Introduction: One of the most popular console-based VR headsets is coming to PC players because of a simple adaptor device. In August 2024, Sony released its PlayStation VR2 PC adapter which allows for a seamless connection between the PS VR headset and a personal computer with a Steam library of virtual reality games. The device not only expands the possibilities of the PS console owners but also shows that Sony is willing and able to expand its gaming hardware strategy in a very device-inclusive manner.
Article: VR gamers can find a wide array of devices in the virtual reality market of 2024. Among all of these is the offer of Sony Corporation and its PlayStation headsets. For many gamers and reviewers, the VR2 headset is one of the more interesting devices available for purchase. It came out in February 2023 and since then, the device slowly generated a following among fans of VR gaming. Initially, the reviews and reactions related to the PlayStation VR2 were predominantly negative, even though it did offer a range of improvements related to its predecessor. But, aside from the device and its possibilities and limitations, the issue of the ultimate gaming experience remained a concern for many. With VR2, the natural idea was to have a PlayStation 5 console and its offer of VR games. However, not long after the launch of the new headset, Sony stated that it intended to expand the offer beyond the PS game catalog. More precisely, the company wanted to get its headset to Steam VR gamers who use mostly PC devices as their main gaming rig. In August 2024, that decision resulted in a new device that Sony launched, which is a PS VR2 adapter allowing users to link their headset to a PC device and thus reach their Steam library. The modest-looking gadget might not seem like a big leap for Sony and VR gaming in general, but it does offer an elegant solution to a cross-platform issue. With it, players of PC VR games can now consider getting a PlayStation headset and that could be a big benefit for Sony, as well as the entire virtual reality gaming market.
VR2 Gaming Offer
Since its launch last year, PS5 players have been enjoying the new generation of VR titles. The same experiences became drastically expanded thanks to the VR2 increase in the use of both sensors and feedback elements. The drawbacks of the device include a range of issues related to backward compatibility, the wired connection that many found cumbersome and of course, its hefty price. Initially, that price was in the range of $550, even though subsequent actions and special offers shaved off as much as $200. However, despite the drawbacks, the actual device and its capacity remained an impressive advancement of the PlayStation’s VR experience. Here, the actual tech setup of the device remained its biggest selling point. Because of that, many consider VR2 as the most immersive sensory gaming experience a virtual reality gamer can attain today. But, Sony wanted to get that experience to more potential customers and the VR2 adapter came to the forefront. With it, the potential of the device in terms of its game library access suddenly becomes a lot more expansive.
PlayStation VR2 PC Adapter Setup
The process of connecting a PC to a PS VR2 headset involves several elements. First, players need to purchase the PlayStation VR2 PC adapter, which presently costs around $60. It is also available in a range of markets through the official Sony PlayStation online store, so any region of the world should be able to purchase it. Once the users have the adapter, they will also need to connect it to a DisplayPort cable with a DisplayPort 1.4 feature, which is not part of the package. Besides that, the users only need to own a PC that covers the minimum requirements for VR2 PC – meaning 8 GM or more of RAM, as well as a later generation process and graphic card – as well as a Steam account. Through that, the same users should have their VR2 PC setup ready to go.
Quality of VR Experience
While the VR2 PC adapter will connect Sony’s headset to a PC, the quality of the experience will likely vary across different PCs. Similar to all gaming on a personal computer, the performance of the selected virtual reality games can also fluctuate. Furthermore, in this case, the quality of the user’s DisplayPort 1.4 cable can also impact the performance. But, despite all of this, the connection will still offer VR2 users to play the most popular VR games on Steam. As the biggest market for VR titles, Steam has long catered to its virtual reality users. That is why games like War Thunder, Fallout 4 VR, and Half-Life: Alyx will all be available to the owners of the VR2 headsets. The same goes for the upcoming massive VR releases, including Batman: Arkham Shadow, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, Homeworld: Vast Reaches, and Alien: Rogue Incursion. These are big-name titles that are made by top VR development studios. Furthermore, the same list of titles combines action games with strategies like the Homeworld series and many more genres. That principle goes in line with the diverse offer that Steam provides to its users, which now can include PlayStation VR gamers.
Sony’s Foresight
The golden age of gaming consoles is clearly coming to a close. With multiple points of pressure, including game streaming and handheld gaming devices, classic consoles like PlayStation and Xbox are clearly in a tough spot. Sony’s decision to expand its offer of VR gaming into the huge PC domain shows that the company is willing to be flexible and try to ride the waves that crash around it, instead of blindly fighting them. The number of PS VR2 users is not huge, but the launch of the simple adapter device will allow the same figure to grow. At the same time, PC and Steam users can have their eye on the PlayStation headset line not just at the present moment, but in the future as well. This allows Sony to get a potentially much bigger audience for its upcoming VR3 headset and its development could ensure that the connection to any PC device provides even more than it does now. Clearly, Sony is thinking ahead when it comes to VR gaming and that approach is already paying off both for the company and its users.
Author: Ivica Milaric, game designer and assistant professor of game design at the Novi Sada Academy of Arts, Republic of Serbia