Is virtual reality the gaming industry’s future?
People in the industry have been debating this matter for some time, with passionate opinions on both sides.
And nothing reignites a debate like a gleaming new piece of equipment.
With the release of PlayStation VR2, one of the largest players in the gaming industry predicts that virtual reality will play an important role in the industry for years to come.
Some believed Sony would abandon their virtual reality experiment after failing to invest in many blockbuster VR titles. Indicating a lack of confidence in their initial foray into this space.
I found the original PlayStation VR to be unpleasant, cumbersome, and a cable-worst tidier’s nightmare.
Released in 2016, it provided players with genuine moments of happiness, eliciting broad smiles when they first played Tetris Effect. Resident Evil 7, played with a headpiece, is without a doubt the most terrifying and traumatic video game experience I’ve ever had.
But these memorable instances were rare. The lack of truly must-play games, particularly those exclusive to the device, remained a persistent issue. Despite this, five million devices were reportedly sold globally.
Undoubtedly, the PS VR2 is sleeker, lighter, and more pleasant than its predecessor. It intends to position itself in the center of an increasingly congested VR market.
To use it, you must already own a PlayStation 5. If you own one, it is a virtual reality gaming option that is less expensive than the high-end Valve Index (which requires a top-drawer PC to run). However, its technical performance is more remarkable than cheaper alternatives such as the Meta Quest 2 (which costs approximately £400).
Does its release help resolve the question that has dogged gaming since Nintendo’s Virtual Boy was released in 1995? Is this how all gaming will appear in the future?
Videogames Chronicle (VGC) games journalist Jordan Middler spent time with the device before its release.
He claims that he has always desired a more immersive VR experience than what is currently available.
He begins, “From a hardware standpoint, it’s fantastic, an impressive headset.”
“The price (£529) may deter some, as it’s more than the PS5 console itself, but for the graphical power you’re receiving in that headset, it’s less expensive than its PC equivalents.”
Last month, Sony denied rumors that it had considerably lowered the headset’s sales projections due to a disappointing number of pre-orders. It was stated that the corporation anticipated selling 1.5 million devices rather than two million by March 2024.
Middler is impressed with the headset, but he is concerned about the same issue that has plagued VR gaming since its inception: what will people play? According to him, there are not enough distinct experiences available for the device.
“Horizon: Call of the Mountain is only truly available as a PS VR2 exclusive.
“Where are the other major Sony titles that contribute to the PlayStation’s popularity? Where can I find the Spiderman VR game or the Last of Us VR experience?
Many virtual reality devices are frequently criticized for lacking so-called “system-sellers,” or games that are so excellent that they compel people to purchase new hardware to play them.
If the preponderance of titles currently playable on the PS VR2 is also available on other headsets, why would players choose it?
Middler adds, “There’s not much coming down the track either.”
Currently, Sony is relying heavily on their Horizon series VR tie-in to carry the load.
Horizon: Call of the Mountain may be the only significant exclusive title at launch. But Middler describes it as “absolutely stunning.”
The release features mountain climbing and bow-and-arrow hunting in a post-apocalyptic world made famous by the character Aloy in 2017.
“I was surprised and a little embarrassed by how quickly the game had me tensing my arms and feeling achy about climbing a virtual mountain!” he chuckles.
“It captures the size of the machines that inhabit this location in a manner analogous to scenes from Jurassic Park. There are times when you pass beneath a Tall Neck, an enormous mechanical giraffe. And the game tricks your brain into believing you’re in that world.
“The gameplay supports it as well; this is not just a theme park experience.”
Currently, games for the original PlayStation VR are incompatible with its new companion. This means that players who have amassed a library of games for the PS VR1 will have to start from scratch if they decide to upgrade to the PS VR2, or wait until a remedy is made available.
Middler thinks this headset will attract “the hardest of the hard-core users” who believe virtual reality gaming is the future.
Given how the previous iteration was “abandoned” near the end of its life, he contends that players will need “a great deal of faith in PlayStation” to invest time and money in creating more games.
The PS VR2 is a microcosm of the virtual reality gaming experience to date. It has many advantages, but it also raises many concerns.
This device does not provide definitive answers, so the role of virtual reality in the future of gaming is likely to be a topic of discussion among industry professionals for some time.
