Kyle Orland - Feb 10, 2023 3:43 pm UTC
This week, well over six years since we last opened a virtual reality headset from Sony, the PlayStation VR2 has arrived at the Ars Orbiting HQ. And while our full review of the hardware and software will have to wait until next week, we can give you some general first impressions of the out-of-the-box fit and finish right now.
Anyone who remembers the mess of wires and junction boxes included with the original PSVR headset will marvel at just how little is included in the PSVR2 box. There's the headset itself, of course—with its single USB-C connector permanently attached—alongside two specially made PSVR2 hand-tracking controllers (finally replacing the downright ancient PlayStation Move controllers that had been adapted for the original PSVR's hand-tracking). There's no more fiddling with a maze of connections or hooking up a separate camera to your console—the new hardware has a plug-and-play simplicity that was sorely lacking in 2017.
The box also includes a specially designed set of earbuds, which are set inside a solid band that clips onto the back of the PSVR2 head strap. The loose, wired earbuds hang off the sides of the device just far enough to fit into your ears and slot into a couple of head strap divots when not in use.
Add in a USB-C charging cable for the controllers and a few assorted printed manuals, and you end up with a surprisingly uncluttered package.
The stark black-and-white design of the PSVR2 headset and controllers make it incredibly clear that this is an accessory for the similarly styled PlayStation 5. The bulbous lens housing and heavily cushioned head strap are both a bit less boxy than those on the original PSVR headset. That said, the four outward-facing camera divots on the front of the device make it look a bit like a Guillermo del Toro monster.
The fit of the PSVR2 will be familiar to anyone who used its predecessor. To put it on, you stretch out the adjustable headband, place it around your forehead and under the back of your skull, then turn a knob on the back of the device to tighten the fit. The button to release that grip is now integrated into the knob itself, leading to some nice, smooth lines from behind.
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