PSVR Features
Video Is NBA 2KVR Experience on PS4 a Slam Dunk?
Basket case
There are times in this industry where the press junket building up to a release is overblown – just take a look at The Last Guardian and Final Fantasy XV, for example – but NBA 2KVR Experience has gone in the opposite direction. Leaked on Trophy websites over the weekend, the 2K Sports published spin-off is out today – but is it...
Video The Martian VR Experience Lets You Become Matt Damon
Mars rover
As we parroted at launch, PlayStation VR is about so much more than games. Proving that, the Fox Innovation Lab has lined up The Martian VR Experience, which will launch on the PlayStation 4 this week. Based upon last year's movie of the same name – itself inspired by Andy Weir's novel – the interactive short has been executive...
Video Does Gran Turismo Sport Look Better on PlayStation VR Than DriveClub?
Yes, it does – on PS4 Pro, anyway
Evolution Studios clearly worked incredibly hard on DriveClub VR, but the results are… Not great. The defunct developer did a great job shoehorning the entire original onto PlayStation VR, but the headset just couldn't match the studio's ambition, balancing crystal clear dashboards against blurry circuits. It's...
Video Robinson: The Journey Walks with Dinosaurs on PlayStation VR
PS4 Pro footage of Crytek's prehistoric campaign
Wow, this is a looker! If you've been disappointed with the visual fidelity of PlayStation VR games, then Robinson: The Journey may just change your perception – especially when played on the PlayStation 4 Pro. The thick foliage and cavernous cliff-faces make for an immersive experience – and...
Hands On Why Farpoint Should Be on Your PlayStation VR Wishlist
Take aim
Farpoint, the PlayStation VR exclusive from Impulse Gear, continues to really impress us. We went hands on with the title earlier in the year and really enjoyed the arcade-like first-person shooting, but running a similar demo on the PlayStation 4 Pro this week reminded us how much we're looking forward to the extraterrestrial blast-'em-up...
Feature Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare's Free PlayStation VR Mode Is Worth the Bandwidth
Do a barrel roll
This is a nice touch from Activision: everyone can download Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare's free Jackal Assault Experience virtual reality demo from the PlayStation Store now. There's no catch either; you don't need a pre-order or a Call of Duty game in your disc drive – it's scary that we have to clarify these things, but that's...
Video Aiming Down the Sights in Pixel Gear on PS4
Oh, shoot
Oasis Games has been one of the biggest supporters of PlayStation VR thus far, bringing a variety of titles from China to these shores. Pixel Gear is another in a long line of experimental releases, and is arguably the simplest. It basically sees you assume the role of a gunman from a static position, picking off approaching...
Video Weeping Doll Has the Worst Voice Acting on PS4
Cry baby
Lara Croft is no longer the worst voiced character on PlayStation 4; that Golden Raspberry's been scooped up by Artong [No idea how you spell that one – Ed] in Weeping Doll, a new PlayStation VR horror game launched this week. This is very much a game in the same vein as P.T. or Layers of Fear, but the dialogue kills any sense of...
Talking Point How's Your PlayStation VR Hype Holding Out?
Virtual revolution?
It's been two weeks since PlayStation VR released, and the headset is pretty much sold out around the world. While platform holder Sony is busy ramping up production in order to meet demand, we figured that it would be fun to poll some of you early adopters on your experience with virtual reality now that the initial enthusiasm...
Video Take a Peep at PlayStation VR Strategy Tethered
All to Tether
For eons developers have been pondering how to make strategy games work on standard controllers. Tethered, a new title from start-up Secret Sorcery, thinks that it's happened upon the solution: virtual reality. Using the PlayStation VR headset, this diorama-esque experience sees you playing God by using your gaze to, ahem, tether small...
Feature PlayStation VR's Non-Games Include Dark Fairy Tales and Dancing Pop Stars
Allumette! Invasion! Kismet! VRideo!
PlayStation VR is a gaming platform first and foremost, but virtual reality is capable of so much more. Imagine a future where you're able to sit in the dugout alongside Jose Mourinho, as Manchester United lift the Champions League for a third time. Or perhaps where you're able to ride shotgun in Earth's first...
Poll What Are Your Thoughts on PlayStation VR So Far?
Are you a believer?
Another Friday afternoon, another quick and easy poll for us to sticky on the front page. Nah, we're just kidding - we're actually interested in hearing what you lot think about PlayStation VR. Unless you've been avoiding us for the last two weeks or so (why the heck would you do that?) then you'll already know that we've been...
Soapbox Summer Lesson Provides a Peek into the Future
Awkward but essential
I can't stop thinking about Summer Lesson. And before you start, this isn't a situation where I've had to go to bed wearing boxing gloves – I just mean that it's kind of amazing. While there isn't much "gameplay" to speak of here, it's clear that Bandai Namco has invested the bulk of its development budget into creating a...
Video Getting Uncomfortably Close to Schoolgirls in Summer Lesson on PS4
Waifu simulator
If this turns out to be the last article that you ever read from your disgraced editor, then you'll know that Interpol raided Push Square Towers shortly after going to press. Summer Lesson, a PlayStation VR exclusive in Japan only, sees you spending alone time with a teenager under your tutelage – and while it's not overtly sexual,...
Talking Point What's Your PlayStation VR Launch Experience Been Like?
It's a virtual reality
PlayStation VR is out now around the world, which means that we're able to stop telling you how amazing it is, while you experience it for yourself. We've reviewed the hardware, given our verdict on a half-dozen or so games, and even discussed stuff such as Cinematic Mode – but now it's your t
Video Rez Infinite Is PlayStation VR's Killer App
A masterpiece
Rez may have been kicking around since late 2001 on the Dreamcast, but despite launching on several platforms since – including the PlayStation 2 – it finally feels at home on PlayStation VR. While you can play this modernised version of the cult classic without Sony's spiffy headset, the fact of the matter is that Rez Infinite was...
Opinion Which PlayStation VR Launch Games Should You Buy?
RIGS? DriveClub? Batman!
PlayStation VR has a gigantic launch lineup, and you're probably wondering which titles to buy right about now. While we still haven't sampled everything – the selection really is that big – we have played a pretty large selection, so we feel like we're pretty well placed to point you in the right direction. But which...
Video Unlock Your Inner-Alan Shearer with Headmaster on PS4
Back of the net
Alan Shearer knew how to head a football, and you can learn too if you play Headmaster for PlayStation VR. Much like Job Simulator, this game has a sharp sense of humour, essentially seeing you assume the role of a down-on-his-luck footballer who's been sent back to heading school after squandering some gilt-edged chances. It's a...
Video Does PlayStation VR Put the Ultra in Super Stardust?
Making its (House)marque
It's becoming tradition for a version of Super Stardust to launch alongside new Sony hardware, and PlayStation VR is no different. While Super Stardust Ultra VR is, for all intents and purposes, the same version of the game that released on the PlayStation 4 last year, it has been furnished with a new mode which sees you...
Video Yes We Cat! Becoming a Kitty with PlayStation VR
Paw-some?
When you're feline four-legged then there's finally an avenue for you to unleash your inner-moggie: Catlateral Damage has been updated with PlayStation VR support, enabling you to finally transform into the purr-fect pet that you've always wanted to be. Or not, actually, as the aim of the game here is to use your new mog abilities to make...
Video Job Simulator's Some of the Dumbest Fun You'll Find on PS4
Working out
The simulator gag has gotten stale, but Job Simulator brings enough laughs to the novelty genre to land a new punchline. This bonkers work-'em-up is set in the future, where robots simulate the menial tasks of today with a disregard for details. This means that, while you'll be carrying out tedious tasks such as making soup and fixing...
Hands On Does PlayStation VR Really Have Tracking Issues?
Dreaded drift
In some ways, it's a shame that the PlayStation VR embargo had to lift. We'd encountered problems with the headset prior to this week's verdicts, which we outlined in our review: the resolution of the screen, the number of cables, and the flawed nature of the PlayStation Move controllers. But we hadn't encountered any tracking issues...
Hands On Playing Non-VR PS4 Games on PlayStation VR
Putting the Cinematic Mode through its paces
Without any shadow of a doubt, the biggest question we received after publishing our PlayStation VR review this week pertained to Cinematic Mode, the feature which allows you to play non-virtual reality games inside the headset on a simulated cinema screen. But what features can you use in this mode –...
Video Watch Us Become the Batman with PlayStation VR
Caped crusader
Batman: Arkham VR very much falls under the "experience" category rather than a full-fledged game, but how much would you pay to be the Dark Knight for an hour? Well, developer Rocksteady's charging $19.99/£15.99 for this, which certainly looks steep on the surface, but it's by far one of the best examples of virtual reality so far...
Video Watch Us Unbox PlayStation VR
Wide open spaces
Apparently, our previous article about this PlayStation VR unboxing video wasn't search engine optimised quite as well as the powers to be would like, so because there's nothing else going on today, we're republishing this under a better headline. Look, at least we're completely honest with you, eh?
Soapbox I Played PlayStation VR for Over an Hour and Didn't Chunder
Sammy's not seasick
Until this week, my time with PlayStation VR had been very limited. The longest I'd probably spent strapped in to the headset in one session was maybe 15 minutes, so I hadn't really had an opportunity to test how it feels to play virtual reality in extended sittings. Luckily, I was invited up to Rebellion on Wednesday, where I...
Feature PlayStation VR Has the Power to Elicit Real-World Reactions
Don't look down
There are two things that make virtual reality extra impressive: scale and physical reactions. As we've said so many times, you really need to wear the headset to understand just how affecting these assets are, but we also appreciate that it's not easy for everyone to get eyes-on time with the device. As such, we've already tried to...
Hands On PlayStation VR Continues to Impress in Epic Preview Session
Resident Evil! Batman VR! Farpoint! More!
We've been lucky enough to play PlayStation VR on several occasions now, and the novelty's yet to wear off. Granted, we haven't yet had to cope with cables, plugs, and calibration – a real-world headache that could significantly reduce the thrill of entering a virtual space – but we're yet to walk away...
Video Is the PS4 Powerful Enough for Virtual Reality?
Yes, but it's not perfect
Many people often ponder whether the PlayStation 4 is powerful enough to offer a competent virtual reality experience – especially with the recommended specs for the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive being so high. But having gone hands on with PlayStation VR a few times now, we're happy to report that it does genuinely offer a...
Hands On Feeling Our Way Through Blind on PlayStation VR
Who turned out the lights?
There were a pretty substantial number of games at PAX East that implemented virtual reality: some used the plethora of headsets for gimmicks, some to generate unique experiences, and some as a framing device for titles that would be less interesting if they were made in the traditional way. Italian dev Tiny Bull Studios'...
Hands On Outrunning a Giant in Fated: The Silent Oath on PlayStation VR
The end of days
There were a pretty large number of virtual reality games being shown off at PAX East. Some awesome things were being done with the headsets, but one of the games that we were most impressed with was Frima Studios' Fated: The Silent Oath. A narrative-focused VR game, Fated sees you assume the role of a mute man as he tries to...
Hands On Thumper Provides a Reason to Jump into PlayStation VR
Like music to our eyes
Thumper was the first experience that we had with PlayStation VR at PAX East. And boy, what a first impression to make! In development for six years, the two-man team at Drool – Brian Gibson and Marc Flury, both former Harmonix devs – gave us some hands-on time with their VR rhythm game, and the experience was nothing...
Feature PlayStation VR Musings Post PAX East
It's everywhere
Dreaming up interesting hardware peripherals has been a challenge for decades now. Some, like the Xbox Kinect, are cool but bungled in execution; others, like the Wii remote, are gimmicky but capture an audience anyway. Innovation is not enough when it comes to add-ons – the experience needs to be exceptional as well. And Sony may...
Reaction Nintendo NX's 2017 Date Frees Disposable Income for PlayStation VR and PS4K
But Sony still needs to get the messaging right
Sony must think that the Gods are smiling on the PlayStation division right now. Nintendo's NX was rumoured to release this holiday, which would have undoubtedly stolen some of the limelight away from PlayStation VR and the leaked hardware revision, PS4K. However, the Hous
Reaction Sony's Marketing Department Faces a Tough Test This Holiday
For the career ladder climbers
To steal (and slightly alter) an old Simpsons line: won't someone think of the marketing team! Seriously, though, convincing consumers to purchase a PlayStation VR headset this Christmas was already going to be a tough test for Sony's embattled advertising agency – but now PlayStation 4K looks odds on to arrive...
Guide How to Pre-Order PlayStation VR in USA and Canada
Make sure you secure Sony's add-on
PlayStation VR pre-orders will go live in North America tomorrow, and are likely to be snapped up swiftly. Despite its steep price tag, the PlayStation 4 peripheral has been performing very well in Europe since last week, topping the Amazon UK sales charts and receiving lots of attention on the high street as well...
Soapbox Scale Is PlayStation VR's True Game Changer
Sammy says bigger is always better
"Shut up about virtual reality already, Sammy," you're probably all screaming at your screens. Sorry, I have been a bit pushy, haven't I? But in my defence, I keep writing about PlayStation VR because I'm genuinely excited about it. No one's paying me to talk about it. I haven't been instructed by my bosses to...
Feature 5 PlayStation VR Games That Have Us Hella Hyped
Full reactive eyes entertainment
Now that PlayStation VR's been dated and priced, it's up to Sony to prove to the sceptics among you that you absolutely need one of its hyped headsets on launch day. And while it'll no doubt attempt to prove the peripheral's worth to many of you by taking the hardware on tour, it's the device's launch line-up that's...
First Impressions Battlezone on PlayStation VR Will Blow Your Mind
Tank you very much
Holy moly, virtual reality is truly mind blowing stuff. We were recently invited out to legendary developer Rebellion's headquarters to get some eyes-on time with Battlezone on PlayStation VR – and we've talked about little else since. This is only phase one for the fledging medium's return to the mainstream, and already it's...
Reaction PlayStation VR Clears the Price Hurdle Cleanly
Sony now needs to get people to try the promising tech
PlayStation boss Andrew House didn't beat around the bush at Sony's planned PlayStation VR press conference in San Francisco earlier today. In a presentation that lasted 30 minutes, the Welshman very quickly discussed the platform holder's commitment to innovation, before confirming that its...
Guide Will Sony's PlayStation VR Press Event at GDC 2016 Be Livestreamed?
Plus, what time does it start and what should you expect?
Sony's holding a PlayStation VR press event in San Francisco today – though you may be forgiven for not being in the know. Unlike the platform holder's usual presentations, this one actually leaked via IGN. But will the event get a livestream? What time should you be keeping an eye out for...
Poll How Much Will PlayStation VR Cost?
Predict the financial damage
Yes, we're recycling an old topic – but it does feel like the right moment to revisit the PlayStation VR pricing saga. Sony's announced that it will be holding a press event during the Game Developers Conference next week, and it's likely to contain pricing and release date details on its wow-inducing wearable...
Feature 33 PS4, PlayStation VR Predictions for 2016
Looking to the future
We're knee deep into 2016 already, which means that we should probably put up some PlayStation predictions before it's, like, way too late. Our very own Kell Andersen was scarily prophetic in our previous article, so this time we're all trying to get a glimpse inside the gaming crystal ball. We've compiled three predictions...
Reaction Oculus Rift's $599 Price Is Positive News for PlayStation VR
Five hundred and ninety-nine US dollars
We suspect that there may be a few smiles at Sony HQ today as the game of chicken regarding virtual reality pricing has finally come to an abrupt end. It's felt for a while like each of the major VR manufacturers have been waiting for each other to make the first move, and Oculus has faced the unenviable task...
Soapbox Why PlayStation VR Has Me Cautiously Optimistic
Sammy Barker's starting to get stoked for the impending revolution
It's almost make or break time for PlayStation VR, the ambitious PlayStation 4 peripheral that promises to make us a part of virtual worlds. Sony's said that the potentially expensive accessory will launch in the first half of 2016, which means that it's less than six months away at...
Soapbox PlayStation VR Made Me Scream Like a Little Girl
Hell's kitchen
Republished on Saturday, 31st October 2015: We're bringing this article back from the archives to celebrate Hallowe'en today. The original text follows. Originally published on Friday, 25th September 2015: PlayStation VR is a real product. I should know – I had one of the potentially expensive peripherals strapped to my bonce for a...
Feature How Comfortable Is PlayStation VR to Wear?
Highfalutin head gear
PlayStation VR is pretty impressive. Sony's virtual reality headset – previously known as Project Morpheus – can stimulate some profound emotions, as proven by our Kitchen write-up. Capcom's survival horror demo lacks any real interaction, but the sense of place that it provides is unparalleled; we stepped away from the...
Feature Eyes On with PlayStation VR at Canada's Largest Gaming Expo
Andrew Karklins visits a virtual London
In early September, I was fortunate enough to experience Sony's first endeavour into the virtual reality space with Project Morpheus, now officially known as PlayStation VR. While attending Fan Expo Canada, a celebration of all things pop culture in downtown Toronto, the Japanese giant showcased many titles...