PSVR2’s market appeal isn’t going to help with WMR’s stagnation
CES 2022 has so far been a maelstrom of desktop and laptop PCs, monitors, processors, and graphics cards here at Windows Central. Sony’s unveiling of the PlayStation VR2 specs, official name, and first game on Jan. 4 sort of passed me by, only hitting my feed the next morning. It was definitely the biggest VR news to come out of the exhibition, overshadowing Panasonic’s lightweight, compact MeganeX headset compatible with SteamVR.
The original PSVR experience was a relatively inexpensive portal into a virtual world for those already with a PlayStation 4. No knock there, I enjoyed PSVR a lot. The PSVR2, on the other hand, looks ready to become a main competitor in the full VR space, competing with the likes of the HP Reverb G2, Valve Index, and the Oculus/Meta Quest 2.
This got me thinking about Microsoft and its Windows Mixed Reality (WMR) platform, which has been sitting (mostly) stagnant for the last couple of years. The PSVR2 has the right specs to be a big hit with all fans of VR, and the current strategy of “let it ride” for the WMR platform isn’t really an intriguing alternative for those shopping around.
Updating PSVR for the next generation
Category | PSVR2 | HP Reverb G2 | Valve Index | Quest 2 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Display | OLED | Dual 2.89-inch LCD | Dual LCD | Single LCD |
Resolution | 2000×2040 per eye 4000×2040 combined |
2160×2160 per eye 4320×2160 combined |
1440×1600 per eye 2880×1600 combined |
1832×1920 per eye 3664×1920 combined |
Subpixels | TBD | RGB | RGB | RGB |
IPD | Adjustable | Manual | Manual | Manual |
Refresh rate | 90Hz, 120Hz | 90Hz | Up to 144Hz | Up to 120Hz |
Tracking | Internal Four cameras IR cameras for eye tracking |
Internal Four cameras |
External Lighthouse 2.0 |
Internal Four cameras |
Connection | Wired USB-C |
Wired | Wired | Standalone wireless Wired (PC) |
VR fans are still waiting on a firm price to see whether they will invest, but that’s a hardware combination that should move plenty of units. Considering most VR-ready PCs cost somewhere around $1,000 or more, the $500 cost of the PS5 is already out ahead of most PC-VR systems.
Where is Windows Mixed Reality headed?
Source: Windows Central
HoloLens continues to make an impact on the industrial and commercial sectors, but it’s really only HP that’s holding the torch for consumer WMR. Its Reverb G2 is truly the champion of Windows Mixed Reality, and it’s essentially the only WMR headset that the average VR user can buy these days.
Source: Windows Central
It offers a spectacular visual experience with the highest resolution in mainstream systems, a robust audio system with similar setup to the Valve Index, a comfortable fit with adjustable face gasket, and full compatibility with SteamVR. It’s one of our picks for the overall best VR headsets, but it does have some major flaws when compared to some of the other VR systems on the market.
Most notable is the lack of quality motion controllers. The controllers that ship with the Reverb G2 are modified versions of the very first WMR controllers released in 2017. They’re entirely unremarkable, with OK ergonomics, poor haptic feedback, and a lack of adaptive triggers and touch sensing. Don’t get me wrong; they’re a huge step up compared to the e-waste that shipped with the original WMR headsets. However, they just don’t measure up to the likes of Oculus/Meta Touch, Valve Knuckles, and the forthcoming PSVR2 Sense controllers.
Note that Valve’s Knuckles controllers can work with the Reverb G2. The setup adds significant cost and third-party software isn’t foolproof, but it is worth it for some enthusiasts.
Source: Windows Central
PSVR2 has a lot going for it, and we’ve yet to even see the headset’s design. I can’t say I’m not intrigued. Its price will almost undoubtedly be less than what Valve is charging for its full Index system, there’s no threat of an Oculus/Meta library lockout should you make a wrong step on Facebook, and you get high-end motion controllers included in the package. The OLED display with HDR support, eye tracking, and the new fully realized Sense controllers are a huge draw. As long as the library of games can keep up with the hardware, the PSVR2 is going to be a hit.
Growing the Microsoft metaverse
Source: Associated Press (2015)
The metaverse push might not ever live up to the hype, but it signifies that Microsoft is far from abandoning its mixed reality ambitions. It’s just not the effort that most VR and WMR users are looking for.
Xbox still isn’t getting VR anytime soon, and while HP seems dedicated to keeping it alive with frequent updates to its Reverb headset, I can easily foresee a future where the Reverb G3 ships without the Windows Mixed Reality branding and lives on SteamVR only. Would that be such a bad thing?