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Tentacular is one of those VR games that is a joy for many reasons. One thing I noticed is that it is the type that once you’re done with it, you can step away and feel satisfied. What’s great about the free Island Builder update for Tentacular is that it adds this additional creative element that could be ongoing, yet also builds on what’s fun about the game in general.

For those who didn’t get into the Firepunchd Games and Devolver Digital title back when it first showed up on the Meta Quest, PS VR2, or Windows PC VR headsets, the concept is simple. In Tentacular, you are essentially some sort of kraken-like creature. You were raised alongside humans after hatching from an egg. After coming of age, you step into the workforce and start helping out everyone on La Kalma island with odd jobs. It’s primarily a physics-based puzzle game with various situations littered across stages, but there’s also an overarching storyline that offers some insights into the characters, island, and situation they’re dealing with.

But the real fun involves figuring out how to solve problems when you only have two tentacles.

While there are some extra missions in the Tentacular Island Builder update, which are quite fun and feel different from what came before, the selling point is the titular Island Builder. This gives you access to a sandbox space that lets you create your own own island or see other people’s islands. I just couldn’t stop playing with the new suite of tools.

Some of the basic ones involve just being able to create landmasses and elements. Others involve getting a whole building toy box of different elements and features to help you put things together. There are pieces that allow you to combine items. Basically everything I encountered in the main game was available as an option when building or decorating in this supplemental area. While the first hour or so involved just messing around with the creation glove and building blocks for developing my own unique island, I really felt like I’d gotten to a point where I could build a small town that made sense to me. But also, I will it that I had fun sort of destroying things a bit when my vision wasn’t adding up either. Since they weren’t the NPCs I was used to from the real game, I didn’t feel the same guilt as I would like… tossing a car or boat around there.

The ability to visit other people’s islands is also a fantastic perk. Tentacular’s base game is very good at presenting puzzles someone can play without getting VR or motion sick. Because I was moving around so much more when constructing my own island in the sandbox element, I did notice I’d need to take breaks a bit more frequently. If I knew I only needed like five or ten minutes, I’d usually keep my Meta Quest 3 on and head to some other players’ creations instead. 

The only thing I didn’t like is, honestly, the Tentacular cheat terminal. I ended up using it to play around with and unlock a thing, and I absolutely hated the inputs. The nature of it means you need to grab letters from the board and place them in the area in the proper order to spell out the correct phase. But because of the lack of the precision, when I grabbed “O” I also got “F” or “G.” The only time I could get the exact single letter I needed was if it was in the front row (so R, S, T, Y, V, W, X, Y, or Z). It was incredibly frustrating and I would have appreciated a little break in the immersion to make it more accommodating.

Before the Tentacular Island Builder free update dropped, it was probably one of the absolute best VR games you could get due to how well the concept and execution come together. After that new addition, I think it is absolutely in the top five. It feels like the perfect playground who ever got sucked into a SimCity or Sims style game for hours because they just wanted to design how the metropolis or house looked. It provides an even better excuse to head back to the game and maybe play it more often after beating the original levels.

Tentacular is available on the Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest Pro, PS VR2, and Windows PC VR headsets, and the Island Builder update is live.

The post Tentacular Island Builder Expansion Adds More Life to the Game appeared first on Siliconera.

Sony announced that it will hold its State of Play for PS5 and PlayStation VR 2 games ahead of Summer Game Fest on May 30, 2024. People will be able to tune in at 3pm PT/6pm ET for the 30 minute showcase.

There are no details about exact PS5 and PSVR 2 games that will appear during the State of Play, but Sony did note 14 will appear. It didn’t offer a breakdown or division discussing how many will be for the VR headset or for the system itself. It did confirm that the showcase will be on YouTube and Twitch, as usual. This falls in line with what we’ve come to expect from past entries in this showcase series. For example, the January 2024 installment highlighted 15 games for the PS5. 

May 30, 2024 will be a packed day for game showcases. The State of Play will air at the exact same time as the Marvelous Game Showcase. Both will be followed by the Silent Hill Transmission event. That will air at 4pm PT/7pm ET. However, since the Sony and Marvelous showcases are each 30 minutes long, they will be done in time for Konami’s event.

Sony will hold the State of Play for PS5 games on May 30, 2024 at 3pm PT/6pm ET.

The post May 2024 State of Play Goes Over PS5 Games This Week appeared first on Siliconera.

Sony took to the PlayStation Blog to release lists of the most ed PS4, PS5, PSVR, and PSVR 2 games of 2023. The top titles for last year include Beat Saber, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, EA Sports FC 24, Hogwarts Legacy, Job Simulator, and Pavlov. 

In the case of the PS4 and PS5 games, the top 20 games of 2023 in basically North America and Europe were shared. With the PSVR and PSVR 2, the lists were much shorter. Only the top 10 in both regions appeared. 

Here are the top 10 PS5 games in Canada and the US, according to Sony.

1. Hogwarts Legacy
2. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
3. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
4. Madden NFL 24
5. NBA 2K24
6. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
7. Baldur’s Gate 3
8. Diablo IV
9. EA Sports FC 24
10. Mortal Kombat 1

And here are the 10 most ed PS4 games of 2023 in those two countries.

1. COD MWIII
2. Hogwarts Legacy
3. MLB The Show 23
4. Madden 24
5. NBA 2K24
6. EA Sports FC 24
7. Diablo IV
8. Red Dead Redemption
9. Red Dead Redemption 2
10. WWE 2K23

These 10 PS5 games were the most ed ones in Europe.

1. EA Sports FC 24
2. Hogwarts Legacy
3. COD MWIII
4. Grand Theft Auto V
5. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
6. FIFA 23
7. Baldur’s Gate 3
8. Diablo IV
9. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
10. Assassin’s Creed Mirage

And these 10 PS4 games were at the top there.

1. EA Sports FC 24
2. Minecraft
3. Red Dead Redemption 2
4. GTA V
5. FIFA 23
6. The Forest
7. The Last of Us Part II
8. Hogwarts Legacy
9. A Way Out
10. Gang Beasts

While Final Fantasy XIV and Street Fighter 6 weren’t in the top 10 in any region, they did appear in the top 20.

Here are the top three PSVR games in the US and Canada.

1. Beat Saber
2. Job Simulator
3. Superhot VR

These were the top three PSVR 2 games there.

1. Pavlov
2. Beat Saber
3. Kayak VR: Mirage

Here are the three most ed European PSVR games.

1. Job Simulator
2. Beat Saber
3. Superhot VR

Finally, these three PSVR 2 games were at the top in Europe. 

1. Pavlov
2. Kayak VR: Mirage
3. Beat Saber

The post Sony Reveals Most ed PS4 and PS5 Games in 2023 appeared first on Siliconera.

There is a new pack of free Beat Saber songs, with players able to access Original Soundtrack 6 (OST 6) now. There are five songs total in it, though one is a “surprise” and unavailable yet.

Here’s the full list of four known songs being added to the game. The developer only noted that the fifth one is “coming soon” and offered no hints as to its identity.

• “Heavy Weight” by Lindsey Stirling
• “Lift Off” by Far Out
• “Power of the Saber Blade” by DragonForce
• “Tempo-Katana” by Camellia

There’s also a trailer for the new, free Beat Saber songs. It only focuses on showing under a minute of the Expert-level difficulty version of the song “Heavy Weight.” It shows some of the note patterns people can expect from that track.

Beat Saber OST 6 arrives over a year after OST 5, which showed up in March 2022. As a reminder, that update added “1.78,” “Curtains,” “Final-Boss-Chan,” “Firestarter,” “I Wanna Be a Machine,” and “Magic.” This update arrives after a Black Friday 2023 sale on the game and DLC.

Beat Saber is on the PSVR and PSVR2, Meta Quest 2 and 3, and other VR headsets via Steam. Four of the Original Soundtrack 6 songs are available now.

The post More Free Beat Saber Songs Arrive in OST 6 appeared first on Siliconera.

The Resident Evil 4 VR and VR Mode Demo release date is set for PSVR2 owners. Anyone with a PS5 and the headset can start playing next week on December 8, 2023. 

As a reminder, this update was first announced back in February 2023. If someone owns a copy of the game, then the VR Mode update is free. Their game will automatically update the day the patch goes live. If someone doesn’t own it, then the demo will be available for free. The trial will offer both a sample of the campaign gameplay, as well as the optional Shooting Range to test out equipment. 

There’s also a closer look at how this Resident Evil 4 VR Mode will look on the PSVR2. The launch trailer is already out ahead of its debut. It primarily focuses on the campaign. However, you can see the Shooting Range after the 1:05 minute mark. 

This isn’t the only way to play this entry in VR. People with Meta Quest 2 and 3 headsets can also play Resident Evil 4. That’s available via the storefront already. 

The Resident Evil 4 remake is on the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, PC, and Meta Quest 2 and 3. The iOS and Mac versions launch on December 20, 2023. The PSVR2 free VR Mode arrives on December 8, 2023. 

The post PSVR2 Resident Evil 4 VR Release Date Set, Demo Confirmed appeared first on Siliconera.

It is now possible to get the full Beat Saber VR game and its DLC on sale. This is part of a Black Friday 2023 event and is being held on both places like the Steam and Meta storefronts.

Until November 28, 2023, the base Beat Saber game is reduced via the Meta Quest storefront. This is part of a deal that involves using the “BFCM23” coupon code at checkout. It drops the price to $17.99 from $29.99. Said code can also be used repeatedly, so someone could also apply it to other VR games like Resident Evil 4 or Among Us VR.

However, Steam does have a bundle sale as well for Beat Saber. Someone can get the base game with the Linkin Park x Mike Shinoda Ultimate Bundle for $46.04. 

As for the DLC, various bundles are reduced. The price can vary a bit by storefront. So say on Steam, its The Rolling Stones Music Pack is $13.97 instead of $21.89, but on the Meta storefront it is $13.99. 

Here’s the list of Beat Saber music pack DLC that is cheaper than usual, as well as some storefronts where the discount is applied:

• Billie Eilish Music Pack - $12.99 on Meta
• Electronic Mixtape - $12.99 on Meta
• Fall Out Boy Music Pack - $10.99 on Meta
• Green Day Music Pack - $8.99 on Meta
• Imagine Dragons Music Pack - $14.99
• Interscope Mixtape - $9.99 on Meta
• Lady Gaga Music Pack - $12.99 on Meta
• Linkin Park Music Pack - $13.99 on Meta
• Linkin Park x Mike Shinoda Combo Bundle - $21.99 on Meta
• Linkin Park x Mike Shinoda Music Pack - $10.99 on Meta
• Lizzo Music Pack - $11.99
• Monstercat Music Pack Vol 1 - $12.99 on Meta
• The Rolling Stones Music Pack - $13.97 on Steam/$13.99 on Meta
• Queen Music Pack - $13.97 on Steam/13.99 on Meta
• Panic at the Disco Music Pack - $12.99 on Meta
• Rock Mixtape - $10.99 on Meta
• Rocket League x Monstercat Music Pack - $8.99 on Meta
• Skrillex Music Pack - $10.99 on Meta
• Timbaland Music Pack - $7.99 on Meta
• TinyTan BTS Music Pack - $14.99 on Meta
• The Weeknd Music Pack - $14.99 on Meta

Beat Saber is available for the Meta Quest headsets, the PSVR and PSVR 2, and other VR headsets via Steam.

The post Beat Saber Game and DLC Go on Sale for Black Friday appeared first on Siliconera.

Wondering what you should play on Sony’s new PlayStation VR2 headset? We’ve been putting a dozen PSVR2 launch games through their paces to see what they’re all about. Let’s get to it!

The lonely PSVR2 exclusive 2u4y36

Horizon: Call of the Mountain 1w5x49

Developer: Firesprite, Guerrilla | Publisher: Sony | $59.99
PSVR2 Exclusive

With arguably the sole responsibility of carrying the PSVR2 launch, Call of the Mountain is probably on most players’ purchase lists. In it, you explore the world of Horizon largely by climbing and shooting arrows. If you’re not enamored with the world already, there’s less to love. Part of the game’s joy is watching creatures walk by or meeting Aloy. It’s a pretty environment even without context, but that context is of clear value.

Besides that, though? This is a game about grabbing stuff. The climbing mechanic, by virtue of the still-limited technology, feels more like dragging the world around you. That means you generally feel safe, which should help many to comfortably play! But still, it makes longer climbing sequences a... well, a real drag. The swinging feels better, so we love that part. But the primary issue with traversal is that it’s all very scripted. That’s true with Horizon proper, and truly, with Sony first-party development as a whole. But with a game focused on climbing, we wish we could feel like we’re problem-solving.

The archery is, unsurprisingly, a strength for the game, as VR has repeatedly proven its expertise at replicating that. We continue to be not-great at archery, which is also accurate to the real world! But this still feels nice. And the game generally doesn’t throw a ton of it at you in a row.

Call of the Mountain wants to be very serious with its storytelling, but it also puts instruments and paint and such everywhere for you to be silly. It’s certainly not alone in this tactic; we see it a lot in VR games. But it works better in a multiplayer context. By yourself, this silly stuff feels a bit out of place and takes you out of the immersion.

The prestige PSVR2 game re-releases ip2k

Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge 4h6j2g

Developer: ILMxLAB | Publisher: Disney | $49.99
Also on Quest

It’s legitimately cool to hang out in Star Wars environments in VR, and Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge knows that well. Though we do wish we spent more time in identifiable environments from the films and shows, the game instead mostly focuses on the area most notably depicted in the Disney theme parks. The game was initially released on Oculus platforms in 2020, and escapes its exclusivity with this port.

Galaxy’s Edge tells most of its story using theme park techniques, like video screens and characters behind counters. (Which does makes sense, given the game’s origins!) This allows them to present things how they want without worrying about anything breaking, but it does lead to a limited amount of meaningful interaction.

Rez Infinite / Tetris Effect: Connected 1c1b44

Developer: Enhance, Resonair, Monstars, Stage Games | Publisher: Enhance | $29.99 / $39.99
Also on PSVR, PC, Quest

While they're not new, both Rez Infinite and Tetris Effect benefit greatly from the increased immersion of the new headset's tracking and resolution. Rez Infinite adds eye tracking to its suite of control options, and we really liked what it added to the game.

Tetris Effect does allow you to configure the new Sense controllers to play, but we tried that, and we can't recommend the standard controller enough. This game needs a D-pad and super-precise movements and timing. Still: we love Tetris Effect in VR, so however you can get it, do.

Moss / Moss: Book II 102o5d

Developer: Polyarc | Publisher: Polyarc | $19.99 / $29.99 / Both for $39.99
Also on PSVR, PC, Quest

The Moss games are sort of the gold standard for seated VR experiences. They're designed around looking around at diorama-like environments, helping a little mouse friend navigate and solve puzzles. While they're not a showpiece for a lot of PSVR2's tech, they do benefit from the headset's additional fidelity. The vibrant, high-res displays and better tracking make for a more seamless viewing experience. And if this is your first foray into VR? It's a great time to try out one of the medium's marquee franchises.

The PSVR2 toys 2d712n

What the Bat? 734ui

Developer: Triband | Publisher: Triband | $24.99
Also on PC, Quest

From the people behind What the Golf?, this follow-up takes a similar approach with bats instead of a golf club. It's genuinely funny, and though it doesn't flow in the same way as Golf?, it's about as close as VR gets right now. If you're looking for a showpiece for the new tech, this game ain't it — it was certainly designed from the start to work well with even the cheapest hardware — but it's definitely worth a look if you're seeking a chuckle.

Tentacular 2n4z1l

Developer: Firepunchd | Publisher: Devolver | $24.99
Also on PC, Quest

Similar in concept is Tentacular, which gives you tentacle arms instead of bat arms. Its challenges are a bit longer, and it means more into the physics hijinks of something like Human Fall Flat or Octodad than Bat?'s scripted visual gags. It's probably most fun with an audience, as you can have a good time watching someone struggle with the unwieldy appendages. There's just enough creativity to solving the game's puzzles to keep us coming back, too.

Startenders 722gm

Developer: Foggy Box | Publisher: Yogscast Games | $14.99
Also on PSVR, PC, Quest

That audience thing is especially true with our last entry in the category. Startenders is the sort of game for people who like being overwhelmed. That isn't us, exactly? You're a bartender in space, as you'd probably guess, and you have to essentially do tasks in sequence using machines around you. Precision and speed is hard in VR, and keeping track of abstract symbols and such can be a whole thing. But it's a popular genre, and it'd probably make a good stream game.

Cosmonious High 71r3z

Developer: Owlchemy Labs | Publisher: Owlchemy Labs | $29.99
Also on PC, Quest

Known for its successful miniature playgrounds in Job Simulator and Vacation Simulator, Owlchemy Labs quickly mastered the art of the VR chuckle. With Cosmonious High, the studio has moved from building ideal first VR experiences to doing something with a bit more depth and variety. We found endearing characters, fun little challenges and ample opportunities to show creativity and personality. It feels like a kids’ game at first, but it’s fun for all ages.

Other notable PSVR2 games 3pe6k

Garden of the Sea 12g2i

Developer: Neat Corporation | Publisher: Neat Corporation | $24.99
Also on PC, Quest

The only game in our PlayStation VR2 roundup that lets you give cute animal friends scritches, Garden of the Sea seeks to offer a similar appeal as Animal Crossing but with a focus on the presence of VR. It's built on gameplay that wouldn't necessarily be compelling outside VR: basic crafting and gathering and such. But inside VR? It works. It’s about meeting little friends! And accomplishing tasks to make your friends happy! And then meeting new friends!

A lot of VR games choose to build detailed worlds only to make most of it set dressing. We prefer experiences like Garden that make sure what’s there has purpose and presence.

Demeo 1y663x

Developer: Resolution Games | Publisher: Resolution Games | $39.99
Also on PC, Quest

Demeo is one of those games that understands the value of presence. Its gameplay is rather simple, and it's been done before: tabletop-style dungeon combat. But looking around and messing with the pieces is compelling, and the controls and implementation here feel right.

It’s always going to be a challenge to do traditional game things in VR, as you’ll inevitably compare to non-VR titles with a lot more content and depth. That is true here, for sure, but we’ve enjoyed our time. We’d love meaningful character customization and longer campaigns in the future, but it sacrifices a bit of both in the name of approachability and that’s probably the right choice.

Warning: looking down for a long time in any headset does bad things to your neck, and Demeo's tabletop action does that full-time. If you plan to play a whole campaign with friends, build in time for breaks.

The Tale of Onogoro 1m1c4a

Developer: Amata K.K. | Publisher: Amata K.K. | $34.99
Also on PSVR, PC, Quest

We understand that the Siliconera audience might be particularly interested in The Tale of Onogoro, a PSVR2 launch title that stands out through its anime aesthetic. In it, you interact with a young woman chained to a boulder as your movement and her abilities solve puzzles.

Still, we're not entirely sure who'd be psyched about the resulting game. Most of the time, you're just dragging things around, so it isn't a gameplay marvel. And if you're here for the anime? It doesn't do much with the format. Say what you will about Summer Lesson, but it used the presence of VR in effective ways. Onogoro uses some stiff animation and even stiffer voice acting to display a character near you, never once feeling truly there or interactive.

There are more PlayStation VR2 titles on the way! And if we think you'll like 'em? We'll give them a try for ya. For now, we hope we've given you a good sense of the launch lineup.

The PlayStation VR2 is available for purchase now for $549.99 through the PlayStation Direct site. For more of Siliconera’s PSVR2 games coverage, including a full review of the hardware, check out our archive.

The post PlayStation VR2 Roundup: The Best PSVR2 Games to Play appeared first on Siliconera.

It's a big time for VR right now. You know, what with Sony's PlayStation VR 2 releasing for the PS5 and all. While not every home has one, more people are getting chances to play via various types of headsets. So we figured now might be the best time for us to talk about our favorite VR games and recommend some of them.

There's always going to be a spot in my heart for Tetris Effect, regardless of platform, but if we're talking about the game that's the best at using VR as a medium? That's Astro Bot: Rescue Mission. Like Super Mario 3D Land used the depth of the 3DS screen, Astro Bot brought the awareness of VR to do interesting things with an already-popular platforming genre.

Also Astro is just very good and my friend. — Graham

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzG7Wc6mbwE

Being an OG PSVR owner, I'm not exactly up to date with the tech these days, but my experience with it has taught me that I'm a less comfortable with the free-movement "walking" VR games that thought I'd be. With that in mind, my favorite VR game so far has been SUPERHOT VR. It has an unimpeachable vibe and is exactly the right combination of static and moving that lets you feel like a bad-ass while in reality you're mostly standing still and flailing your arms around.

Tied for that is the adaptation of MyDearest's Altdeus: Beyond Chronos. It might be one of the more interesting explorations of VR-aided Visual Novel-style games, and takes advantage of the perspective to play some fun tricks with its storytelling. — Josh

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-iMlQIGH8Y&ab_channel=PlayStation

It has to be Job Simulator for me. It captures what can be fun about VR! It’s accessible! It isn’t trying too hard to do too much! You can play it briefly or show it off to show someone how VR can work. However, if you do really like it, you can play it for a longer period of time. I'd definitely consider it one of the best VR games out there, even after all this time.

Plus, it’s nowhere near as stressful as my harrowing experiences with Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes. Play it with the wrong people and it's not only harrowing, but endlessly frustrating. — Jenni

The post What is Your Favorite VR Game? appeared first on Siliconera.

If you’re trying to decide whether to buy the new PlayStation VR2 virtual reality headset, the decision probably boils down to a comparison. Is it superior to what you have, or enough of an improvement to finally get you to jump in? So rather than dance around the topic, we’re going to directly address the issue: is PSVR2 better?

Is PSVR2 Better Than PSVR? 1j5z1k

The PlayStation VR2 is definitely leaps and bounds ahead of the original PlayStation VR in of tech. That first attempt cut as many corners as it could to get prices down, like using Move controllers and sticking to limited tracking capabilities. PSVR2 s room-scale tracking. The Sense motion controllers are precise and generally have the features you want. There’s no clunky box or camera to set up, and it all runs through one decent-length cord to the front of the PS5. What it retains is the original’s comfort, a real selling point for Sony. Other companies’ offerings are getting better and better at this, but for both feel and ease of wear, it’s hard to beat Sony engineering.

Still, this isn’t as cut-and-dry a question as you’d think. For that first effort, Sony invested a lot into software. There were prestige first-party games like Astro Bot: Rescue Mission, as well as a seemingly generous amount of funds floating around to fund ports and VR conversions by third parties. There’s Horizon: Call of the Mountain — we’ll drop that name a few times — but generally, it seems like Sony’s doing less money-raining to bring experiences to the new platform. At least, as far as we know. And since there’s no backward compatibility with PSVR games and limited efforts to patch in PSVR2 compatibility, it’s possible that the second headset may not be better than the first for a while.

(Seriously, why isn’t patching Astro Bot the first item on the to-do list?)

Is PSVR2 Better Than PC VR? c3pf

It really depends on what you want out of a VR experience. PC VR headsets offer the breadth of content of the PC, and that's sort of unbeatable. There are fan projects and mods and PC-exclusive releases that do so much more than PSVR2 ever will, not just its launch lineup but over its full life. This could be mitigated with PC for the headset, and though Sony has shown no indication of doing so officially, fan work bridged the gap for the first PSVR and could for the VR2. Still, it might be difficult and we wouldn’t count on it anytime soon.

But a console approach does result in optimized tech and a lot less time spent configuring things. This is true for all of the PC-console divide, and is the reason for a lot of efforts like the Steam Deck to make PC games more predictable and preconfigured. But it’s especially important in VR, as little glitches and stuttering and such are less of an annoyance and more of an illness-inducing nightmare. Playing VR2 is simple and straightforward, and even launch glitches are minor and patches are swift.

We’re hoping that updates will make VR2 even smoother. The issue we’ve run into most frequently involves lighting and room detection. The sensors that know where you are in the room seem most thrown off by midday light conditions, as we had episodes of frequent stuttering and error messages that made room-scale games practically unplayable as they were interrupted every 30 seconds or so. When that wasn’t happening, though, the tracking worked great.

For now, the usual console benefit of robust first-party development isn't really here. Perhaps future announcements can bridge the software gap and make the VR2 an easier sell.

Is PSVR2 Better Than Quest? 2z3o6z

If you're a fan of the fare of the headset pioneers formerly known as Oculus, it's probably because the hardware is wireless. VR2 has seriously cut down on the setup and equipment of Sony’s first attempt, but there's still one cord tethering you and tangling you up at times. We felt the cord on our shoulders sometimes, for sure. Still, this is a far cry from the hassle and tangle of last-gen setups.

Then again? PlayStation VR2 is a lot more powerful than the new Quest. The resolution of the displays helps a lot, and VR2 uses eye-tracking to render what you’re looking at with more detail to optimize what it can get out of the console’s processing power. Right now, the software lineup is largely ports, meaning the difference isn’t really there yet unless you really like the world of Horizon.

And, oh yeah, it's not part of a dystopian data collection monolith, which feels like a point in its favor.

Is PSVR2 Better Than 550 Dollars? 5c45n

This is perhaps the hardest question to answer. It's early, and it doesn't have the software yet, so any purchase is at least partly a bet on Sony's commitment to the platform. For now, what you're getting is largely ports that don't take advantage of the platform's strengths. Does that pad out the library? Absolutely. But without solid exclusives to build around, they're ill-suited to be system sellers.

Still, though, we're definitely reaching a point at which the early-gen kinks are worked out. If you were waiting for VR to be less of a hassle but didn't want a compromised experience, this could be the sweet spot you were awaiting. There’s a fun — if not particularly robust or tech-pushing — games lineup on the platform. We’re optimistic about the PSVR2’s future! But until we see more big-ticket games, any skepticism you have is warranted.

The PlayStation VR2 is available for purchase now for $549.99 through the PlayStation Direct site. An optional charging dock for the Sense motion controllers is also on offer. For more of Siliconera’s PSVR2 coverage, check out our archive.

The post Review: Is PlayStation VR2 Better? appeared first on Siliconera.

Not only is a Pokemon Presents coming in February 2023, but Sony announced a February 23, 2023 State of Play. The presentation will appear at 1pm PT/4pm ET. and 10pm CET. (That’s 6am JST on February 24, 2023.) As usual, PS4, PS5, and PSVR games will all show up. However, Sony also confirmed there will be an extended look at the Rocksteady and Warner Bros third-person, multiplayer game Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.

People will be able to watch the February 2023 State of Play on both YouTube and Twitch, as usual. Co-streaming will be allowed. The US announcement didn’t offer a set time, but the Japanese announcement said it will last 45 minutes. The English PlayStation Blog reveal did note that the Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League segment will last for 15 minutes. It will also come at the end of the event, so people can spend the first 30 minutes seeing new PS4, PS5, and PSVR 2 announcements.

The next State of Play will appear at 1pm PT/4pm ET. and 10pm CET on February 23, 2023 and is expected to be 45 minutes long. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League will show up on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC on May 26, 2023.

The post February 2023 State of Play Will Cover PS4, PS5, and PSVR 2 Games, Suicide Squad appeared first on Siliconera.

Both Ozzy Osbourne and his wife Sharon star in the new PSVR 2 ad promoting both the PS5 VR headset and Horizon Call of the Mountain. The commercial features the singer testing out the headset in his home and using it to play the Horizon spin-off.

Here is Ozzy Osbourne's tweet including the PSVR 2 Horizon Call of the Mountain ad. It begins with him insisting on playing a game on the headset, rather than helping Sharon pack. From there, it shows some footage of the different machines people can encounter in the spin-off. At once point, Ozzy notes that a Stormbird is trying to bite his head off. Sharon retorts "that Stormbird needs to get at the back of the line."

Did this spot with the @PlayStation team. We had a lot of fun. Their new VR2 really is amazing pic.twitter.com/wr79vIy15C

— Ozzy Osbourne (@OzzyOsbourne) February 20, 2023

Sony often hires celebrities to promote its games or merchandise. In fact, it recently did it for God of War Ragnarok. An ad for the game featured Ben Stiller, Lebron James, and John Travolta with their children.

The PlayStation VR 2 and Horizon Call of the Mountain will appear for the PlayStation 5 on February 22, 2023.

The post Ozzy Osbourne Uses a PSVR 2 in a New Commercial appeared first on Siliconera.

Capcom showed off gameplay from Resident Evil Village VR Mode in its latest trailer for the game. VR for the game, which originally released in 2021, will be made available for free via a DLC update. The mode launches on the same day as the release of the PSVR 2 hardware: February 22, 2023.

Check out the trailer below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6C95i1D1GE

The Resident Evil Village VR Mode gameplay trailer shows off scenes from the game, but rendered using some of the telltale signs of VR-equipped play.

For example, protagonist and player character Ethan Winters moves his viewpoint freely and independently of his limbs, much like a person with a VR headset and individual hand controllers would. Similarly, holds weapons and can aim them by holding them up to his eyeline. A brief shot of menu controls in VR is also seen, where players can equip weapons and equipment using a virtual cursor.

Resident Evil Village VR mode also includes things like dual-wielding, where Ethan holds and fires a different weapon in each hand, unarmed combat, and the ability to transfer weapons from one hand to another. A firing range will also allow them to test out the different weapons available.

According to Capcom, those interested in trying the game out on their PSVR 2 hardware (when it launches) will be able to do so through a playable demo, which launches on the same day as the DLC.

Resident Evil Village is available on the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC, as well as on Nintendo Switch as a cloud version. The VR Mode is currently exclusive to the PS5 version of the game, and will require the use of the PSVR 2 hardware.

The post Resident Evil Village VR Mode Showcased in new gameplay Trailer appeared first on Siliconera.

Sony took to the PlayStation Blog to confirm all of the PSVR 2 launch window games it expects to see between the end of February 2023 and March 2023. There are currently 37 expected games. Among them are some we knew, like rhythm game Kizuna AI - Touch the Beat!. Tetris Effect: Connected, a multiplatform take on the puzzle game that can be played with or without VR, will also show up for the launch.

Here is the full list of expected PSVR 2 launch window games. If ones are expected in the first 30 days after the headset's release, they are marked with a "launch window" notation. In the case of <em>Gran Turismo 7</em> and <em>Resident Evil Village</em>, free updates for the PS5 games enable access to PSVR 2 experiences.

• After the Fall 
• Altair Breaker
• Before Your Eyes (launch window)
• Cities VR 
• Cosmonious High
• Creed Rise to Glory: Championship Edition (launch window)
• The Dark Pictures: Switchback (launch window)
• Demeo 
• Dyschronia: Chronos Alternate
• Fantavision 202X
• Gran Turismo 7 (via free update)
• Horizon Call of the Mountain
• Job Simulator 
• Jurassic World Aftermath
• Kayak VR: Mirage 
• Kizuna AI – Touch the Beat! 
• The Last Clockwinder 
• The Light Brigade (PSVR 2 version includes PSVR copy)
• Moss 1 & 2 Remaster 
• NFL Pro Era (via free update)
• No Man’s Sky (launch window)
• Pavlov VR 
• Pistol Whip (via free update)
• Puzzling Places (via free update)
• Resident Evil Village (via free update)
• Rez Infinite 
• Song in the Smoke 
• Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge 
• Synth Riders (via free upgrade)
• The Tale of Onogoro 
• Tentacular 
• Tetris Effect 
• Thumper 
• The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners: Ch. 2: Retribution (launch window)
• Vacation Simulator 
• What the Bat
• Zenith: The Last City (via free upgrade)

The PlayStation VR 2 will launch for the PS5 on February 22, 2023.

The post Kizuna AI and Tetris Effect are PSVR 2 Launch Games appeared first on Siliconera.

Capcom announced that the Resident Evil Village VR Mode update will be available on the launch date of the PlayStation VR 2 (PSVR2): February 22, 2023. It will be free DLC for both the base game and recently released Gold Edition. Previously announced in June 2022, the entire campaign will be playable in VR. However, there will be no such compatibility with the Shadows of Rose expansion or the Mercenaries mode.

On the PlayStation Blog, Capcom Producer Kanda Tsuyoshi noted that VR Mode will take advantage of the PSVR 2’s suite of functions. This will include 4K HDR display and individual eye tracking, and 3D audio. There will also be additional vibration, recoil, and resistance with the PSVR 2 Sense controllers.

[gallery link="file" size="full" ids="943632,943633,943631"]

The Sense controllers will also reportedly enable more intuitive movements for reloading your weapons and using your knife attacks. VR Mode will also add dual-wielding weapons, as first implemented in Resident Evil 4 VR.

Resident Evil Village VR Mode will be available on February 22, 2023, as will the PlayStation VR 2 headset. Resident Evil Village is available now on the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and PC.

The post Resident Evil Village VR Mode Launches as Free DLC in February appeared first on Siliconera.

The PlayStation VR 2 release date is here, as well as news about PSVR 2 games. Sony said PlayStation 5 owners will be able to begin using the new headset on February 22, 2023. However, pre-orders will open this month on November 15, 2022. It will cost $549.99 / €599.99 / £529.99 / ¥74,980, which gives people the headset, two Sense controllers, and stereo headphones.

The release date announcement also included some details about other PSVR 2 options and accessories that will be available at launch. For example, there will also be a Horizon: Call of the Mountain bundle. This gives people everything in the base PSVR 2 bundle, but adds in a code for the Horizon series spin-off. That will cost $599.99 / €649.99 / £569.99 / ¥79,980.

There will also be a charging station for two Sense controllers. This allows you to place the PSVR 2 controllers on a dock to charge them. It will cost $49.99 / €49.99 / £39.99 / ¥5,480.

Finally, Sony announced a list of PlayStation VR 2 games. Here are the titles in development:

• After the Fall
• Cities VR: Enhanced Edition
• Cosmonious High
• Crossfire: Sierra Squad
• The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR
• Hello Neighbor: Search and Rescue
• Jurassic World Aftermath Collection
• The Light Brigade
• Pistol Whip VR
• Tentacular
• Zenith: The Last City

The PlayStation VR 2 pre-orders will open on November 15, 2022, ahead of its February 22, 2023 release date.

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