Optimistic PS5 fans believe Sony may have leaked a wireless PSVR2 headset. Today’s firmware update announcement brought news of an upgraded Welcome hub for the new-gen system. This customisable portal allows you to display a variety of gaming information, including your Trophies and PS Store wishlist.
One widget, however, also allows you to display your DualSense battery information. And, in an image on the PS Blog, it clearly shows a PSVR2 headset with a battery indicator beneath it. Initially we believed this may be referring to the PSVR2 Sense Controllers, but having tested this out on our own console, we’ve discovered they have their own unique icons, different to what’s seen in Sony’s picture.
What is this PSVR2 battery indicator all about, then? Well, some believe it’s hinting at some kind of wireless version of Sony’s virtual reality headset. Currently, you need to connect the accessory to your console using a single USB cable, which some find restrictive. Aside from the price of the peripheral and some issues with its lenses, this is the biggest criticism that’s been pointed at the product.
But sales of PSVR2 have been slow, and Sony’s support for the headset has largely evaporated. While new virtual reality titles are still releasing on the PS Store, many of them have been developed by smaller studios, and there are currently no first-party exclusives announced for the device. It’d be strange to see the Japanese giant invest in a new wireless model, then.
As such, we’re going to assume this is just a mock-up designed to showcase the Welcome hub that’s not necessarily reflective of its actual features. It’s an interesting spot, though, and we’ll check with the manufacturer to see if it has any plans for a wireless PSVR2 in the future.
Would you buy a wireless PSVR2 headset? (2,124 votes)
- Yes, I'd buy PSVR2 for the first time if it was wireless
- Hell yeah, I'd upgrade from my existing wired PSVR2
- Hmm, it'd depend on the price
- No, I already have a PSVR2 headset and don't mind the cable
- No way, I have no interest in PSVR2 at all right now
[source blog.playstation.com]
Comments 49
It’ll probably be £100 more for the privilege of shipping with less wires.
Considering that Sony has seemingly forgotten that PS VR2 exists and gave up on it faster than they did with Vita... wireless version is definitely not happening.
Just sold my PSVR2 funnily enough, it’s a great piece of tech but the first party support is so dire right now, I’ll be hoping that another price drop comes further down the line once this wireless model drops (if it’s real).
Happy with my wired one... love a bit of kayaking for arm exercise and mellowing out 👌
Perhaps there was a plan to do one at some point but I doubt it's in the cards now. I think this was just an honest mistake. It would be wild for them to do this now with PSVR2.
£1399 head strap sold separately
Whoever's console that is you barely have any storage left, time to delete crap 😬 oh and I'm not even looking in PSVR's direction till at least one Sony studio is dedicated to making games for it!
"Sony’s support for the headset has largely evaporated."
Because people didn't buy it. The demand just isn't there.
You'd probably need a PS5 Pro with WiFi 7 to be be able to play wireless, if this theoretical PS VR2 Pro even exists.
Dam you all beat me to it. 🤣
I would be very interested in a wireless PSVR2, but i'd like them to show some more support for the platform first
I don't think this qualifies as news.
Couldn't it be more likely battery level for PSVR2 controllers? And they use Headset icon so it is easily understandable?
@REALAIS It's in the article! We tested that and the PSVR2 Sense Controllers have a different icon to the one in Sony's image.
@get2sammyb did you also test it with a pair of PS earbuds connected to the system? It appears that the hub can only show the battery level of 3 devices at a time so it would make sense to combine both VR controllers into one icon when you surpass that limit since you can't turn off one controller with the other staying on
PSVR2 support failed me and my interests. I got a Quest 3 and am quite pleased with it.
That being said, a Quest 3 versus a wireless PSVR2 would have been a MUCH different choice for me to make.
At this point, Sony should just make a standalone PSVR headset. That would do way better than a $550 wired headset that works with one console at launch with a limited library. A simple wireless option is not enough.
If only the quest 3 could be used on the ps5 with an adapter.
They don't even bother supporting the vr they have now....one first party game...and no others on the horizon
Don't know why, but I thought a wireless accessory pack could be a thing. No idea how it would work lol. Unless sony are trying a new much cheaper revision of VR2 (given most peoples mindsets on this site sub £200) can't see this being a thing tbh. Although it seems sony are happy with the roughly 2 mil they've sold already.
@Yozora146_ that 2 mil is made up by fans. Sony has not given a concrete sales number since 6 weeks after launch when they showed the headset selling 600k but with a graph showing sales already plateauing
All yours for the great price of £750 come with an Amazing 1 hour battery life! 😬
@PloverNutter made up by fans is pretty harsh, when its from sources that also estimate meta quest 2,3 sales, seeing as meta don't officially report units sold.
To convince me on PSVR2 you would need more first party games rather than fewer wires. Even the PSVR1 multiple wires and awkward setup didn't bother me because there were games worth playing (Astro Bot Rescue Mission, Moss, etc)
God here we go again, don't support a device they totally overpriced( I'm a mug who bought one) then to kick us early adopters in the balls. I know let's make a wireless version FFS I hope this is fake news.
@NeuralDeclan agreed 👍
@TrickyDicky99 yeah, never said they were good numbers lol. The recent sale is what gave it that push. Things look a bit poor for VR headsets at the moment, even the MQ3 isnt doing that well if estimates are accurate.
Sony might be opting to open up PSVR2 to platforms developments.
If they cant support it through their own IPs then perhaps the move to pc was the first indicator of opening it to support from other platforms.
Seems like a decent strategy to not entirely give up on it.
Perhaps an upcoming PSVR2 Pro for $650 with the controllers sold separately?! lol
At this point I wouldn't even doubt it from Sony. First they sell overpriced headsets, then they abandon them, then they fire all the developers making games for them, then they sell a new wireless version for more money. Sure. Why not? Concord VR can be the killer app.
Wireless is tricky. It takes MORE GPU power to run for the encoder, can be dodgy and benefits from external antennas so would likely assume wired ethernet to a Wifi6 router, nearby with nothing else on it (which isn't so different from Quest PCVR wireless.) and the headset would then need the antennas and more importantly build in processing, OS, everything, like the XR2 in the Quest 3, Pico 4, and Pimax Crystal. And batteries. It adds a lot to the cost of the headset, and performance is still worse.
Would Sony make a MORE expensive VR2 that requires its own OS and onboard processing, after finding out VR2 only sold when they slashed the price? I wouldn't put anything past the XStationBox at this point.
No. They haven’t shown they are supporting VR games, and it always comes back to games. Many third parties are also skipping PSVR2
For PS5 Pro only? (Due to wireless connection?)
"Sony are so bad at communication that fans start wild mass speculation based on a thumbnail". Yeah, sounds about right. Some of the same who think the PS5 Pro is "good value" probably.
I got the PSVR2 when it released but had screen issues after a few weeks so got a refund. Was good, but don't think I'd bother getting it again.
@NeonMullet Most PS5 owners are turned off because Sony hasn't supported it the way they suggested they would. VR is a tough sell as it is, the price at lunch made that tougher and while I wholeheartedly disagree with people who say it has no games, it doesn't have many exclusives or games that show what it can really do. They had the benefit of launching before the Q3 and totally wasted it. For the longest time the PSVR2 category wasn't even immediately visible on the PS Store and I suspect it wasn't being kept up-to-date properly either; I keep an eye on it and I'm convinced I've seen games that have apparently been out for months suddenly appear on the list.
There's absolutely no need for a refresh when the current one has had so much negative press and user coverage, a wireless one won't fix that.
$999.99, only works if the disk drive is detached, and you have to pay 25 cents every time you play it. It has a coin slot lol
I have a hard time believing Sony would release a new SKU of PSVR2 with the sales struggles of the original unit
If it still has to communicate with the playstation, then wireless seems a little pointless to be honest. You're still going to have to be near your ps5.
That said, I find it hard to believe a completely standalone one is in the works, one that offers the same quality as psvr2 would cost a fortune to make, assuming it's even currently possible.
Maybe they have a wireless version themselves but don't plan on releasing it. Maybe they will, but with how they stopped supporting it, I don't think they will release it now. Idk
@Rich33 typically onboard WiFi isn't good for vr on pcvr. Some of that is Windows drivers but some is the antennas just don't have the power. Usually a dedicated router nearby on its own channel is necessary. Something with higher broadcast power then the onboard WiFi amplifier and antenna likely have.
@Balosi Wireless isn't pointless. Games involving physical motion like beat saber, then c-smash etc are much easier to play without tangling in a wire even if you're close to the machine. It's not about being far away from the machine it's about but have a wire wrap around you or get in the way for more active games. BUT it comes with costs and can be unreliable because radio is radio and that's a lot of bandwidth. Many people prefer pcvr on quest because of wireless and pimax Crystal is getting a very expensive high bandwidth wireless module. Otoh wireless cant replace wired for high quality above all, and the high res wired formats already saturate display port 1.4 completely. New models have to wait for new gpus because they're out of bandwidth until dp2.1. that kind of bandwidth will never work over radio. Physics prevents it.
@NEStalgia
Wasnt sure tbh as Wireless VR is not anything ive looked into too much - i just thought it a strangely coincidental timing as we have just found out Pro will have upgraded WiFi.
@Rich33 Yeah, I mean I guess we can't say for sure that's not their plan, but considering pavr2 sales and bringing it to PC, I kind of can't imagine them making an even more expensive to produce headset and then limiting it to pro which will have a small install base anyway. They COULD have put strong antennae into pro for that but... It would be funny if people are forced to pay $700 to fund the VR enthusiasts 😂
@Slideaway1983 absolute best game for the psvr2
I already own a quest 2. I don't need anything else. I don't even use it enough. I am looking forward to that metro vr game.
I prefer having a wire. Less weight, one less device to charge and I don't have a battery next to my head.
An adapter device for wireless I reckon could be the way. Clip it on to your trousers or stick it in a bag/backpack or something similar.
Is it possible it could be a battery pack to attach to it?
@NEStalgia
Yeah, didnt realise you would need a special antennae (as opposed to just better wifi) until you said - probably im just adding 2 and 2 together and making 5 (mainly because i was surprised they were using upgraded Wifi for Pro).
@Rich33 I'm betting the Wi-Fi 7 comes in the platform chip they're getting from AMD. High end mobos seem to all come with it now which is kind of funny because good luck finding a Wi-Fi 7 router. There's less than a dozen and they cost as much as the pro 😂
All for the amazing low price of 899.99
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