THE LAUNCH LINE UP

So the headset is great but what about games?

At first glance you might think that the launch line-up for games is a little light for the PSVR2 but a slew of third party titles bolsters the few exclusives that Sony has on the way. Plus, there’s the not-so-small fact that the lone launch exclusive is a spectacular adventure set in the beautiful world of Horizon Zero Dawn. Horizon: Call of the Mountain is a 10-hour experience that makes the most of everything the PSVR2 has to offer. Whether it’s tracking your eyes to aim mid-battle with a gargantuan Thunderjaw, or merely haptic feedback gently buzzing through the VR2 Sense controllers as you dip a hand into water, Call of the Mountain is a giddy playground celebrating the headset’s features.

And PSVR2 also delivers exclusive access to free VR versions of some key games. As with Resident Evil 7, PSVR is the only place you can play Resident Evil Village in virtual reality and that’s a launch exclusive. Great news for those who think they’re brave enough to find out just how tall the vampiric Lady Dimitrescu actually is. If you don’t quite have the guts for Resident Evil understandable - then clambering into the many authentic cockpits of Gran Turismo 7 might be more your speedy style. Also available on launch, this is no mere VR add on. Other than two player split screen, the whole game is playable through the headset, and there’s even a new VR Showroom where you can appreciate the paintwork of your full collection of cars. Oh, and if you’re a

No Man’s Sky fan, that’ll have full PSVR2 support for free too.

Then there’s the PSVR2 upgraded versions of existing VR games. They might not be new to those already immersed in the VR world, but heavy hitters like Rez Infinite, Tetris Effect and Pistol Whip have all had upgrades to make the most of PSVR2’s extra functionality. Rez Infinite will let you aim at enemies with only your eyes, and Tetris Effect now lets you control entering the slo-mo ‘Zone’ with a purposeful close of your eyelids. But, while your eyes are now key in game, you’ll also want to keep your IRL peepers on the PlayStation Store. These upgrades aren’t always free and you’ll pay £9.99 for the pleasure of these new benefits for Tetris Effect and Rez Infinite as well as upscaled visuals and haptic feedback.

Despite the frustrating fact that existing PSVR titles aren’t automatically compatible with the PSVR2, the addition of a far more powerful headset into the gaming ecosystem can only be a good thing. An ever widening VR user base quite simply means more excuses to keep making games. Plus, the success of the Meta Quest 2 as both a standalone headset and as a PC VR accessory means that there’s no shortage of games to be ported to the platform. Titles like Cities: VR to scratch your simulation itch and the Jurassic World Aftermath Collection to let us test our wits against Velociraptors, are welcome additions to the launch line up. It’s all reassuring further proof that you’re never going to run out of anything to play even after the credits have rolled on Horizon: Call of the Mountain.