Soapbox: PSVR's Crap Load of Cables Has Put Me Off

Probably the reason why I haven't bothered to go back into it.

Why don't you just leave all of the cables connected though? I leave everything connected except the headset itself, that way I can just plug it into that extra box and get started in less than one minute!

Yep can be a pain in the butt my dog is a nightmare with the cables.

I feel like I read this same article years ago when PSVR first launched, and feel like I just wrote this article a week ago when my first 4k tv arrived. 😂

Here's my headset sitting in the box connected to the breakout box which is connected to the sound system but the PS4 is connected directly to the tv. 🤷

No way it takes 10 minutes to set up imo. I agree the cables are a mess but is it really thst much a hardship. We have become used to everything being instantly available. I wouldn't let a few mins of set up put me of playing a potentially great gaming experience. Ofcourse everyone will have their own personal limits as to what irritates them and make it not worth while. I just don't think it's thst big a deal. Rant over lol

YES! Someone like me. I hated VR until I tried it for the first time, after that I was hooked. The first month was awesome but then, hooking up the little box+ the cables was so annoying I haven't touched VR in MONTHS.
I also have an additional problem. One of my Move controllers loses battery even if it's turned off, so everytime I want to play I have to charge it before.
The second problem is that my room is super tiny, so games like Beatsaber can't be played there, I simply don't have enough room for it.

But heck yeah, 1 cable next gen VR is a game changer! I just hope all titles I bought and never played for VR 1 work for VR 2

Cable spaghetti huh? Would love to see most of the peoples entertainment setups who complain about this type of thing...

Imagine living in a future where VR is equivalent to Ready Player One levels but with 12 cords you need to attach in total

Some people would STILL complain despite being able to literally transport to another reality

Assuming you have a ps5, you can presumably disconnect your ps4 from your TV and move a vr setup anywhere in your house/apt. Outside of a few coop games you don't really need the TV at all. So your ps5 can be for ps5 games and ps4 back compat and then ps4 can be just for vr and setup in the corner of a bedroom.

Cables are a bummer which is the point of the article. Totally agree. Another annoyance is i have 1st gen VR. So if I wanna play a game at 4k with HDR I need to swap out the hdmi so its doesn't get downgraded going through the VR box. Totally looking forward to PSVR2 to avoid issues like this down the line.

just re set mine up yesterday to watch some 3D movies, doesn't work on ps5 so had to set it up again on PS4, very much a big mess

@Discol76 wrong, it definitely takes at least ten minutes if you haven't set it up in ages and you have to start moving things around to make space and you're half guessing what goes where , that's the minimum, maybe there's and update and you have to re align everything, maybe your move controllers arentt charged, the list can go on

@Bad-MuthaAdebisi wrong. It took me three.

There you go. Argument.

@Bad-MuthaAdebisi "IMO" No it doesn't. Cables have markings on them. You can't mix them up🤷‍♂️

Charging and updates can apply to all games and controllers. Not here to argue. Like I said just my opinion and experience.

It's really not that complicated or time consuming to set up. I moved mine from one room to another recently and it took about 2 minutes. Leave it setup and it take 0 minutes. It's a lot less effort than typing this article must have been!

@Discol76 @naruball congratulations on your excellent work but it took me at least ten minutes, if you've mastered the art of unboxing and setting up psvr from box to playing a movie or a game in under ten minutes or 3 then I'm pretty amazed, I doubt very much that speed run setups are the norm

I don’t really see that much of an issue, it’s a 2 minute set up job 😂

Wireless or bust for me. I really hope PSVR2 does well, because the VR space needs more solid contenders that are affordable, but it's hard to step back from Quest/Quest2's convenience.

It was very stupid of Sony to push HDR so hard with the buildup to Horizon Zero Dawn and then launch the freaking VR without HDR pass through.

I actually the first model close to release and then bought a Pro to get the added benefits. Later I gave that one to my kids and both the second edition because of the HDR issue.

I plan on buying the PSVR2 as well.

@Bad-MuthaAdebisi

yeah it's not so much that the cables are that confusing (but they kinda are), it's that most people aren't dealing with a floating setup in the middle of the room, free of any and all obstacles. It's usually a massive TV 6 inches from a wall that services a switch, a pc, a cable box, a PlayStation, a modem and router, and a sound setup. And not everything fits on the most convenient side of the TV, which means running cables up and around it and the stand or down below or through some kind of wall tunnel or zip ties if you're into that kind of thing.

Like seriously it's a pain. No reason to act like it's not, not even a little.

But that's why I refuse to disconnect any of that if I can help it.

I have quite the system I use Velcro to keep it in place underneath the TV set also Velcro if I’m sitting I just Velcro the one piece to the chair and it goes right to the helmet very easily. I also have some shower rings that I use to put on my shirt and pants to keep the cables in place When standing. Really not that hard to do and it works. Obviously wireless would be much better LOL

Yeah it does my head in as well,its such a load of faff,I love vr and once you're in the experience its superb, resi 7 is the only way to play, but god getting there is a massive headache,at this moment though I've had a few rums and I'm seriously thinking about putting thumper on 😁

@Wavey84
I had to redecorate the whole room, so everything was unplugged.

depresses me every time i think of it 😭

I agree.

But to quote the author from another article about what does just amount to a slightly more complex process than desired:

" it's not ideal and could be better, but it's hardly quantum physics."

True. I just traded my PSVR set into EB Games as I honestly couldn't be bothered with the hassle of setting it up with my PS5. One cable for the new one will be a godsend.

I’m happy I have version 2 with passthrough. No such problem. Just leave it connected. What you’re really lamenting is hardware obsolescence.

That was one of the biggest reasons why I got rid of mine. The lack of HDR passthrough. Such a faff to disconnect and reconnect.

Yes I could have got the upgraded version but I wasn't spending around another 300 quid on another unit.

Ridiculous that they sold the VR and the pro around the same time and it didn't support of of the big selling points of the pro at the time.

That's one of the few reasons why I dont care to buy a VR system. Until there are less wires and way more full fledged games made for it I'll consider buying it.

The crap controllers bother me than the cables.
I love my PSVR but those Moves....
I mainly use my Quest 2 now.
Still, problem solved soon.

I've never tried vr but I would be interested in the llamasoft games, there's around 5 I think.
Moose life
Minotaur arcade vol 1 (goat up and grid runner)
Tempest 4k
Polybius

@Wavey84 'whalla'?

@Bad-MuthaAdebisi our point is that each person's experience is different. You can't tell someone they're wrong about their own experience. You can only speak about yourself.

Since I got a quest 2, I can’t be bothered firing up the PSVR. I’ve got a PS5 & a had a switch box to deal with the HDR issue but that doesn’t work with the new console.
I really want to try the games that had patches for PS5 resolution unlocks but I have a mental lazy barrier that compares the grab it & go ease of use with the quest & then I just can’t be bothered.
Really want to have a few races of GT Sport with the wheel, but then have to hook that up too. I hope Sony come out with a wireless option too. Virtual Desktop works well with the quest - no reason Sony can’t do something similar

I own the original PS Move Charging station (yaaay for me), but I own the first iteration of VR as well and even though I’m handy with cable management, I always hate to reconnect my cables because of HDR, even though it’s a matter of 30 seconds.
I think the problem is that I’ve done it SO many times over the yeas that I rather pick a 2D game in the end.

I'm not bothered because my PSVR is second model & it's always set up. But I see where you're coming from.

One of the main reasons Quest has taken VR industry by storm. I suspect.

Don't have PSVR - didn't have the money, and now that I do I'm waiting for version 2. But...

Why not have it all set up BOTH WAYS, with a second HDMI cable to connect to the PS4/PS5 that you just unplug, to swap out the one that's plugged in directly to your TV? That is, two complete setups, from PS to the other end, that you just swap out and then tell your TV/receiver which connection you're using? If you've got the connections to your TV or receiver, you could have it so the only thing to do is swap which cable is connected to the back of your console.

I really don't think it's that big of a deal. 5-10 mins is nothing. I can't imagine being so lazy.

I've enjoyed the VR experience with games like Thumper and Astro Boy etc, but I haven't bothered with the PSVR for over a year, because of the same reasons as the writer. No cables are very much preferable, but the next Sony one defo has my interest peaked. Btw if you are up for some PS5 multiplayer from time to time, then please do add me - HotstuffFred 👍🏻

I'm going to wait for PS:VR3 and hopefully that will be wireless completely. Saying that I would rather SONY not bother really with VR. It just seems a waste of their time(which they could use that time making more AAA normal games) Oh well.

Did anybody else have a dentist that had video games for them to play when they were growing up? I remember our dentist had a headset that you would put on and they’d let you choose from a bunch of GameCube games. Good times. 🪥🕹

@Wavey84 2 words...

...Tether free.

@RainbowGazelle Being lazy and understanding inconvenience are different things.

A lot of people think that regarding something inconvenient must mean that you are lazy. A minor inconvenience is still an inconvenience, and you should be able to speak about it without someone dismissing what you've said. I wouldn't go as far as not buying it because of this, but it definitely means something, and I'd like to see it brought up like in this article.

All the cables for our tv, ps5, DVD player, harmony hub, HDMI sync box, Hue lights, etc, are all carefully hidden from view. Thus, our PSVR has remained packed away indefinitely.

@Wavey84 I know the PS5 it's using wifi 6. Maybe that can play some part.

I'm guessing you got the digital only PS5 since getting up and changing discs is too much of an inconvenience for you lol

Jfc do you people do nothing but complain.

The very existence of the V1 headset and its lack of HDR passthrough is a major source of annoyance. It’s the headset I own and it’s quirks, coupled with the fact that I experience HDMI handshake issues with the Pro have meant that just getting something on the screen can still be trial and error. To this day, I need to have the headset plugged in to the processor unit even if I want to play games normally on the television. I’ve yet to setup PSVR on the PS5, but hopefully the issues I’ve experienced will not persist.

I can’t really justify upgrading to a V2 headset, especially in the light of the announcement of the next generation. I hope that PSVR2 is backwards compatible (hopefully something like camera tracking won’t prove an issue?), as it would be good to set the original headset aside in favour of a device that hopefully offers a better, more streamlined experience, free of quirks and little annoyances.

@Wavey84 tether free on the quest 2 is a huge game changer, even with the limited FOV of the Q2, I much prefer that over the PSVR. Replaying a lot of games I already own on the PSVR & they’re way more fun on the Quest 2.

No weight from the cable & nothing getting in the way means you can really get into the room scale games. Not to mention the increased resolution of the Q2 screen makes everything sharper.

You can tell there is some compression with Virtual Desktop, but to play HL:Alex on a wireless headset beats every PSVR game I’ve played.

You’re looking into the numbers & dismissing it already. Wait until you experience it for yourself & you’ll see how important having no cables can be

@get2sammyb
I left my gen 1 (no HDR passthrough) PSVR hooked up, added the camera adapter for the PS5, and just ran two HDMI cables to my Sony X900H (U.S.) HDMI 3 (120Hz w/ERC for plain PS5) and 4 (120Hz w/o ERC for PSVR). It's an inconvenience, to be sure, but all I have to do is swap one HDMI cable for the other on the back of the PS5. The X900H automatically detects where the PS5 is transmitting and switches inputs accordingly. The Move controllers charge via the PSVR headset stand.

That said, swapping everything from the PS4 to the PS5? That was a pain. So. Many. Cords.

There really are a lot of wires. They ended up getting tied together so badly that my reciever unit resembled a strapped-for-cash student in a dingy sex club in Amsterdam.

Only problem with the cables was the originals non HDR pass through. I bought the second version as well, just so I could have it. From then on, I just left it all plugged in. Took 30 seconds to start playing.

However, even with the original, it took no more than 2 minutes to plug in, and that’s with hardly any room to access the back of my PS4. I get everyone hates cables, (I do too) but I don’t think it’s anywhere near as big of a problem as it’s often written about.

PSVR was easily the best addition to the last gen.

I can’t wait for PSVR 2.

@rjejr I can see everything in that photo except the PSVR

Still think PSVR is absolutely incredible. I just leave it all hooked up and plug in the headset when its go time and I'm in in 60 seconds or less.
The aging tech is whats growing tired for me. The grainy low res visuals and prehistoric Move controllers are getting ombre annoying each day. I'm still cool with it all for now but will be eager to get my hands on the next gen one (not to mention a PS5).

After I purchased a 4K HDR TV for my PS4-Pro I was done with PSVR1! The hassle was real and HDMI ports are prone to breakage. I did not want to risk what I think was the number one reason for PS4 to fail.

Sony PlayStation should have stepped up and fixed this HDR Issue. At the very least offered a new breakout box for sale.

I was as excited about the new PSVR for PS5 at first. But now I really don't know if I will purchase one. Buying a 4k TV and upgrading to A PS4 Pro along with Sony's lack or resolution for the issue has left me with a bitter feeling for PSVR. I still have not received my camera adapter to try PSVR on my PS5.

I have taken mine upstairs to the office when I moved my PS4 as the PS5 is downstairs. That means I am fine for sit down games but I have no room for anything active. I also have a 4k HDR tv so not using the passout box on the PS5.

I'm tempted by the Occulus Quest 2 at the moment, especially since Sony are clearly a year or two out from releasing the PSVR2. THe idea of wireless with no cables, or if I want PC gaming, just one wire, will give VR a new lease of life to me.

I loved VR and was an early adopter but I have been unable to play it since having a 4K HDR TV as getting to the back of my TV to change over cables etc can be a bit of a nightmare but I'm saving up for PSVR 2 and the new move controllers so looking forward to playing when released. Does anyone know roughly when PSVR2 is pencilled in for release?

Agreed it is not ideal but now I am lucky enough to have a PS5 my Pro is just my VR machine and always setup so it is no an issue for me any more. I tend to sit down for most of my VR games, Iron Man and Batman being the exceptions so the cables to the console are not an issue for me.
The PSVR2 having just one cable will hopefully help to get more people on board

Even though the wired nature of Sony VR is not that much of an issue for the tech savvy, I would feel it has held the format back from reaching a much bigger portion of Sony PS4 customers, I feel if it had been wireless the adoption would have been higher.

Vr is a tough sell in the first place for the mass market, it's immersion which cuts you totally off from the real world is a great selling point, but at the same time the total detachment from your real world surroundings is still a barrier for many, this is before you start to address motion sickness etc.

Tl;dr: I want the current PSVR version, that removes the need to disconnect for HDR screens, and so completely removes this minor inconvenience, but instead of getting it I’ll complain about the old obsolete model that hasn’t been sold in forever.

I had a similar relationship with the PSVR. Plus the entertainment unit wasn't big enough for the break out box as well as the ps4. I quite liked the games I had for it but it was just such a pain to connect it up. I ended up selling this on. Sometimes I wish I still had it for a few of the games that have now been released but I know I would only use it for a few weeks and then it would just be a dust collector.

I have my PS5 set up in my office, and I have managed to hide the PSVR box underneath with velcro tape. Looks clean and means I can just set up the VR whenever I feel inclined. Was proud of how tidy it was until I decided to streaming. Now that side of my desk is littered in cables haha!

Honestly, you should take this down. Yeah OK, you have last gen hardware and a New Gen TV.

Guess what? I had to change out my bluray player for a 4K player, all HDMI cables were replaced, 7.1 Onkyo THX certified receiver had to be replaced ($$) just because I bought an OLED 4k tv. Oh, and I gave my son my PSVR unit and bought the NEXT GEN version that allows 4k and HDR passthrough. Also upgraded to the PS4 Pro since I was going 4k... Tech gets old and you need to keep up to date or everything will need to replaced to accommodate a new component. Now all of my gear that is two years old runs my PS5 like a dream.

I had PSVR but it made me feel extremely ill every time I attempted to play it, I don't get travel sickness or any other form of motion sickness but that really affected me

@dexter419
Exactly my my thoughts too.

Wow color me shocked! Another article about Sammy bitching and whining about something. Something that is not a big deal and easily fixable. First of all it is not that difficult to set it up. And really a sign of the times of how lazy and short of attention this generation is. The instant access to everything and addictive mind state our cellphones foster with their sights and sounds going off constantly has made simple things seem like a chore to many people. It literally takes less than ten minutes to set up. Or here's the other easy solution, keep it set up at all times. I keep it plugged in all the time and have a container I store it in next to my tv. As the saying goes, there are no problems, only solutions.

@BranJ0
The major issue with psvr mk1 is the lack of HDR and everytime you wanna watch or play a non VR program, you have to plug back the hdmi cable going from your ps4 to the Psvr box back to your TV.

@DEDE1973 White box on the lower left corner w/ the blue cable on top, it's the box it came in. I keep it in there to help keep the dust off as I rarely use it. It was on the floor just in front of the PS4 but I had to move everything to get the TV out of the box and the legs attached last Wednesday.

The best thing to do is dedicate a PS4 for VR use and leave the cables installed. You’ll have real problems if you keep pulling them out and putting them back in all the time.

True, PS5 VR has fixed all that but why wait? You can get a used PS4 pretty cheap and trade it all in when PS5 VR comes out.

@BranJ0 Because as the author says the orginal PSVR was not HDR pass-thru. Therefore you lose one of the greatest advances in display technology for wanting to use one of the other greatest advances in display technology

@PSVR_lover an option. But its good to just have one box to power on and with the great backwards compat of the PS5 many of us have long since put the PS4 in the loft/in the classifieds.

I would leave my PSVR/PS5 hooked up if the HDR issues didn't exist - but HDR is so much of a game change I'm not about to do without it for the odd hour of VR time.

I gave up on my vr a couple of years ago. The messy cables, the heavy helmet, the camera/space limitations, the low resolution etc were game breakings.
Although, i recognise it was a great, affordable effort from Sony with a true, groundbreaking virtual reality feeling but unfortunately the.. reality was stronger with this one.
Possibly i'll make one last try to experience the Paper Beast and then wait for the 3rd generation which i hope will solve most of the problems.

What?? This article is complete BS!
I take about 10 seconds to connect the headset.. and that’s it.
What’s so complicated? It’s just ONE cord with two plugs.

@kohiba99

“I gave up on my vr a couple of years ago. The messy cables, the heavy helmet, the camera/space limitations, the low resolution etc were game breakings.
Although, i recognise it was a great, affordable effort from Sony with a true, groundbreaking virtual reality feeling but unfortunately the.. reality was stronger with this one.
Possibly i'll make one last try to experience the Paper Beast and then wait for the 3rd generation which i hope will solve most of the problems.”

Yep, PS5 VR should be your cup of tea. Will resolve most of these issues and give a much better VR experience.

I know I am real excited for it!

I agree with this post. I love PSVR but it was so nice when I packed it away. The breaker box going into standby and needing to be unplugged/plugged, got a bit tiresome.