Virtual reality hasn’t seen much remarkable progress in the last couple of years. Because none of the five best VR headsets we can currently buy have been released in the past 18 months. and only one since 2020
But with the upcoming arrival of PSVR 2 The launch of the latest Oculus (Meta) Quest headset is expected. And the possibility of Apple’s long-rumored mixed reality headset in 2023 looks like the year that VR may finally begin to realize its full potential.
PSVR 2 alone – as the only one of three headsets with a confirmed release date of 2023 – is enough to turn the dial for VR based on what we already know. PSVR 2’s price includes many things, though. but in reality It will be one of the most impressive specs headsets in the lower end of the VR market.
to reinforce this point Compared to the 2022 Meta Quest Pro, PSVR 2 will launch for a third of the Pro price, while offering superior resolution, viewing angles, and panel refresh rates. This doesn’t even include Sony’s commitment to developing a unique experience for its unrivaled new headset. (to date) comparable
Beyond confirming the release of PSVR 2, here’s what might be in store for VR in 2023.
A Champion Awaits: PSVR 2
Equally impressive are the specs and features of the PSVR 2. There’s no escaping dependence on hardware by owning a PlayStation console, which is a potential limitation. This was true for the first PSVR released. which does not lack performance value but suffers from lack of opportunity
So the measure of PSVR 2’s success naturally will depend on the game and the experience it offers – especially how special it is. Driving virtual reality further than Horizon: Call of the Mountain.
Following Horizon: Forbidden West, the latest entry in the popular PlayStation exclusive franchise, Sony hasn’t revealed the size of its stake in the success of Horizon: Call of the Mountain for PSVR 2 as a launch title for the PSVR 2. The new headset, Call of the Mountain, is being heavily marketed by Sony as part of a bundle with the PSVR sequel, and it shows enough to pique the interest of seasoned PlayStation gamers.
Although this name sounds good. But it’s just a slim choice in terms of PSVR 2 exclusives… So far, most of Sony’s recently announced upcoming titles have already been released for other VR headsets like Meta Quest 2, which won’t. It helps a lot in encouraging casual VR fans to ditch their old headset for the new PlayStation One.
Still, if nothing else The premium quality of the specs offered in PSVR 2 at a fraction of the price of many competitors (in theory) should be enough to shake off the cobwebs of the VR market.
And there are hints that we won’t have to wait too long after PSVR 2’s release to find out what the next advancement in the world of VR looks like.
Though attempts in the metaverse certainly didn’t work. But there hasn’t been a release of a VR headset to match the popularity or success of the Oculus Quest 2 (now Meta Quest 2), and this is no coincidence.
The Oculus Quest 2 stood out from launch due to its ability to offer an easy path into the world of virtual reality – eliminating the need to mount a heavy-duty PC or run an expensive console – for a while. That matches its impressive reach. technical specification The headset also benefits from the release of some of VR’s best games during its lifecycle, such as Beat Saber (now paired as an redeemable download with the Quest 2 headset), Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge and Resident Evil 4 VR .
This at least allows Meta to compensate for damages from the failed metaverse product Horizon Worlds, which was recently reported. (opens in new tab) The number of users dropped by more than 100,000 in just eight months.
However, what didn’t help Meta was the disappointing release of the expensive mixed reality headset Meta Quest Pro. Despite its impressive performance features overall, the Quest Pro has been largely forgotten since its launch in late October. This is likely due to the Pro’s inability to show good enough improvements to the Oculus Quest 2 to justify the price.
What Pro did was set the stage for Meta’s Quest 3’s arrival, and if Meta CFO believes David Wehner. (opens in new tab)That arrival will come in late 2023 (with Quest 4 reportedly following shortly thereafter). Rumors have it that Quest 3 will use a uOLED display above expected improvements to the Quest’s performance specs. 2 already great See, the 2023 release of Meta looks a lot like a possible game-changer for VR.
And Meta Quest 3 could be. The A game-changer for VR in 2023, if we don’t see the arrival of a competitor, a long-rumored new powerhouse has finally hit the market.
The Unknown: Apple’s Mixed Reality Headset
It has not been officially confirmed, but there are rumors. Apple’s entry into the world of virtual reality is exactly as you’d expect. Though the proposed release date has been steadily missed and shifted in the years since the headset was first reported, it’s still in the works. This ultimately speaks to what headsets from Apple will represent in the VR market.
When Apple released its first iPhone in 2007, there were no revelations for both smartphones and technology in general. As a company as famous as Apple many years ago, although Apple is nowhere near as famous and popular. (Or cult-like status, as some say) as it is now. The success of the iPhone has a lot to do with it. But so has the consistency of other Apple products released in the nearly two decades since the first iPhone arrived.
With past performance in both quality and innovation So it’s reasonable to expect that augmented reality (and hybrid) products from Apple could serve as a virtual reality revolution in the same way that the iPhone did to smartphones. And competitors like Google and Samsung might try to compete. It’s possible that Apple’s launch of the rumored headset will ignite a virtual arms race unlike any we’ve seen for the media. The consumers will ultimately benefit.
If 2023 is the year that we finally see Apple enter this space. It may be a year when we look back in the future. When virtual reality finally begins to realize its true potential.
happy bonus
If the release of three future virtual reality headsets isn’t enough to spark excitement about the 2023 outlook for VR, several software announced and upcoming releases for media should close deals.
Popular pop-culture franchises like Attack on Titan, Stranger Things, Peaky Blinders, Ghostbusters, and Jurassic Park are all coming to VR, with each hoping to match their quality. Here’s what’s expected (and popularity) of Half-Life: Alyx in 2020, at least. Each franchise’s existing popularity will draw new eyes and attention to virtual reality, which will align with the benefits for the medium.
And although we’ve seen the likes of Stranger Things on VR before (in the form of 2017’s Stranger Things: The VR Experience), advancements in the studio’s ability to develop for VR in the past few years How many years have made the effort from 5 years ago look decades behind .
This reflects the rate of evolution of VR software, which has far outpaced hardware, but 2023 may be the year we finally see this change. Even if this ends up being half true. any progress In a virtual world that finally realized its true potential caused excitement.
