As virtual reality gears up to be the next great gaming platform, the lines between console play and computer play are becoming even more interconnected. With the announcement that PlayStation VR2 – previously an exclusive to the PlayStation 5 and PS4 ecosystem – is heading to the PC, Sony has just taken another step that further cements the competitive landscape for all of gaming graphics headed towards NVIDIA.
‘You don’t have to stay on PS5 and you don’t even need a PC with a VR-capable graphics card. Simply use a small box that connects to both the headset and the PC using DisplayPort 1.4 and USB, and Bluetooth links the two.’ Sony’s Bluetooth connectivity enables everything you want to do from the headset to be mirrored to the PC as well, providing an experience indistinguishable from any other consumer-grade VR set up. However, Sony and Valve are not the only ones offering a potentially future-proof solution for high-end PC VR that also happens to work with any other consumer-grade VR set up.
For players who want a high-end PC VR experience, the minimum specifications include 64-bit Windows 10 or Windows 11, an Intel Core i5-7600 or AMD Ryzen 3 3100 processor, and 8 GB of RAM, though speed is everything, particularly when it comes to the power of your graphics card.
A powerful GPU there can make or break the potential of the PlayStation VR2 on PC. While we don’t have any official requirement details yet, NVIDIA has said that it recommends the GeForce GTX 1650 or successor cards to provide a full experience – so expect that the same will apply to the PlayStation VR 2. For the best VR experience you will need to be on NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 3060 or its Radeon counterpart – the AMD Radeon RX 6600XT VR Ready – and thus make VR gaming much more dependent on NVIDIA than it was in the last generation.
PlayStation VR2 might be specifically designed for use with a PS5 and specifically adapted for the capabilities of the PS5, but its adoption for PC just opens up a wealth of titles. Trying out that mountain on the PS VR2 is just one of the possibilities of the new hardware.Do keep in mind, though, just as one might treat a Windows PC and a MacBook differently, so will you have to treat the PlayStation VR2 and PC VR a little different. Some of the key features of the PS VR2, like HDR, headset rumble, eye tracking and haptic feedback aren’t coming along for the ride through the adapter; 4K visuals, an immersive 110-degree field of view, finger touch detection and 3D audio for any titles that support them will still be available, thanks to NVIDIA’s impressive graphical prowess.
Perhaps the most valuable feature of PS VR2’s compatibility with PC is the access to Steam VR’s back catalog, and its tens of thousands of games. Games that were out of reach for PS5 users are now available for PS users, ready to welcome them to the universe of VR splendour.
Then, by a date set for August 7, 2024, the eagerly awaited announcement. PlayStation VR2 backed by NVIDIA’s USB Type-C solution and RTX™ VR Carrier Technology to power the latest virtual reality gaming experience on PCs.
At the centre of this new leap is NVIDIA – a company well-known for its amazing GPUs that power today’s games in terms of their visual fidelity and performance. NVIDIA’s GPUs power the finest chess, puzzle, flight and racing simulation games as well.
NVIDIA is a beacon for both developers and gamers, illuminating a path towards a virtual reality as vivid as our own, as it draws more and more of the PlayStation world towards the PC.
In short, if the PS VR2 headset paired with PC (Pengiun(s), you)), fuelled by NVIDIA’s tech, delivers anything close to that, it’s not just good news for gamers – it is a giant leap for the future of VR gaming. And one I, for one, can’t wait to see draw closer.
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