The PSVR 2 is finally available, and for those of you who are fortunate enough to own Sony’s most recent VR headset, here are some crucial pointers and advice.
The PSVR 2 is a fairly simple headset because, after plugging it into the system, the standard PS5 menu that you are accustomed to appears. The headset does offer a few less noticeable features, though, that you should be aware of.
1. Vocal input
The PSVR 2 supports the same voice commands as the PS5, and they function quite well because a microphone is situated very close to your mouth! Using voice commands with PSVR 2 makes it simple to start games and apps without having to search through the game library or navigate through the settings menu. To get the console to listen, just say “Hey PlayStation.”
You must first enable voice commands if you have never used them on a PS5. To do this, enable the option under Settings > Voice Command (Preview).
2. Quick Menu
With the fast menu in PSVR 2, it’s simple to access frequently used options. Simply double-tap the PlayStation button on your controller to access the PSVR 2 fast menu.
3. Adjusting the Lens
Since the sweet spot for PSVR 2’s lenses, where everything is the clearest, is so small, it’s crucial to fine-tune the lenses to match your individual IPD.
Fortunately, PSVR 2 offers a lens calibration feature that is simple to use at any moment, even while playing a game.
When you first set up your headset, you’ll be prompted to run the calibration. However, since you put on the headset slightly differently each time (and occasionally the lenses can get bumped, adjusting their spacing), it’s worth running the calibration every few sessions to ensure you’re seeing the clearest image possible through the headset. Every time a new wearer of the headset puts it on, you should also do the calibration process to ensure the best fit.
Double-tap the PlayStation button on the controller, then choose to Adjust Visibility from the fast settings menu to conduct lens calibration on PSVR 2.
The calibration will show you whether the headset is sitting high, low, or awkwardly on your head in addition to assisting you in adjusting it to the correct IPD (distance between the lenses). The eye-tracking feature of the headset will perform more accurately if it fits properly.
4. Use PSVR 2 Without a Connected Display
Despite the fact that PSVR 2 replicates its display onto the TV you’re connected to so that passersby can see what you’re doing, you can still use the headset even if your TV is off, in another room, or completely disconnected.
Just keep in mind that you’ll need a connected display to set up your PSVR 2 for the first time, but once it’s configured, you should be able to unplug or switch off the display and your headset should still function properly.
5. Where to Find the Volume Control for PSVR 2
It really shouldn’t be a tip or trick, but finding the volume control on the PSVR 2 is not always obvious.
By clicking the PlayStation button to open the bottom menu and choosing Sound (the speaker icon), you can locate the volume adjustment for PSVR 2 instead of in the quick settings menu. PSVR 2 is located in the Sound menu; click on it to access the volume control.
6. Mute the microphone using the headset button.
You can quickly access the passthrough view of the headset with just one click by pressing the button on the bottom of the PSVR 2. If you frequently play multiplayer VR games, you can choose to rebind this button to toggle the microphone mute instead, which might be helpful.
Go to Settings > Accessories > PlayStation VR2 > VR Headset section > Function Button Assignment, then change it to Mute Microphone on the PSVR 2.
You can still easily access the passthrough view by double-clicking the PlayStation button on the controller to launch PSVR 2 quick settings, then selecting ‘View Surroundings’ even if you modify the button’s function.
7. Play flat PS5 games on a 120Hz HDR display with the PSVR 2.
While PSVR 2 is unquestionably a fantastic VR headset, you can also use it to play PS5 games and watch videos; Sony refers to this as PSVR 2’s “Cinematic Mode.”
All you have to do to accomplish that is run a non-VR game or app on your PS5, then play using a conventional PS5 controller (sadly, the Sense controllers won’t function for regular content because they lack all of the buttons and controls found on a standard controller). However, some non-game apps might function with the Sense controllers for straightforward navigation.
Furthermore, PSVR 2 can technically accomplish the same tasks as a standard high refresh rate (120Hz) HDR TV, which means it will be able to play flat PS5 games that support a 120Hz performance mode and correctly show any HDR content that an HDR TV could.
While VR games on PSVR 2 run at 120Hz and HDR mode by default, flat PS5 games, and content require you to enable both 120Hz and HDR.
To achieve this, select Cinematic Mode under Settings > Accessories > PlayStation VR2. Select Cinematic Mode for Video Output next. There is a choice for both HDR and 120Hz output.
8. Adjust the Size of the PSVR 2 Cinematic Mode Screen
Now that you’re using your headset to play PS5 games like a high-end TV, do you ever wish your screen was a bit bigger or smaller?
The good news is that you can quickly change this by double-tapping the PlayStation button on the controller to enter the PSVR 2 fast settings and then adjusting the size using the Screen Size slider.
You may also press and hold the options button on the right controller to move the screen straight in front of you no matter where you are looking if you want to.
9. The Simple Way to Tighten Your Sense Controller Straps
Before it really happens, no one anticipates accidentally throwing their controller. Because of this, whenever I use a VR headset, I myself always utilize wristbands and advise others to do the same. I’ve used VR headsets for more than ten years, but during that time I haven’t cracked any controllers or TVs.
Because of a clever design by Sony, you can tighten the wrist straps on the PS Sense controllers with one hand.
Simply tighten the wrist strap by rotating your wrist after pulling the wrist strap to create tension on the band. Try turning your wrist the opposite way if it doesn’t seem to be working.
10. Dark Spaces Are No Longer Recommended
Because of how the tracking system on the original PSVR’s headset functioned, you would receive the best headset and controller tracking when playing in a dark area. The camera had an easier time picking up the bright tracking markers on the headset when everything else was dark.
Playing in a dark room will actually make tracking performance on PSVR 2 worse rather than better since it now uses an inside-out tracking method. Even though the headset does well at tracking in low light, it isn’t the best way to play, according to our research.
While playing in a room with regular lighting will offer you the best tracking performance on the headset, playing in too much sunshine (i.e., being entirely outside) is also a problem.
11. Make Tracking Support Available in Difficult Tracking Conditions
Speaking of tracking performance, if you experience problems with your headset’s tracking, you may enable a different setting that will use your TV as a tracking marker to give the headset something to lock onto.
Go to Settings > Accessories > PlayStation VR2 > Tracking Support and toggle the option on to enable tracking support for PSVR 2.
Because PSVR 2 tracking is so good, most individuals shouldn’t need this option, according to our tests. It might be useful in some particular circumstances (such as a room with numerous skylights letting in a tone of brilliant sunshine or a space that is entirely white with no discernible characteristics).
It should be noted that this option will only enhance head-tracking; if you’re experiencing tracking problems with just your PSVR 2 controllers, another issue is probably to a fault.
12. Enable Sidetone so you can more easily hear those around you.
I wish I had known about this when I initially started reviewing PSVR 2! Although the supplied earbuds with the headset perform a good job of noise isolation, you may use the ‘sidetone’ option to pick up sound from the headset’s microphone and deliver it through the earphones if you do need to hear what is going on outside of your headset.
On PSVR 2, go to Settings > Sound > Audio Output > Sidetone and set the volume as desired to enable Sidetone.
13. Discover Every Free PSVR 2 Demo Game
It’s worthwhile to keep an eye on the PSVR 2 demo store page if you’re unsure about which PSVR 2 game to purchase next. The majority of PSVR 2 games lack demonstrations, but few do, including notable titles such as Horizon Call of the Mountain and Resident Evil Village.
