A Year Since Its Release, Sony Seems to Have Abandoned PlayStation VR2

They literally just announced a MetroVR game that looks sick and that they’re adding PC support. They’ve hardly given up.

Wait, as in official PC compatibility for the HMD?

Like, could I play Call of the Mountain on a PC!? (if it gets a port after Forbidden West)

Edit: Holy shit, yep. That's amazing, the PSVR2 hardware is some of the best available right now, if it works with SteamVR it might finally be a legit upgrade option for me from the Index.
- As in, using the PSVR2 to play PCVR games on your PC.
  
  I’ve got an Index and have played PSVR2. I still prefer the Index because of the knuckles. I’d be interested in seeing if I could use the headset + knuckles
- I'd imagine it'll work through something like Steam Link like the Quest line of headsets do. Which is still nice, but that means for me trying to invest in networking gear that may or may not work. 😩
  
  (and I've tried powerline, I've gone through three of those things, they all have a habit of disconnecting unless I ping my router. Someone on Twitter suggested that I rewire my entire house as if I can afford to do that. 😐)
The Metro game isn't exclusive to playstation though.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2669410/Metro_Awakening/

It's not like Sony did anything and adding support for another platform because your own platform has so few games, seems like giving up to me.

Well, I hope they will support Steam VR without any annoying stuff getting in the way. On a related note, why can't just Sony publish working normal wireless PC drivers for their controllers on their website?
They really should have done that day one.
I'm hoping it's going to be openly compatible with any pcvr games and that they don't lock it down to only games that either pay Sony for compatibility or only for use on ported Sony games.

VR always dies, then 10 years later it comes back, then dies again. Can't wait for the next iteration in 10 years.

I wouldn't really call VR dead when headset sales are increasing every single year. The Quest 2 has sold half as many units as there are PS5s
- Damn that's actually crazy thinking about it. Half as much as a mainstream traditional console. Hopefully this trend continues so we have more and more better games to look forward to.
I think they'll have the best luck converting a generation of kids to VR and not consoles. I think people who grew up playing consoles have a hard time really getting into VR because it's so different. I've had a Quest 2 for a couple years and often forget I even own it because it's used so rarely, but my kid loves it and everyone else I know with kids and VR seem to be in the same boat.

For me, the games are so-so but lack much of a "wow factor" to keep me hooked on them. Although, these days I don't play many games at all compared to several years ago.
- One of the biggest problems is there really isn't a lot of cross over between VR and traditional gaming. Games that are built for screens rarely work well in VR and vice-versa. So to properly support VR gaming, you need to be investing in creating games that have a substantially limited market. Even then the tech has a "not quite there yet" feel to it which really discourages adoption, considering the substantial cost for a quality setup.
- It's the issues over the immersion, mostly. The bit of eyestrain and the nausea if you're walking around in game that has to be worked around. After the wow factor goes away it's not much better for many games than just gaming on a screen. Flight sim stuff and racing games could be great, but those aren't super popular sectors right now, and trying to play something like COD would be really nauseous. Personally, I want a great boxing game(I know. Also niche). None have been programmed well enough on VR.

There just isn’t enough games so there isn’t enough players so there isn’t enough games.

People want full AAA titles, not just 50 minute “experiences”. If PSVR had Skyrim VR, GTA VR, and a real FPS with a full length campaign I’d probably finally get it.

I’m not paying $600 for mini golf and horizon call of the mountain

PSVR1 does have Skyrim VR funnily enough.
I'm in the Quest space and it's kind of barren on PC, too. There are not as many Skyrim VR level games as you'd think. And things like GTA in VR are done with mods and don't always work.

But the porn definitely makes it worth the $500.
Which is why Quest is beating PSVR in terms of overall experience. Of course, it's still not doing as well as it seems to need to. ACNexus did reasonably well considering the audience size, but they're still pulling out.

I'm sure the corp interest rates issue is part of it all, but nobody seems to be able to overcome the "why would I buy VR with no games?" and "why would I research games for VR if I don't have VR?"

I mean, for me, I've powered through more solid VR games since jan-1 than I've played PC/PS/Xbox games in the last 3 or 4 years. But the games I've been playing are The Room and 7th Guest (OMG t7G remake is the GOAT). Popular among an older generation, but not great to build a critical-mass following.

There's a marketing challenge and nobody has solved it. Even when I got my headset it was more of a "shit, I have nothing else to ask my wife for for Christmas... The HELL do I pick?"

I mean it's not like Sony doesn't have a history of failing to support their peripherals with first-party titles. Then again adding PC support feels like they recognize there aren't enough first-party titles and are trying to pad the library of games out. At least it means the VR2 is less likely to just sit around collecting dust.

VR going the way of 3D TV is inevitable.

Nah, when VR is good it's incredible. We're still at the early days - PSVR just isn't a good enough experience, neither is Meta's Quest. PC VR is the only good experience but it's still limited by relatively high PC specs, expensive VR hardware, limitations by tethering and slow growth in AAA content.

But VR is not a flash in the pan; the technology just hasn't quite reached the sweet spot of quality vs price. It'll get there.

3D TV was pointless gimick; you'd notice it for 5 mins and then forget you were watching 3D.
- We are in the early days only in the context of progress. Timewise VR headsets have already been around for a decade and for half a decade we've heard the "the tech just hasn't quite reached the sweet spot yet" argument. The only reason we're not considering it a flash in the pan is because there are still companies pouring money into that tech.

They need to make killer apps for these devices first before they try to push them. I can only think of Half Life Alyx as the one example of something I wish I'd pkayed. There looked like there was one called Asgard's Wrath 2 which got a lot of acclaim recently but overall it's a pretty thin offering.

I know I’m probably in the minority, but I’ve easily spent over $500, probably closer to $1000 on PSVR2 games, and I’ve played it almost every single day for the last year. I’ve never had VR before this, and I really enjoy mine. Before the VR2, My PS5 was mostly unused, and now I’m actually getting my money’s worth from it.

Walkabout minigolf is sick just FYI
- Oh yeah. Ran through a ton of that. My nephews both have it on quest and it does seamless cross play compatibility with them. I was so impressed. The voice chat and multiplayer just work flawlessly.
Yes, I have had the PSVR 2 since launch. Though I haven't played as much as the above, I do enjoy it. I am bummed about the lack of a large library but I also understand that VR is not exactly in the highest priority.

Beat Saber and RecRoom have been most of my time. Job Simulator is a great one. Lately I have been playing walking dead saints and sinners which is pretty fun but wish it were multi-player. The best coop one I have played was Arizona Sunshine. It was an absolute pleasure to play with a friend. Otheersie. The horizon zero dawn vr game was great but I was over it quickly. Moss is a pretty good vr blend game. Some of the shooters are good too like Firewall or the star wars game.

Overall, I feel like VR would be better if the library was growing faster.
I would like to adopt VR gaming more into my life but I have some important aspects that forbid me to do so:

I'm a lazy ass.

Heat, heat is real here that makes it uncomfortable to use even when using a fan or AC (I usually use the latter) and I'm a sucker for getting comfy while playing (refer to the first point) so that is why handheld is and will always be my favorite gaming format.

It is too expensive, and I only have the PSVR 1 with a PS4 slim at the moment, possibly the worst way to experience VR gaming (I am still amazed at how immersive it can be even with those graphics/resolutions).

I get dizzy, refer to the first point again, I don't want to be dizzy, I never could develop my VR legs I tried though, but I just couldn't force myself to enjoy gaming.

I think these are the most prominent points, if somehow I could fix all of those suddenly I'd do VR gaming so hard (no porn... Well maybe).

If only VR was like the New Nintendo 3DS which gave me the feeling of a "wow" moment without almost any downsides (or no downsides now that I think about it).
- Getting VR legs is tough. I can't play anything with typical locomotion for more than 20-30 minutes before I want to hurl. However, good vision tunneling helps a lot. VRchat gives a vignette and a stationary grid while you're moving if you have tunneling on and even at low tunneling, I almost never get queasy while running around or even flying or using grappling hooks. It does sucks how few games actually have this option though, and even fewer that do it well enough that it makes a difference (just having the vignette doesn't really help; but having the grid lines that don't move sure as hell does).
  
  I'm using a Quest though; there are a lot of games on the HMD or on PCVR that either are played while sitting and you never move anywhere other than turning in your seat, or room scale games where you just walk around a 5ftx5ft square so you can actually walk for real and not get the inner ear weirdness. Like Beat Saber or I Expect You To Die. I favor those more than, like, Skyrim VR or other flat space games with VR mods or additions.

I mean. How many times do they need to do the same thing before people realize Sony will abandon every peripheral?

Do they? I'm pretty happy with my first PSVR. The PSP was really well supported. The motion controls on the PS3 were well supported and lead to the creation of the PSVR on the PS4. They made PS4 games support remote play even after the Vita was no longer supported.

The Vita is the only one that I can think of that was abandoned.