PLAYSTATION VR2

Bringing virtual-reality gaming to the PlayStation 5, the PSVR2 is brilliant, pricey, and won't be for everyone

HAVING PREVIOUSLY PLAYED HORIZON: CALL OF THE MOUNTAIN ON THE original PSVR, and being blown away by it, we were genuinely hyped for the official launch weeks later. So, is Sony's new virtual-reality headset the new must-have PS5 hardware accessory or will it become the latest dusty-at-the-back-of-a-cupboard piece of kit?

There's been plenty of discussion about whether PSVR2 is worth it. At R14 000, it costs a lot - you could go out and buy a top spec second PlayStation 5 for that money. But considering what you get, PSVR2 is actually not overpriced - a comparable PC headset, such as the HTC Vive Pro 2, costs twice that. PlayStation VR2 includes two PSVR2 Sense controllers, which we are going to call proper controllers, not those silly wand-like ones.

The headset's resolution, at 2 000 x 2 040 pixels per eye, is hugely detailed and will match or outclass much of the competition, thanks to its OLED panels with 90 Hz/120 Hz refresh rate. PSVR2 doesn't feature built-in speakers, which some will find surprising, but it does include a special set of in-ear headphones that connect perfectly to the headset, so they won't get in your way too much. If you don't really like in-ear headphones, you could do with TV audio and sacrifice the immersive three-dimensional effect, but instead we'd strongly suggest buying a Sony Pulse 3D Wireless headset for floaty-light audio without added wires.