The Sony PS VR2 Headset Was Tested.

We put Sony’s PS VR2 headgear through its paces with Gran Turismo 7 on PlayStation 5 and can say without a doubt that the combination is a blast.

The high-definition OLED display in the VR headset can handle 120 frames per second at 4K HDR resolution.

The PS VR2 headgear and two VR2 sensing controllers are available for $549 and are compatible with the Sony PlayStation 5.

Computers, wire harnesses, and carbon fibre bodywork are all tightly packed by an assortment of stainless-steel fasteners on the floor space of Toyota’s GR010 Hybrid Le Mans Hypercar. Looking at the work done by the engineers at Toyota Gazoo Racing used to necessitate a stint with the race team, but now we’re doing it from the comfort of our living room. When using Sony’s brand new PS VR2 headset, the attention to detail is so glaring that you may need sunglasses. PlayStation 5’s virtual reality mode is more than just a novelty; it makes the company’s proprietary racing simulator, Gran Turismo 7, feel fresh and exciting once more.

The PlayStation VR2 headset is a serious piece of virtual reality eyewear. It’s a hardwired accessory that works exclusively with PS5. Each eye has its own high-resolution OLED display that can show 4K HDR footage at up to 120 frames per second from compatible games. Focusing in the actual world is replicated by tracking eye movement using the headset. For those playing Gran Turismo 7, this implies that when your eyes are focused on the braking zone marker, the image becomes sharper in that area than in the rest of the screen. Your knuckles are blocking the view of the rearview mirror, we’re sorry to hear. You can easily see over their heads by simply lifting your chin. Instead of painting everything on the screen at once, the game dynamically modifies the amount of detail.

Compared to even the priciest carbon-fiber lightweight racing helmet, the headset’s weight of little over a pound is a significant advantage. The PS VR2 may just enclose your eyes and forehead, but the experience is quite comparable to seeing through a Snell-approved face shield. The vibration felt in the headset is amplified as you drive over the curbing on Inner Loop in Watkins Glen. The viewing area is large enough that even spectacles won’t get in the way.

Putting on the PS VR2 and playing Gran Turismo 7 is a magical experience because the game takes on a whole new dimension. Everything about the game is in your face, from competing against real people online to completing licence challenges to watching replays to touring the entire dealership.

Dramamine, flavoured like Mountain Dew

Polyphony Digital’s creation of stunningly realistic environments for Sony’s driving simulator is akin to the first time you saw colour television. An audible “oh my God” escapes your lips, and you immediately forget what life was like before it in Gran Turismo 7. That’s how good it is. Putting on the PS VR2 headset completely alters your field of vision. It’s a lot of fun, but you definitely won’t think you’re playing a game the whole time.

A word of caution, though: things have the potential to get a little too real at times. In particular if you’re just getting started with virtual reality. Don’t strap in and think you can handle an hour of hard driving in a GT3 race vehicle around the Nürburgring. We risked doing it, and nearly had to go back to eating at Taco Bell for lunch. If you want to take things easy and in a convertible, says Polyphony Digital CEO Kazunori Yamauchi, do it. Just drive normally and gradually increase your time on the track to build up your tolerance, they advised in an interview. Nonetheless, even after hours of playing, we still needed breaks because of the elevation changes and vehicle movement in rally races. After 15 minutes, we sat down again, this time without worrying about the cheesy gordita crunch making a comeback.

While Pricey, It’s Well Worth It

We used the PS5 DualSense controller in place of a steering wheel for our Gran Turismo 7 experience while wearing the PS VR2 headset. Unlike previous virtual reality games, Gran Turismo 7 does not require the use of two VR2 Sense controllers. Using adjustable triggers and haptic feedback, the PS5 DualSense attempts to simulate the sensation of braking and pedalling. We contend that the dynamic viewpoint allowed us to increase our lap times even without a racing wheel. If you’re a gamer who doesn’t have the cash or living room space for a bucket seat and steering wheel, you’re in luck: the PS VR2 headset’s force feedback works in tandem with the PS5’s DualSense adaptable triggers to create a really immersive experience.

VR2 Bundle for the Sony PS4

The price tag is high for such realistic simulation. The price of a PlayStation VR2 is $549 right now. That’s an extra $150 over the price of the PS5 system that you need to play it, or an extra $50 over the price of the PS5 system that comes with a disc drive. Spending hundreds more on a bundle is possible. If the thought of spending so much on a video game makes your stomach turn, know that there is a more affordable option: a simulator with a direct-drive steering wheel and pedals. Another cool feature of the PS VR2 headgear is that you may play away from the TV if you want to. Just set up a racecourse as large as the 14.7-foot length of the headset’s lead will allow.

Superb Hardware, Limited Customization Options.

In the highly competitive world of racing simulations, the PlayStation VR2 headgear is a first, but it’s the first of its kind in the Gran Turismo series. Virtual reality was available in popular racing titles like Assetto Corsa, Assetto Corsa Competizione, iRacing, rFactor, and Dirt Rally 2.0 before Sony’s new hardware debuted earlier this year.