Less than two weeks from now, the PlayStation VR2 will get a new lease on life. The second-generation PlayStation virtual reality gaming headset will receive compatibility support, allowing owners to play Steam VR games like Half-Life: Alyx. Ahead of the release, Sony has dropped a new app on Valve's digital distribution store that shares a bit more insight on PSVR2 compatibility on Steam.
According to the Steam listing, users must use the PlayStation VR2 App for the initial setup to play Steam VR games on PSVR2. The app will also be used to update the firmware for the PSVR2 hardware, allow users to adjust settings such as screen brightness, and establish a play area for the device via the SteamVR dashboard.
The Steam listing also shares the system requirements to run Steam VR games on PSVR2. These remain unchanged from what Sony previously confirmed. To get the best performance, the company recommends that your PC gaming rig be equipped with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060, an AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT, or a newer GPU, such as the RTX 40 series.
As it was implied, the Sense Controllers will be compatible with Steam VR games, just as the Steam listing confirms. However, as Sony revealed last month when it announced the required $60 PC adapter needed to run PSVR2 on a PC, using the head-mounted display on a PC would limit several key features available on the PSVR2, such as eye-tracking, adaptive triggers, and headset feedback. However, a 110-degree field of view, finger touch detention, and 4K resolution will be accessible.
The app will be released on August 6 — a day before the PC adapter is officially released. The device aims to expand the versatility of the $550 VR gaming headset as Sony tries to expand the PSVR2's gaming library beyond locking it to the PS5 gaming hardware ecosystem.
Expanding the PSVR2's versatility
The PSVR2 launched last year. Despite its impressive technical specs, the headset has seemingly lost momentum following its February 2023 launch date. In an interview with the Financial Times last December, Sony Interactive Entertainment's head of global business, Eric Lempel, said that virtual reality was "a bit of a challenging category right now."
Last month, Android Central reported that Sony was "making deep cuts to funding for VR games," making for "very few opportunities" for first-party VR games in the future. Additionally, the outlet claimed in its report that only two first-party PSVR2 games were currently in development.
In our 9/10 review of the PSVR2, IGN said: "With top-notch visual quality and immersively tactile Sense controllers, PlayStation VR2 represents a quantum leap over its predecessor, setting a new standard for console VR gaming."
Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
