Sony has revealed the first images of the PS VR2 user interface, including what the transparent system and game area customization will look like.
Similar to the Oculus/Meta Quest line of virtual reality headsets, the PlayStation VR2 will feature a “see-through” view that lets you see your real surroundings in black and white. This uses cameras mounted on the headset and is useful for seeing where the controllers are or navigating the game space without removing the headset. Transparent view can be enabled with a physical “function” button on the hardware itself or via the UI Control Center.
PlayStation VR2 – Screenshots of the user experience
The Control Center will also let you draw and edit a custom playspace on the ground using the handheld controllers, also similar to how the Meta Quest handles things. A grid wall will be displayed in the game when you get too close to the set limits. Your settings are saved between sessions, but moving to a new room will require drawing a new play area.
A ‘cinematic mode’ has also been confirmed, which will allow non-VR content such as existing games to be viewed on a ‘virtual cinema screen’. (Being in VR makes things look much bigger than they are, so you can create a kind of cinema experience.) This content will be displayed in 1920×1080 HDR video format with 24/60Hz and also 120Hz frame rates, so it won’t be as high quality as, say, your nice 4K TV. VR content, on the other hand, will be HDR at 4000 x 2040 resolution (2000 x 2040 per eye) with a frame rate of 90Hz/120Hz.
PS VR2 will also feature a broadcast mode that, when combined with a PS5 HD camera, can stream video of both what you’re seeing on the headset and what you’re doing in real life.
Sony has said that PS VR2 will have more than 20 major launch games. Coming to the Horizon platform: Call of the Mountain, Resident Evil Village and Ghostbusters VR, among others. The headset itself was only revealed earlier this year, and you can see how it compares to other VR headsets in our comparison.
Matt Purslow is IGN’s UK news and features editor.