Is PSVR 2 Worth the Money in 2026?

Future Publishing - Tom's Guide
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22 Video Views·Sep 2, 2026
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When the PSVR 2 launched in 2023, it broke my heart.
On paper, it was the future of VR gaming.
OLED displays, eye tracking, adaptive trigger support,
and the headset even supports haptic feedback.
Don't look down.
But in practice, it cost more than a PS5,
the library was mid at best,
and honestly, it just wasn't very comfortable.
That's why I ended up returning
my original PSVR 2 pretty quickly.
Fast forward a few years,
and the PSVR 2 is regularly available open box
for around $200.
So I decided to revisit Sony's failed headset
to see if time has healed the initial wounds.
In this video, I'll tell what I learned
and whether I think this headset
is worth buying in the year 2026.
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Let's get into it.
Let me start by reintroducing you to the PSVR 2.
It's Sony's second generation virtual reality headset
with a stacked spec lineup.
Dual OLED HDR displays and 110 degree field of view.
It has two sense controllers,
which bring the immersive haptics of the dual sense
into the world of VR,
including full motion and finger tracking.
And because it's a single cable setup
that runs directly to your PS5,
it's still the fastest way to jump into high end VR.
And now, it's also one of the most affordable ways.
The headset that once felt massively overpriced
can now be found open box for around $200,
even closer to $150 during the holidays.
And that's before bundle offers.
Don't you guys think
that changes the conversation entirely?
Because now, if I'm looking
at how I'm going to spend my money,
the PSVR 2's features suddenly sound very appealing
against headsets in the same price tier,
especially for PS5 owners
who already have the ecosystem ready to go.
But the PSVR 2's initial lack of success
wasn't just the cost.
For example, one of my biggest issues was comfort.
If you've got glasses like me,
this headset was a real pain to adjust.
And once you did,
it wasn't exactly the most comfortable experience.
Breaking a sweat here.
It's taken some time,
but these days, you can get some low cost accessories
that make the PSVR 2 more wearable.
First, prescription lenses from Hans VR
for $50 that pop in and out.
No more needing to put on contact lenses
or fight through comfort with glasses.
Just a one and done solution
to make those playing sessions simple and pleasant.
Second, the Global Cluster CMP2, also around $50.
It's a padding mod for your headset
and the difference in head pain and pressure,
or lack thereof, is night and day.
It's great that I can actually survive wearing it
for more than five minutes now,
but is there a reason to?
The biggest improvement in PSVR 2 in 2026
might honestly be the game library.
Resident Evil 4 and 8, Horizon Called The Mountain,
and Star Wars Tales From The Galaxy's Edge
are still some of the best VR games out there,
but there are so many more options now
that I am looking forward to checking out,
like Little Nightmares VR Altered Echoes,
Myst and Riven, and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024,
with many, many others.
And horror fans, there are a lot of great options with VR,
but if you want something genuinely tense,
Five Nights at Freddy's Help Wanted
remains nightmare fuel in VR.
Seriously, guys, this is intense,
as I found out for myself.
****, man.
I know at least a few of you are thinking,
Phil, what's the point of this?
Why don't you just get a Quest?
Valid question.
The Quest 3S is the default budget standalone option
for VR gaming, but there are a few ways
that PSVR 2 wins, the screen.
Quests use LCD panels.
They're sharp, but the blacks look gray,
and the PSVR 2 has OLED HDR,
so when you're playing Resident Evil,
there's a level of immersion the Quest just can't touch.
The power.
The Quest's performance is impressive for a mobile chip,
but the PSVR 2 is powered by your PS5 or PS5 Pro,
so we're talking console quality textures
and lighting all in your face.
The price.
Assuming you already own a PS5,
again, you don't need to spend more than like $200
for a PSVR 2.
Meta just raised the Quest 3 price by 50 bucks,
and I certainly can't find a refurbished one
for less than 300, so if you want a high-end gaming feeder
and you already have a PS5 sitting under your TV,
the PSVR 2 is the clear winner for the price.
Me, from three years ago, wouldn't believe I'm saying this,
but in 2026, I think the PSVR 2 finally makes sense,
at least enough sense for the price.
In fact, the price-to-performance ratio
is pretty remarkable, especially in a world
where the price of everything seems to be going up.
If you already own a PS5, the PSVR 2 in 2026
is the best bang for your buck in virtual reality.
Just don't buy it at MSRP,
and definitely don't skip the comfort mods.
If you guys found this video helpful,
help me out by dropping a like
and hitting that subscribe button
so you can be sure not to miss any other videos.
And as always, I'm Phil Rodrigues,
this is Tom's Guide, and I will see you in the next video.
F**k, man.
