Sony’s next console VR headset features an “orb” design heavily inspired by the PS5.
After months of teasing, Sony has officially unveiled the design of its latest VR headset, the PlayStation VR2. The highly-anticipated VR device was originally announced almost a year ago to this day. Since then the company has released new information about the official specs. Today, Sony has released the first official images of the headset.
The first thing you’ll notice is the distinct “orb” look as it’s referred to by the company. The PS VR2 features a more rounded design compared to its predecessor. According to Sony, the design of both the headset as well as the Sense controllers was directly inspired by the PlayStation 5. Sony said its goal was to create a VR system that looked good and played even better.
In addition to a slimmer overall design, Sony promises a noticeable reduction in weight as well as improvements to comfort. The company added an adjustable lens dial that allows you to customize your interpupillary distance (IPD) for the cleanest visuals possible. The headset uses the same headband design as the original PS VR and includes the same adjustable scope and 3.5MM headphone jack in the same locations. After all, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
As already revealed by Sony, the PlayStation VR2 features a new vent design. Located on the top front portion of the device, this vent allows for better air circulation, which means less lens fog and therefore a more comfortable in-headset experience.
In an official blog update, Yujin Morisawa, Senior Art Director at Sony Interactive Entertainment who led the headset design of the PC VR2, shared his excitement about this particular feature:
“When I started to work on the design for the PlayStation VR2 headset, one of the areas I wanted to focus on first was the idea of creating a vent in the headset to let air out, similar to the vents on the PS5 console that allows airflow. Our engineers came up with this idea as a good way to allow ventilation and avoid having the lens fog up while players are immersed in their VR games.”
“I worked on many design concepts to achieve this, and in the final design, you can see there is a little space in between the top and front surface of the scope that contains the integrated ventilation,” he added. “I am really proud of how this turned out and the positive feedback I have gotten so far. I hope our PlayStation fans will also agree, and I can’t wait for them to try it out.”
In addition to the aforementioned improvements, the PlayStation VR2 will feature a 4K HDR resolution (2000×2040 per eye) powered by an OLED display, smooth frame rates of 90/120Hz, and a wide 110-degree field-of-view. The headset also features built-in eye-tracking technology, new sensory features like headset-based haptic feedback, and improved motion controls.
Sony has yet to provide an official price or release date, though rumors have begun circulating about a potential Holiday 2022 launch. For more information about the PlayStation VR2 visit here.
Image Credit: Sony
