 will offer much better tracking accuracy than the latest headset.

A single cord connects the headset to the PS5, with Sony saying this will simplify installation compared to the original headset. This means you won’t be able to use the PSVR 2 wirelessly, which is a shame since you can do so with the Oculus Quest.

First of all, the HTC Vive Pro comes with built-in headphones that sit directly over your ears. They’re height-adjustable and include volume controls, meaning you’ll never have to remove the headset to readjust the volume between gaming sessions.

There’s also the harness that holds the headset more securely than the original HTC Vive’s Velcro straps. The headgear keeps the headset from moving around during particularly intense moments in games like DOOM VFR or Arizona Sunshine, and avoids the infamous head fatigue that could occur after wearing the original HTC Vive for an extended period of time.

Rotate the headset backwards and you’ll find the new rotary knob, a carryover from the Vive Deluxe audio strap that HTC has. You can also use it to tighten the helmet for a better fit, or loosen it to remove the helmet without undoing the top strap.

Tracking and controllers Playstation VR 2 vs HTC Vive Pro 2

Upcoming PSVR 2 controllers will get a significant performance boost. We now know that Sony’s next-gen VR peripheral is called the PlayStation VR2 Sense controller.

These new controllers ditch the classic PS Move design of the original PSVR. Instead, they favor a more typical approach seen in modern VR controllers, like the Oculus Quest 2’s Touch controllers. plastic.

They will also feature haptic feedback and finger touch detection, which will allow the game to know where your fingers are without having to press a button. On the PlayStation Blog, Hideaki Nishino, head of platform planning and management at PlayStation, said that these features will allow you “to make quite natural gestures with your hands during gameplay”.

The Vive Pro 2 uses the same SteamVR outdoor tracking technology as the rest of the Vive collection and the Valve Index. The good news is that SteamVR’s tracking system is the most accurate on the market, beating the outdoor systems used by the Oculus Quest 2 and HP Reverb G2 for true 1:1 tracking that rarely fails.

It instantly picks up every move with low-latency tracking, and play areas are typically much larger than on camera systems, with a maximum play area of 10 x 10 meters offered by the SteamVR tracking system. Vive Pro 2.

The inclusion of SteamVR also means you can swap out the Vive Pro 2’s thumbsticks for other controllers, great if you like the look of the Index’s triggers, and it’s compatible with a range of third-party accessories too. It’s a versatile kit if you have a specific setup in mind.

Playstation VR 2 games vs HTC Vive Pro 2

Sony has revealed that it plans to launch 20 games with the PSVR 2 headset, but we don’t know what those are yet. The biggest game revealed so far is Horizon Call of the Mountains. It was designed from the ground up for the PSVR 2, and will therefore be a separate experience from the PS5 game Horizon Forbidden West, despite being set in the same universe.

Other games confirmed for the PSVR 2 include Low-Fi and RUNNER, while games like Half-Life Alyx, Resident Evil Village and Farpoint 2 are also rumored. The Playstation VR 2 isn’t backward compatible, so you won’t be able to use your existing game library for the new headset.

As the HTC Vive Pro 2 leverages the Steam VR installation process, it is also open to the ever-growing VR library of the Steam gaming platform. From piloting an X-Wing in Star Wars: Squadrons to exploring the sci-fi dystopia of the jaw-dropping Half-Life: Alyx, the Vive Pro 2 can access nearly every VR title available to gamer pc.

If you download and run third-party software Revive, with a little tinkering, you can also open the headset to exclusive games designed to run on Meta headsets through the Oculus game store. Try creative tools like Tilt Brush, social apps like Rec Room, fitness apps, meditation experiences, and travel-focused VR adventures. Whichever you choose, HTC Vive Pro 2 lets you step into digital worlds with an unparalleled level of clarity.

Also discover :

• The best upcoming games in 2023
• The best VR headsets for Nintendo Switch