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Do you think PSVR2 will catapult VR into the mainstream?

Do you think the PSVR2 will outsell the Quest 2?


  • Total voters
    224

Fafalada

Fafracer forever
...
...naaaah.
Not that I disagree with general sentiment (depending how we define mainstream, VR still has a long way to go, period), but
a) your list of minuses is actually 3 items, with one repeated 4x.
b) all but 1 of the negatives are relative to Quest, which, while the most popular current headset, hasn't reached mainstream yet either. If the argument is that 'Oculus is already doing everything right but it still isn't enough' - then relative comparisons are kind of pointless, you're not gonna get there by matching their list.

Why is it a nightmare scenario?
I should have perhaps prefaced with 'personal existential nightmare' but I don't trust corporate world with having a direct link to my vision, peripheral or otherwise. It's bad enough having to worry about ads when we opt-into it. Though like I said, I know it's sort of inevitable.

People watch TV while doing house chores and stuff.
This is a separate thing - our I/O and conscious brain can't actually multi-task so the whole obsession of trying to do it all the time(professionally, doing chores, or in free time) does not exactly bode well for humanity as a whole. Unless we figure out some-way to upgrade our 'personal' hardware in the future - which may yet happen of course.
 
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Sosokrates

Report me if I continue to console war
I think it will 2-3x PSVR1s sales. Nothing incredible, but good. But, I do think there will be a few games that will be above and beyond anything you can play on normal PS5/XSX or PC/VR. When the technology is good enough for incredible developers to shine, they will. PSVR1 wasn't. PSVR2 is essentially the opposite situation in terms of technology.

The only issue is that will devs invest enough in VR games to make this happen.
Sony is already delegating PSVR2 games to there smaller less proven studios.

Not investing the same as there big TV games does not show convidence.

They should invest in a few $100 million in PSVR2 games.

Then again sony dont even seem to invest very highly early on with there TV games, rift apart is probably there most expensive ps5 exclusive so far. Returnal, DS:RE, all stars are all smaller budget affairs.
 

Sosokrates

Report me if I continue to console war
Not that I disagree with general sentiment (depending how we define mainstream, VR still has a long way to go, period), but
a) your list of minuses is actually 3 items, with one repeated 4x.
b) all but 1 of the negatives are relative to Quest, which, while the most popular current headset, hasn't reached mainstream yet either. If the argument is that 'Oculus is already doing everything right but it still isn't enough' - then relative comparisons are kind of pointless, you're not gonna get there by matching their list.


I should have perhaps prefaced with 'personal existential nightmare' but I don't trust corporate world with having a direct link to my vision, peripheral or otherwise. It's bad enough having to worry about ads when we opt-into it. Though like I said, I know it's sort of inevitable.


This is a separate thing - our I/O and conscious brain can't actually multi-task so the whole obsession of trying to do it all the time(professionally, doing chores, or in free time) does not exactly bode well for humanity as a whole. Unless we figure out some-way to upgrade our 'personal' hardware in the future - which may yet happen of course.

Huh? I can watch a tv show and wash dishes easily.
 

TLZ

Banned
Well for starters it uses one cable instead of many, and you only connect it to the PS5. No breakout box or whatever. So that's already better than the last one. So this will help push people to use it more since there isn't any nuisance setting it up every time. I know that's the case for me. Just one cable and I'm in. Neat.

As for catapult, I'm not sure. I think to catapult you'd need it to be wireless, even if still connected to the console. Masses love simple things. We'll get there one day. Step by step. Probably the next one.
 

Fafalada

Fafracer forever
Huh? I can watch a tv show and wash dishes easily.
By not paying attention to one (or either). Our conscious processing is sequential - so all you do is context-switch fast if you try to 'focus' on multiple things at once. Dish-washing is 'autonomous' enough that you probably only need to do it relatively infrequently, I'm sure there's studies out on which activities we can operate without actively switching conscious attention to them (much).
But really I was talking in general (like that clip from Wall-E where people are plugged in 24/7, admittedly though they have nothing else to do in that world).
 

Sosokrates

Report me if I continue to console war
By not paying attention to one (or either). Our conscious processing is sequential - so all you do is context-switch fast if you try to 'focus' on multiple things at once. Dish-washing is 'autonomous' enough that you probably only need to do it relatively infrequently, I'm sure there's studies out on which activities we can operate without actively switching conscious attention to them (much).
But really I was talking in general (like that clip from Wall-E where people are plugged in 24/7, admittedly though they have nothing else to do in that world).

Yes, but the point is, its something people like to do.

However I agree a Wall-e situation is bad. But if we have to do mundane tasks being entertained while doing them seems like a good thing.
 

01011001

Banned
Wait are you saying psvr2 is only worth 250$?
Spec wise it's too me 400$+ and will not work with PC.

Gonna add in that if it was available to use on PC it would help VR a lot more then it's actually going to being stuck on just ps5

spec wise it's barely better than the Quest 2, and the Quest 2 is 300€ + a full dedicated VR console build in + a battery build in + storage build in

so yes, I'm saying it's only worth 250€ based on that. the specs are similar but it doesn't have a build in SOC that can run games on its own... so yeah, to me that's about right, especially if we also take into consideration that the Quest 2 is not brand new hardware anymore and was in fact launched at 300€ back in 2020
 
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PS5 consoles are still hard to find. Consumers are divided on having to pay $70 for each new game. True "next-gen" games that push the hardware to it's limits are still 6-12 months away. With all these factors in place, now is not the time to push an additional piece of hardware for another $400+ dollars and ask people to trust that you can deliver experimental VR games on a consistent basis that will make that purchase worthwhile.
 

MrMephistoX

Member
If it were wireless it would have a much better chance hopefully remote play works well. Idk why they didn’t just build it with the same near field tech as the Wii U which continues to stream better than every other console or PC I own my steam deck included even in the same room or on game pass.
 
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brian0057

Banned
"It needs to be cheaper. Under $300 it will sell like a polio vaccine."
"It needs to be standalone. No more PC and/or console."
"Wireless! No wires at all!"
"When they manage to stop it from making you feel nauseous."

Impressive. Very nice.
Now let's see the VR games library.
 

64bitmodels

Reverse groomer.
Impressive. Very nice.
Now let's see the VR games library.
this is exactly WHY i want VR to become popular. if something like PSVR2 gets even a fraction of the success of the PS5, it will be enough for big companies to at the very least make VR versions of their games, including sony's own first parties. it just makes a lot of sense honestly, and feels like a much better approach than the social one Meta's trying with the quest 2
 
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spec wise it's barely better than the Quest 2, and the Quest 2 is 300€ + a full dedicated VR console build in + a battery build in + storage build in

so yes, I'm saying it's only worth 250€ based on that. the specs are similar but it doesn't have a build in SOC that can run games on its own... so yeah, to me that's about right, especially if we also take into consideration that the Quest 2 is not brand new hardware anymore and was in fact launched at 300€ back in 2020
Spec wise it's much better than quest 2. Much better
 

Romulus

Member
The only issue is that will devs invest enough in VR games to make this happen.
Sony is already delegating PSVR2 games to there smaller less proven studios.

Not investing the same as there big TV games does not show convidence.

They should invest in a few $100 million in PSVR2 games.

Then again sony dont even seem to invest very highly early on with there TV games, rift apart is probably there most expensive ps5 exclusive so far. Returnal, DS:RE, all stars are all smaller budget affairs.

What does "less proven studios" mean exactly? Do we know if those studios don't have heavy hitters leading them? How do we know those studios weren't paid to make games they weren't even excited about? Because sometimes all it takes is a few passionate people excited to make something new.
Call of the Mountain from Guerilla is the first teaser and that looks bigger budget than any PSVR1 game. A good start considering the PSVR2 hardware is still months away and already has games that look bigger budget than anything on PSVR1 after 6 years of existence.
 
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Fbh

Member
It will probably help in further creating a market for higher end/budget VR games, specially if Sony gives it good first party support.

But to be "mainstream" it would need to get the more casual audience, and to get the more casual audience it has to be cheaper. PSVR2 being tied to owning a still hard to get $399-499 console and then shelling out another $299 (or whatever it ends up costing) for the headset is always going to limit its appeal.

The quest2 has done so well because on top of being a pretty good product it's also usable as a $299 standalone device
 

Crayon

Member
It'll do way more sales than version 1. I don't think even that is storming the mass market, yet. Their main draw is going to be the graphics of the top games, unless someone comes out of nowhere with something alyx-2 level before then.
 

01011001

Banned
Spec wise it's much better than quest 2. Much better

no it isn't. it has a slightly higher resolution per eye (like a few pixels more... something like 1900p vs 2000p or something), a slightly wider FOV (something like 100° vs 110°) and a vibration motor...

those are the advantages over the Quest 2.

meanwhile the Quest 2 is literally a standalone console with a build in OS, SoC, Battery, Storage and speakers. all of which the PSVR2 does not have.

the PSVR2 has a tiny lead in screen specs, and I mean tiny, but it is simply a VR headset and not a full VR system. so IMO that fact counterbalances the tiny screen spec advantages more than enough.
 
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no it isn't. it has a slightly higher resolution per eye (like a few pixels more... something like 1900p vs 2000p or something), a slightly wider FOV (something like 100° vs 110°) and a vibration motor...

those are the advantages over the Quest 2.

meanwhile the Quest 2 is literally a standalone console with a build in OS, SoC, Battery, Storage and speakers. all of which the PSVR2 does not have.

the PSVR2 has a tiny lead in screen specs, and I mean tiny, but it is simply a VR headset and not a full VR system. so IMO that fact counterbalances the tiny screen spec advantages more than enough.
Fov is 90 vs 110 and honestly fov is the most important feature to me once resolution gets decently high. The tracking should also be better which is my second most important feature.
I'll ignore other things that are not certain like we know it's OLED vs LCD but honestly not all OLEDs are that awesome. I'm going to assume psvr2 will have more then 3 options for PD which is also a big deal.

For anyone with any kind of motion sickness FOV and tracking are huge deals spec wise.
 

Sosokrates

Report me if I continue to console war
What does "less proven studios" mean exactly? Do we know if those studios don't have heavy hitters leading them? How do we know those studios weren't paid to make games they weren't even excited about? Because sometimes all it takes is a few passionate people excited to make something new.
Call of the Mountain from Guerilla is the first teaser and that looks bigger budget than any PSVR1 game. A good start considering the PSVR2 hardware is still months away and already has games that look bigger budget than anything on PSVR1 after 6 years of existence.

It means, what it means lol.
Call of the mountain is being co developed between Firesprite and Guerilla. We dont really know the scope if it, as we have only seen a short trailer, it could be huge. But if i was a betting man i dont think it will be big by AAA standards or that revolutionary as a VR game, loved to be proven wrong though.
 

Shifty

Member
If Facebookulus can't pull it off by rebranding their entire empire around the concept and pushing low-cost units and accessible content into the hands of Joe Everyday, I don't think PSVR has much of a chance.

Same story as the last two or three times: The current tech is better and more relevant than ever, but still needs work before we're at that idealized "magic shades" level of sci-fi tech that lines up with the mainstream ideal of VR. Maybe next decade.
 
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Fafalada

Fafracer forever
I'll ignore other things that are not certain like we know it's OLED vs LCD but honestly not all OLEDs are that awesome.
It's an HDR enabled OLED, so that alone would be a substantial difference over any LCD HMDs, which are also the worst case scenario for LCD panels. Their bright gray-blacks are the most obvious in dark environment of an HMD, and the brightness peaks are negated by the same.

no it isn't. it has a slightly higher resolution per eye (like a few pixels more... something like 1900p vs 2000p or something)
I'd argue that Quest doesn't exactly have a good setup to push that screen though. The mobile chipset isn't it - and even if connected to PC, you pay a really high-tax on brute forcing the thing thanks to how sucky PC GPU sw-stack is.
But I'd argue pretty much anything without eye-tracking isn't really well positioned to run 4k@90+ anyway (I mean - getting out of the whole 'it looks good - for VR' nonsense).
 
The culmination of the Quest + PCVR + Console VR (i.e. PSVR) will all help to bring VR into the mainstream.

No one device in each of these categories will do it until said device can deliver an incredible visual experience, combined with untethered play, combined with seamless bug-free input.
 
It's an HDR enabled OLED, so that alone would be a substantial difference over any LCD HMDs, which are also the worst case scenario for LCD panels. Their bright gray-blacks are the most obvious in dark environment of an HMD, and the brightness peaks are negated by the same.


I'd argue that Quest doesn't exactly have a good setup to push that screen though. The mobile chipset isn't it - and even if connected to PC, you pay a really high-tax on brute forcing the thing thanks to how sucky PC GPU sw-stack is.
But I'd argue pretty much anything without eye-tracking isn't really well positioned to run 4k@90+ anyway (I mean - getting out of the whole 'it looks good - for VR' nonsense).
HDR alone tells you nothing without brightness information. You are just going by good OLED, but there are some cheaper OLEDs with drawbacks. We don't know the screen to say anything positive or negative about it beyond broad general specs.
 

fart town usa

Gold Member
I don't think VR will ever be mainstream in terms of gang buster sales. It already is mainstream but still pretty niche.

It'll be some kind of variation that takes off in the future, like some actual Ready Player One type thing.

PSVR2 is still gonna be awesome though.
 
I think the Quest 2 has put us a decade ahead for VR adoption than if it never happened. It's hard to think where the scene would be without it honestly. PSVR2 is icing on the cake but it wont have half the impact Quest has given us. Like someone else said Quest 3 and Deckard are where it's at.
 
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No

I think a wired VR headset will at best be for a niche market. Meta Quest 2 because of its price and ease of use is huge right now, and Meta Quest 3 is the next killer VR headset.
 
Quest already did that so this thread is silly.

PS is now further behind, even when they launch they'll be behind Quest and te high-end PC models in support and experience.

PSVR2 is likely going to have the Kinect 2.0 effect of it being pushed and taking resources away as to try and salvage it after it's clear it's not going to sell the way Sony believes, and eventual abandonment when the market speaks.
 

Vognerful

Member
With regards to your thread title "Will PSVR2 make VR more mainstream?" I think it will only make it more between gamers, specifically those who play on PlayStation consoles. That is my prediction. But for general population, I don't think they have a chance against Quest2 or their next iteration.

mainstream means you are not only popular with hardcore gamers, but also curious people and active teens. I feel that the quest 2 has already infiltrated both markets. I heard from someone that some schools were able to get funds to by quest 2 machines for teaching classes about technology, VR and programming. while it may not be mainstream, I sure feel it is not a niche.
 

Vognerful

Member
no it isn't. it has a slightly higher resolution per eye (like a few pixels more... something like 1900p vs 2000p or something), a slightly wider FOV (something like 100° vs 110°) and a vibration motor...

those are the advantages over the Quest 2.

meanwhile the Quest 2 is literally a standalone console with a build in OS, SoC, Battery, Storage and speakers. all of which the PSVR2 does not have.

the PSVR2 has a tiny lead in screen specs, and I mean tiny, but it is simply a VR headset and not a full VR system. so IMO that fact counterbalances the tiny screen spec advantages more than enough.

Fov is 90 vs 110 and honestly fov is the most important feature to me once resolution gets decently high. The tracking should also be better which is my second most important feature.
I'll ignore other things that are not certain like we know it's OLED vs LCD but honestly not all OLEDs are that awesome. I'm going to assume psvr2 will have more then 3 options for PD which is also a big deal.

For anyone with any kind of motion sickness FOV and tracking are huge deals spec wise.
With regards to resolution and FOV, doesn't that make the picture less sharper (or more pixilated) since pixels has to cover more area?

but to add on 01011001 01011001 and what he said about the specs, I understand that the quest 2 is also sold at a significant lose which means it is not realistic to expect the price of PSVR2 anywhere close to 300usd. I see them selling it for 500 USD.
 

01011001

Banned
Fov is 90 vs 110 and honestly fov is the most important feature to me once resolution gets decently high. The tracking should also be better which is my second most important feature.
I'll ignore other things that are not certain like we know it's OLED vs LCD but honestly not all OLEDs are that awesome. I'm going to assume psvr2 will have more then 3 options for PD which is also a big deal.

For anyone with any kind of motion sickness FOV and tracking are huge deals spec wise.

why would you assume the tracking is better? that's 100% speculation and there is zero indication that this is true.

still my point stands, the specs aren't a whole lot better than the Quest 2's specs, and the Quest 2 also has a whole standalone console build in basically.

so 250€ for PSVR2 imo is the sweetspot with 300€ being the max amount I personally would find tolerable
 

Menzies

Banned
There's already a Horizon game announced exclusively for PSVR2, and word on the street says most of Sony's 1st-party games will have PSVR2 modes akin to the one in Hellblade, i.e. no VR-only gameplay but with ability to follow the 3rd-person character gameplay in VR.

There's already huge difference in convenience (single-cable, no additional setup, no HDMI TV splitter, etc.) and performance with foveated rendering + eye tracking. Foveated rendering + eye tracking can probably enable developers to render at the exact same settings as the games' 60FPS performance mode which simplifies the process of including a VR mode.
I've obviously missed this 'word on the street' - from what I've seen and read their focus (again) is to let third-parties and indies do all the heavy lifting.

Iterative hardware improvements isn't a strategy change to me.

I have absolutely no interest in this whatsoever, whilst Sony doesn't have any faith in their own product to support it internally with exclusive experiences.
 
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nemiroff

Gold Member
PSVR2 will be capable. But I have some doubt that any headset is close to "catapulting" VR into the mainstream at the moment. As a hands-on VR enthusiast for decades I'd that say one of the biggest hurdles for VR is locomotion, not so much technology and form factor per se (although untethered headsets has helped somewhat on the mind share front). It's infamously a big issue not easily fixable and is one of the reasons that for some people VR games "seems the same" (and somewhat resembling past light gun games).

With that said, for those of us that enjoy seated niche VR (like racing, space and flight simulation) it's more awesome than ever.
 
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drezz

Member
- wired
- can't be used standalone
- requires PS5
- probably more expensive than Quest 2
- probably can't be connected to a PC
- probably won't have Half-life Alyx
+ some AAA games
+ doesn't require FB/Meta account

...naaaah.
Wireless might come in the shape of a "Pro" variant, or a high price dongle with a powerbank to slap on top of your head.
If not a sony offical one, we can expect too see one running wireless on pc with ease.

We have PSVR1 running on PC with all that nuddle mess of wiring and blutooth bundling and move controllers.
My bet would be we have PSVR2 running as a spoofed Quest 2 within 24hours of PSVR2 launch.

Price highly likely to match the PS5 itself.

HL-Alyx would be great, but doubtfull; max 50/50 chance imo.
But hey! Hl_Alyx ended on one hell of a cliffhanger, hopefully we get the sequal or a bundle of both... in
3
years!
 

ToTTenTranz

Banned
no it isn't. it has a slightly higher resolution per eye (like a few pixels more... something like 1900p vs 2000p or something), a slightly wider FOV (something like 100° vs 110°) and a vibration motor... (...) the PSVR2 has a tiny lead in screen specs, and I mean tiny,

The Quest2 has a LCD whereas the PSVR2 uses a HDR OLED.

Have you seen how much a HDR OLED TV costs vs. a SDR LCD TV with no FALD?
If everyone thought the same about panel differences, the OLED wouldn't cost 2x more to the consumer.



Reality is Meta Reality Labs posted $10 billion in losses for 2021. With Oculus they are selling ten pound notes for a fiver. If you think that's a business model which will 'go mainstream' then good luck.
Meta isn't focusing on VR, they're focusing on this:


pii6UOw.gif



Aria / AR headsets are what's going to enable Meta to sell digital content and focused ads in a Metaverse'd future. Not VR.


Sony doesn't have any faith in their own product to support it internally with exclusive experiences.
 
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Fafalada

Fafracer forever
HDR alone tells you nothing without brightness information. You are just going by good OLED, but there are some cheaper OLEDs with drawbacks. We don't know the screen to say anything positive or negative about it beyond broad general specs.
I mean - there's some precedent here - Sony was the only one to have full OLED RGB array in their HMDs for the first 4 years, and PSVR display held up really well for what it was and the price point it came in at compared to competition. And the LCD panels being at their worst in HMDs is factual, that's a limitation of how tech-works, and until we get micro-LEDs at the size that works for mobile-factor, OLED is really the only game in town to get optimal results, panel quality allowing.
The 'but it's all speculative' doesn't stop other announced (or rumored) hw-specs to get hyped to high-heavens, but you're right it's wait and see when all is said and done.

I've obviously missed this 'word on the street' - from what I've seen and read their focus (again) is to let third-parties and indies do all the heavy lifting.
I don't think there's anything official but I do recall some investor-presentations from Sony allude to ease of translation between flat/VR being a focus, and people took that and ran with it in different directions. I for one see it more as extension of what PSVR already did (Which was to bring AAA into VR better and more often than any other HMD), it doesn't matter if it's 1st or 3rd parties (or both).
As for whether that's a 'bold strategy cotton' or not - we'll have to see. At least it's one that is currently an unfulfilled market-niche - more so since Quest2 started to dominate sales and high-end VR has been left in the dust.

why would you assume the tracking is better? that's 100% speculation and there is zero indication that this is true.
There's no indication it isn't either *wink wink*.
It's not like Quest has perfect tracking that has no avenues for improvement - I've never quite gotten on-board with the faint jitter it has with head-tracker(far superior to any other inside-out before it - but still) and controller tracking has its own challenges on it that could be improved too.
 

REDRZA MWS

Member
I think it’s about time to accept the people have spoken about VR, overall, in every poll ever. I mean, the polls aren’t even remotely close. It’s a niche, and always will be as it pertains to gaming. I believe VR is better for other applications like different types of training etc. mainstream? Gaming? Nah, it’s never getting there.
 
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