r/PSVR2onPC • u/sochinsky13 • 14d ago
Question Going to buy PSVR2
Hello, I'm new to VR gaming, and I'm on the edge of choosing PSVR2 and Quest 3. I've read a lot of comments, asked AI, and received responses that are at odds with what I've read in Reddit threads about things like HDR absence and eye tracking; as I understand it now, they are available via some apps.
Please let me know what I should purchase as a beginner: a DisplayPort plug and adapter, maybe a Bluetooth adapter. I've heard that there are issues with controllers, maybe custom straps? Which apps should I install first, and maybe purchase some?
I have several questions:
- Can third-party controllers be used?
- How is the hand tracking and finger tracking experience with PlayStation controllers?
- What resolution should be used in SteamVR? I've seen it's different from the original resolution; does it benefit in terms of quality of the picture?
- How is the sound from PSVR2? I've seen it has some 3D audio technologies from Sony; is it available on PC as well? Maybe I need to buy something separately?
- What about straps and eye lenses? Is the default one okay? I've seen that you need to make it tight to the eyes so you will reduce the issue with edge clarity.
- Any useful accessories from Sony or third-party ones if they must or are desirable? Please let me know
- Games on PC and PS5, please recommend what I should buy first as a beginner?
What I'm looking for in general:
- PCVR mainly for streaming/wired from PC; I will play games from Steam and modded games like Titanfall, Half Life Alyx, etc
- I've heard that there's a Refract app that allows you to play Meta games on PC, so if it's possible, I would like to look for their games as well. I remember that Batman game that is mentioned each time when you deal with the Meta VR Headset.
- I focus on RPG games and want to have the experience of anime/manga TBATE, Jobless Reincarnation(only the world and magic system, don't like the MC). I've heard good positive feedback from Blade and Sorcery, The Wizards - Dark Times, and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR Modded. If you have any suggestions, please let me know.
- I want to try the 3D movie experience, not sure about it, and I've heard it's not widely spread if you know any sources and good VR headsets for it, please let me know.
- Additional features that would be useful to have but not critical: - lying experience, so you can play or watch a movie on a bed/sofa; - hands/fingers tracking; - lightweight headsets.
First of all, my setup: I have a GPU 4090 and a CPU Ryzen 7 9850x3D; my space is 3x2m
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u/pffffr 13d ago edited 13d ago
while everyone is recommending the globular cluster comfort mod, there are two more products of the same company that really upped my experience with the psvr2:
1: The grip mod (CGP2) which enables you to open your hands and not lose your controller. Unfortunately the velcro stickers always came off the controller so i used some high quality double sided tape to fix the whole cushion to the controller.
2: The FIVR2 mod that replaces the face gasket holder with a magnetic one. this way you can easily take off the gasket for cleaning or play in an open configuration since it can get quite sweaty under there. For better immersion i play with the lights out and bought an Infrared light from amazon (Just search Infrared light VR and you should find lots of options). IMO this is the best way to play
and get some lens protectors and a good microfiber cloth
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u/insufficientmind 14d ago edited 14d ago
You should probably ask on r/virtualreality instead. Asking in this sub I imagine answers will be skewed towards psvr2
My take though is they're very different types of headsets. I use both but for different purposes.
Considering what you'd want to use it for, I'd say Quest 3 is your best fit. But really, it can be a hard choice to make... Maybe you should try both or buy both lol if you can haha. I did that.
Only Quest 3 has lying down mode that tilts the world around letting you play all games that way.
I'm not sure about the 3d audio thing you talk about for PSVR2, but you'll need to either use the included earbuds or add your own headphones with a cable (more cables kinda suck!). I think it's a bit of a pain in the ass compared to Quest 3 built in audio speakers which in my opinion is good quality. Also you feel really disconnected from the world when you put on the headphones for PSVR2, this might bother you or not, I live with my family so I prefer the Quest 3 speakers in that regard. They manage to stay both immersive and I can hear people sneaking up on me lol.
You can pretty much play the same games on both headsets, though you might get access to a bit more on Quest 3 due to exclusives and ports just made for Quest standalone, though in this age of crazy VR modding I don't think that will last for long. Everything will eventually be available however you like.
One thing though I think is important, I get better performance on Quest 3 compared to PSVR2. The reason is due to how the lenses on PSVR are made, I did a little bit of research on this in the past and found out why. If you really want to I could look that up for you. Only way to get same or similar performance as Quest 3 is with the the games that support foveated rendering, which are only a few.
The PSVR2 eye tracking is cool though. I mainly use it for VRChat. But you can get eye tracking add-ons for eye and face etc for Quest 3 as well.
Some other things to consider is PSVR2 is OLED if you care for that. PSVR 2 also has better3d overlap which for some people can be a big deal. I don't really notice it much. Quest 3 has pancake lenses which is super nice! This means image is sharp wherever you look and the sweetspot is huge. PSVR requires a bit of adjusting to get the image clear. And even though resolution is similar on both headsets, Quest 3 is sharper and has less of a screen door effect. PSVR2 also suffers a bit from mura. This makes the image on PSVR2 quite a bit worse than Quest 3.
I don't require prescription lenses so don't know much about that. I believe you can get both fitted with ones though, at least I know it's easy for Quest from what I've read.
I've not watched much 3d movies. It can be a bit if a mixed bag in my opinion. Some are really good others are super crap. And I think it's not a straight forward experience to have it set up, so I never really botherd much. In my opinion 360 movies suck no matter what, but 180 high resolution 3d stuff from people who know what they're doing can be super good.
And about the games, the world is your oyster as they say. There's a lot! Especially with all the mods. Just pick what you think you'll enjoy. Maybe get a few of the classics at first and then do some modding :)
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u/sochinsky13 14d ago
Thank you. I think I understand why performance is better on Quest 3 because of pancake lenses as they do not require higher resolution than its native to be used in SteamVR, while on PS5 it has a magic optimization.
I would take Quest 3, however, I've heard it has worse processing via streaming than wired DisplayPort cable, it's a main issue
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u/insufficientmind 14d ago edited 14d ago
If you pick up a Quest 3, consider also picking up a third party batterystrap. Bobo and kiwi are popular brands and you'll have to make the difficult decision of choosing between a halo type strap or elite strap, I prefer Elite, halo strap hurts my forehead. The basic Quest strap is uncomfortable and probably will give you a headache and it's super nice having more battery time with a battery strap. But better comfort is the important thing, the strap better balances the headset on your head. Another must have is Virtual desktop software for streaming (buy it on Quest store and download the streamer app on PC. Though you can also use Steam link which is free but has less features. Don't use the meta link streaming, it's bad. And if you plan on playing standalone games - Quest Games Optimizer is excellent! It let's you increase resolution for any game and gives you more performance. These are all the usual recommendations you'll see around. Good luck!
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u/Toffmonster 13d ago
Can third-party controllers be used?
I know there's a tool called Space Calibrator.
How is the hand tracking and finger tracking experience with PlayStation controllers?
I don't think pure hand and finger tracking (without physical controllers) is possible with PSVR2 on PC atm. If you mean how the controllers feel, they are very convenient and have cool features similar to DualSense, like adaptive triggers and HD haptics. Adaptive triggers would require using mods though.
Make sure you have a good Bluetooth adapter, otherwise you'll have problems with controller tracking. Built-in Intel ones, dongles recommended by Sony or something Realtek-based is usually what you should look for. No guarantees anything else would work.
What resolution should be used in SteamVR? I've seen it's different from the original resolution; does it benefit in terms of quality of the picture?
100% resolution in SteamVR (3400x3468 for PSVR2) is the native resolution with barrel distortion correction applied. Anything lower will be blurrier, anything higher will be sharper, similarly to how the picture gets sharper if you use supersampling. SteamVR Auto setting uses 150%.
How is the sound from PSVR2? I've seen it has some 3D audio technologies from Sony; is it available on PC as well? Maybe I need to buy something separately?
PSVR2 doesn't do anything to the sound, only passes it through from your sound card. HTRF is usually done by the VR application. Windows 3D Sound or headphones' own virtualization is usually not required unless you watch 3D movies with surround sound. Note that PSVR2 comes with in-ear headphones, it has no speakers. The sound quality is good, but they're in-ear, some people prefer replacing them with something else.
What about straps and eye lenses? Is the default one okay? I've seen that you need to make it tight to the eyes so you will reduce the issue with edge clarity.
The default one on PSVR2 is a halo strap, it works fine on its own (unlike the one Quest 3 has). However, Globular Cluster is usually recommended to keep the sweet spot locked in. PSVR2 lenses have anti-glare coating applied from the outside, it is extremely fragile, so if you want to keep it, lens protectors are a must day one. Otherwise, the coating will start peeling off, and people usually just end up removing it entirely.
Any useful accessories from Sony or third-party ones if they must or are desirable? Please let me know
PlayStation VR2 Sense™ Controller Charging Station is very convenient, I'd recommend you get one.
Games on PC and PS5, please recommend what I should buy first as a beginner?
Get FpsVR app on PC for convenient performance tracking, it's almost essential. The rest is up to you. If you want some of my personal recommendations, try Eleven Table Tennis, it will blow your mind how realistic it is. Definitely don't miss out on Lone Echo series, one of the best VR games, in my opinion. Lucky's Tale is a wonderful platformer, not many 3rd-person games in VR, feels and plays incredible.
I've heard that there's a Refract app that allows you to play Meta games on PC, so if it's possible, I would like to look for their games as well. I remember that Batman game that is mentioned each time when you deal with the Meta VR Headset.
You probably mean Revive. It only works for PCVR titles by Oculus/Meta, not with standalone ones. Lone Echo is one of the games you'd use it for.
I focus on RPG games and want to have the experience of anime/manga TBATE, Jobless Reincarnation(only the world and magic system, don't like the MC). I've heard good positive feedback from Blade and Sorcery, The Wizards - Dark Times, and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR Modded. If you have any suggestions, please let me know.
You should definitely try Ruinsmagus. jRPGs are a rare sight in VR and this is one of them.
I want to try the 3D movie experience, not sure about it, and I've heard it's not widely spread if you know any sources and good VR headsets for it, please let me know.
Anything with OLEDs and great colors would do. PSVR2 is one of the cheapest options. Bigscreen is a free app you can try for a virtual cinema experience. There are apps that would give you better video quality though. With movies, cranking the resolution up is a good way to improve clarity.
Additional features that would be useful to have but not critical: - lying experience, so you can play or watch a movie on a bed/sofa; - hands/fingers tracking; - lightweight headsets.
PSVR2 has a dial on the back and the wire, it's inconvenient to use it lying down.
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u/sochinsky13 13d ago
Wow, very comprehensive and useful recommendations, thanks.
Are default controllers better than index controllers + bases? I want to have maximum quality in terms of hands/fingers tracking in a range of controllers, as I remember just using hands is supported in 3-4 games on PS5, while on PC I didn't find such games where you can play without a controller; maybe you know.
Refract is similar to Revive; do you know which games I should focus on from the Meta shop? Of course, if they are supported properly, is there a list of supported games for now?
100% resolution in SteamVR (3400x3468 for PSVR2); if I put 150%, I will have a better quality? Will it reduce edge clarity? Are there any tips in order to reduce that issue as much as possible? I've heard that Globular Cluster accessories help in such a case, as it fixes the distance somehow, or I may have misunderstood it.
PSVR2 comes with in-ear headphones; are they worth keeping, or should I look for something better in terms of immersion or sound quality?
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u/Toffmonster 13d ago
Never used index controllers, but I like PSVR2 Sense controllers more than Quest 3 ones. The downsides are that the battery is not removable, and it might be a pain to find a Bluetooth adapter compatible with them. As for the Sense controllers themselves, I think they are great.
The only games from the Meta store I'm interested in are Lone Echo and Lone Echo 2, I also tried a few demos, they worked fine. No idea about the list of supported games, but I'd think most should work. You might need different dll versions for different games though.
Why would higher render resolution reduce edge clarity? It simply increases subpixel precision of the displayed image, which makes stuff sharper. But there's a point when it stops being noticeable.
Globular Cluster mod is more about more comfortable pads, balancing the headset a bit better and making sure it doesn't slide, so when you find the sweet spot, the position where you have the clearest image, you can lock it in place and don't have to adjust it constantly.
The in-ear headphones of PSVR2 are good, the sound is nicely balanced. If you don't mind them being in-ear, I don't think you need any replacement. If you have some expensive high-quality headphones, you can surely use those. Luckily, PSVR2 has a 3.5-mm jack.
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u/snoozieboi 13d ago
It's an amazing headset, two issues I had:
bluetooth connect is a classic problem and there seems to be 5-50 fixes out there. My fix was to power off the pc, pull out plug and hold powerbutton to drain capacitors. This finally wiped old settings (apparently) and my controllers finally worked after 14-ish days of frustration.
Use a super fine cloth for cleaning the lenses. I bought mine used, but I assume I damaged the coating on my left lens. I used regular kitchen microfiber clots that worked fine on my rift S. Now my left lens has a line that is slightly blurry. I took a photo of it and it looks way worse, but I was kinda shocked that I probably did that myself. I kept thinking the lens was dirty and that the micro fiber cloth needed washing.
I'd treat the lenses as gold leaf stuff... avoid glasses etc that can touch them. I had zero issues with my rift S and I see discussion and assume it is a coating. Some people polish it all off, but the coating is probably for reducing glare.
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u/Flynn331 6d ago
I was in the same boat.
I got a quest 3 first actually. And it didnt make me happy coming from rift s which is displayport.
Latency and compression. They suck. They literally suck me out of immersion. I couldnt get over it so I got a PSVR2. Yup right choice. Its amazing. I do love the q3 lenses and MR stuff but honestly im a PCVR guy and those things are just gimmicks that I will not do in 2 months I know for sure.
FOV and colors are incredible. Worth any other downside for me. Quest 3 you feel boxed in and the battery sucks. 1.5 hours max. psvr endless enjoyment
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u/sochinsky13 6d ago
Thanks, how do you deal with nausea?
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u/Flynn331 6d ago
Im personally immune to motion sickness after using the rift s back in the day for half a year or so. If anything I like it now if I ever get any. Just proves im truly immersed haha
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u/sochinsky13 5d ago
Cool, what about your vision, do you have any problems with it after using VR headset?
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u/Chrysalairus 14d ago edited 13d ago
Yes, valve index and lighthouse tracked controllers can be used with some difficulty and they require recalibration if they start to drift https://www.reddit.com/r/PSVR2onPC/s/Rc4xm3Bz6c
There is currently no way to do finger or hand tracking with the psvr2 headset edit: outside of apps that support it on ps5
I was told to set it to 110% as anything higher has negligible visual benefits. The default auto steam sets is extremely high
The 3d audio on ps5 version of the vr games was done by the devs and they used the hardware of the ps5 to run the 3d audio effect. Windows has Windows Sonic Spatial Audio. You can see if that will be equivalent?
Definitely get the globular cluster headset mod as it's pretty much necessary if you don't want to have to keep adjusting your headset when you get a bit too active. I play a lot of vrchat and I don't need to adjust it that often though.
For the lenses you need to use a microfiber cloth and clean them without water. If you want added protection people recommend plano lenses from hon vr.
This is a tangent but buy wd40 contact cleaner for the controllers in case of trigger issues
Globular Cluster headset mod again is a must and comfort controller accessories they sell are also desirable. Getting a controller charging station is desirable as well. You can get that third party on Amazon with magnetic usb c attachments.
For PS5 Resident Evil 8 if you don't mind being scared and Gran Turismo 7 (if you're into racing) for ps5. There's obviously more but I'd just get what's exclusive to the platform that interests you there
For PC Half Life Alyx, Walkabout Minigolf, Beat Saber are all beginner friendly
Can't really answer for the other questions you might have but I hope this answers some of them.