PSVR 2 release date is February 22, costs $549

PSVR 2 pre-orders begin on November 15, but it costs more than the PS5 console that's required

(Credit: Sony)

➡️ The Shortcut Skinny

• 📆 Sony’s PSVR 2 will launch Feb 22, 2023

• 💰 The next-gen PS5 VR headset cost $549

• 🛍️ PSVR 2 pre-orders begin on Nov 15

• 📦 Box includes VR headset, Sense controllers, stereo headphones

• 🏹 Horizon Call of the Moutain bundle adds a game for $599.99

Sony has announced the PlayStation VR2 release date, and the PSVR 2 pre-order is sooner than we initially thought.

The next-gen PS5-compatible headset will ship on February 22, 2023, for $549.99 and includes the headset itself, a pair of PSVR 2 Sense controllers, and stereo headphones. However, the PSVR pre-order date is November 15.

Sony also revealed a new PSVR 2 accessory, the PlayStation VR2 Sense controller charging station which costs $49.99. Players can charge their PSVR 2 Sense controllers without having to connect to a PS5 console, much like the DualSense Charging Station, one of the best PS5 accessories.

A bundle with Horizon Call of the Mountain will also be available and will cost $599.99, which suggests PSVR 2 games might not carry the $70 price tag of other first-party PS5 games.

Sony has said other PSVR 2 games will be available for pre-order starting this month, but more details will be provided at a later date.

PSVR 2 pre-order date is this month

You’ll be able to pre-order PSVR 2 on November 15 and players can begin to register for pre-orders starting today. Players in the US, UK, France, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg will only be able to pre-order PSVR 2 through Sony’s PlayStation online store, direct.playstation.com, as it seems other retailers will have to wait.

In other markets, PSVR 2 will be sold at participating retailers, and the pre-order date remains the same: November 15.

The PSVR 2 is priced slightly higher than the PS5 disc vs Digital, which costs $499.99 and $399.99, respectively, in the US but went up in price in the rest of the world in August.

That means you’ll need to part with $1,049.98 if you want to enter Sony’s VR ecosystem. Compare that to Meta Quest 2, which starts at $399.99, and it’s a rather big ask.

The original PSVR launched for $399.99 but didn’t sport the same cutting-edge tech as the PlayStation VR 2 is packing. PSVR 2 has an OLED display, with a panel resolution of 2000 x 2040 per eye. Those crystal clear panels update at 90Hz or 120Hz, and you can adjust the lens separation to suit.

If that wasn’t enough, the PSVR 2 has a wide field of view of 110 degrees, four cameras for headset and controller tracking, eye tracking, haptic feedback on the headset, and a built-in microphone. Basically, it’s one of the most powerful VR headsets on the market.

Will the PSVR 2 be a success? 🤔

Virtual reality headsets have grown in popularity over the last few years, driven primarily by the Meta Quest 2. While we’re expecting to see Meta Quest 3 launch next year, the recent $100 price increase of Meta’s headset definitely softens the blow when it comes to Sony’s PSVR 2 pricing.

In fact, the recent PS5 DualSense Edge Controller price of $199.99 makes the idea of paying for a high-end VR headset more palatable, but the main concern surrounding Sony’s headset is obvious: can the Japanese electronics giant deliver more PS5s to consumers?

Finding a PS5 restock remains a challenge, even though the console is approaching its two-year anniversary. A lot of people, myself included, still aren’t sold on virtual reality in general. The idea of shutting myself off from the world and requiring a dedicated playspace to enjoy PSVR 2 makes it less appealing than grabbing a controller and playing some of the best PS5 games on my couch.

However, if there’s ever going to be a product that gets me into VR, it’ll be the PlayStation VR2. Sony will hope it can make more of an impact in the VR market than the original PSVR did, as will the rest of the industry who are banking on virtual reality to be a success.