When will PlayStation VR 2 be available in other stores?

Update: PlayStation has confirmed that PSVR is coming to other retailers.

In the U.S., you can only purchase the PlayStation VR 2 from the PlayStation Direct store at launch. So, when will this virtual reality headset be available at other retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop and Walmart? You can find out in this guide at Seeking Tech.

Why PSVR 2 is only available at PlayStation Direct

While Sony has not given an official statement as to why they decided to only sell the PlayStation VR2 headset exclusively from the PlayStation Direct website, it is pretty easy to surmise.

For one, the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Digital Edition consoles were heavily scalped for around the first two years of launch. Scalpers were able to buy these systems and then re-sell the units at a much higher price.

In the beginning, you can only pre-order the PlayStation VR 2 through an invite from PlayStation Direct. While the invite-only system has since gone away, you can still only purchase one headset per household.

Furthermore, PlayStation Direct is owned by Sony. So, by selling PSVR 2 at their own stores, the company is able to cut off the middleman (Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop and Walmart). As a result, they will be able to get more revenue per unit sold.

It is unknown if Sony currently makes a profit by selling just the PlayStation VR2 headset. With that said, the company previously sold PlayStation consoles, including the PS5, at a loss in the beginning in order to increase the install base. Sony then earns profits from accessories and software sales.

What Sony has said so far about PSVR 2 being available at other retailers

In a blog post that was published on November 02, 2022, Sony stated that the virtual reality headset will be exclusively slod at the official PlayStation online store during its “initial launch phase” in the U.S. and other select regions.

You can find the full statement below:

  • “During this initial launch phase for our next-gen headset, players in the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg will initially be able to pre-order PlayStation VR2 solely through PlayStation’s online store at direct.playstation.com.”

When can you expect PlayStation VR 2 to be available outside of PlayStation Direct?

As you see in the aforementioned statement, the PSVR 2 headset should be made available at other major retailers after its launch period.

Sony previously made the DualSense Edge controller exclusive to the PlayStation Direct in the U.S. region when the premium controller came out on January 26, 2023. This gamepad wasn’t made available at other retailers until February 23, 2023.

Another potential hint is a recent showcase event streamed by Perp Games, which ended up announcing the release dates for the physical versions of PlayStation VR 2 games. The physical copies are slated to arrive as early as March 3, 2023. You can watch the showcase below:

Based on these hints, it is very likely that the PlayStation VR 2 should be made available in major U.S. retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop and Walmart in March of 2023 or a little bit later.

How to download free PlayStation VR2 games

If you have a PlayStation VR2 headset but no money to spend on premium games, then there are a few free-to-play titles that you can try out. To see how you can download these free virtual reality games on your PlayStation 5 or PlayStation 5 Digital Edition system, you can follow the steps laid out in this tutorial at Seeking Tech.

1. To start off, you need to turn on your PS5 if you have it powered off or previously put in rest mode.

2. Next, you need to head over to the home menu, which you can do by pressing and holding the PS button on the DualSense or PlayStation VR 2 Sense Controller.

3. From the home menu, you then need to head over to the PlayStation Store, which you can do by selecting the blue shopping bag icon.

4. Inside the PlayStation Store, you then need to head over to the main PlayStation VR2 menu that shows a full list of games for the virtual reality headset.

In the Latest tab of the Store, you may see the PlayStation VR 2 option. If you do, you need to select it. Afterwards, you should select the “Buy PS VR2 games” option.

If you can’t find the PlayStation VR 2 option in the Latest tab, scroll all the way down to the “See More” section. From there, you need to select the PS VR2 option.

5. From the PlayStation VR 2 Games menu, scroll to the left and then select the Sort and Filter option. It is represented with the icon that features a down-pointing arrow with three horizontal lines.

6. In the Sort and Filter pop-up menu, you need to select Price.

7. Afterwards, make sure that only the Free box is checked.

8. Press the circle button on the DualSense or PlayStation VR 2 Sense Controller two times back out into the PlayStation VR 2 Games menu.

9. The listing should now be filtered to only show free-to-play games for the PSVR 2.

10. If you want to sort this listing of free titles, select the Sort and Filter option again.

From the Sort and Filter menu, you then need to select the Sort By option at the top. Afterwards, you can pick between the following options:

  • Default
  • Best Selling
  • Most Downloaded
  • Name (A to Z)
  • Name (Z to A)
  • Release Date (Old to New)
  • Release Date (New to Old)
  • Price (Low to High)
  • Price (High to Low)

How to find PlayStation VR2 demos

The PlayStation VR 2 features a few playable demos. To see how you can find these downloads from the PlayStation Store on your PlayStation 5 or PlayStation 5 Digital Edition console, you can take a look at this tutorial from Seeking Tech.

Method #1

For the first method, you need to take the following steps:

1. Turn on the PS5 and then head over to the home screen.

If you are playing a game, using an app or doing something else at this moment, then you can press and hold the PS logo button on the controller in order to return home.

2. From the home screen, select the blue shopping bag icon to open the PlayStation Store.

3. On the PlayStation Store, make sure that you are in the Latest tab.

You can switch tabs by using the L1 and R2 buttons on your controller.

4. Next, scroll all down until you see the Demos row.

5. You then need to scroll all the way to the right in the Demos row and then select View All.

6. Once you get inside the Demos menu, select the Sort and Filter icon, which is the down-pointing arrow with three horizontal lines graphic that is located to the left of the listing.

7. From the Sort and Filter menu, select VR.

8. Finally, make sure that only the PS VR2 box is checked.

9. Press the circle button on the controller two times to back out to the Demos menu.

10. You should now be able to find that the listing has been filtered to only show PlayStation VR 2 demos.

Method #2

For the second method, you can do the following:

1. Open the PlayStation Store on your PlayStation 5.

2. In the PlayStation Store, make sure you are in the Latest section.

3. Look for and select an option that says “PlayStation VR2” or “PlayStation VR2 (Out Now).”

4. You should be in a PlayStation VR2 menu that features a QR Code. Here, you should select the “Try PS VR2 demos” option.

5. You should be brought over to the PlayStation VR2 demos menu.

Keep in mind that the Latest section may change over time. So, if you can’t find the “PlayStation VR2” or “PlayStation VR2 (Out Now)” option, then you can try the first method instead if you are looking for playable demos for this virtual reality headset.

How to fix PlayStation VR 2 cloudiness, graininess and Mura issues

When using the PlayStation VR 2 headset, you may see some cloudiness and/or graininess on the screen. These may be more noticeable during dark scenes and/or scenes that only show one primary color. This is technically known as the Mura issue.

To see how you can potentially fix these image quality problems, you can take a look at this troubleshooting article from Seeking Tech.

What is Mura?

Mura occurs due to how screens are manufactured as not all pixels end up having the exact color and brightness.

The PlayStation VR 2 uses an OLED screen, which is more prone to Mura when compared to virtual reality headsets that use LCD. With that said, OLED provides better colors (especially when it comes to the black level) in addition to higher brightness when compared to LCD.

Can Mura be fixed?

Unfortunately, there isn’t any way to fix Mura as it is a hardware defect that appears on all virtual reality headsets.

With that said, you can try changing the brightness of the PlayStation VR 2 headset to see if the cloudiness and/or graininess become less noticeable. In order to do so, you can try looking in the in-game settings for the PSVR 2 game you are playing to see if there is any way to adjust the brightness from there.

Alternatively, you can also lower the brightness output on a system level by doing the following:

1. Press the PS button on either the left or right PlayStation VR 2 Sense Controller.

2. In the Control Center quick menu, select the Quick Settings card.

3. You should then be able to find the Screen Brightness slider.

4. If you are only seeing Mura in darker scenes, then you can try lowering the brightness output. If the cloudiness or graininess show up more in brighter scenes, then you can try increasing the brightness if possible.

You should make sure that you are getting a sharp image as well. To see how you can get more clarity when using the PSVR 2, you can check out this post.

The Mura effect may also become less prominent over time as the pixels of the OLED display age. You may eventually get used to the effects and simply start to ignore it as well when you become fully immersed when playing the game in virtual reality.

If the Mura effect is really noticeable on the lens, then you can try exchanging your PlayStation VR 2 headset to see if a new unit has less noticeable cloudiness and/or graininess.

How to fix unresponsive PlayStation VR 2 Sense Controllers

When playing a PlayStation VR 2 game, you may notice that the left, right or both PlayStation VR 2 Sense controllers being unresponsive. If the motion controllers aren’t working at all, then you can take at this troubleshooting article from Seeking Tech.

1. To start off, make sure that your PlayStation VR 2 Sense controller is actually turned on. You can do so by pressing the PS button on the gamepads.

If it is not powering on, then make sure that you charge it for at least 15 minutes before trying again.

2. We also recommend testing to see if the buttons work in the system menus of your PlayStation 5 or PlayStation 5 Digital Edition console.

If the console isn’t reading your inputs even in the system menus, then you may have a defective controller.

If your inputs are being read correctly in the system menus, then there may be nothing wrong with the controller from a hardware standpoint.

3. If the problematic Sense controller is powered on but the game you are playing is not responding to your button inputs, then you can try to turn the controller off and then turn it back on again with the game still open.

To turn off these motion controllers, you can simply press and hold the PS button. Afterwards, press the same button again to turn it on.

4. If you have a DualSense controller turned on at the same time, then you can try turning it off to see if the game you are playing will now be able to recognize your Sense controller inputs.

5. Other wireless devices in the same vicinity may also be causing interference. In this case, you can try turning off these wireless device to see if the PSVR2 Sense controller is working correctly.

6. You can also try resetting your problematic PlayStation VR 2 Sense controller while the game is still open. In order to do so, you need to look for a small hole located on the gamepad.

You need to use a thin pin in order to push the button located at the bottom of the small hole.

After resetting the controller, you need to pair it to the console again. To do so, connect the controller to the PS5 via a USB cable and then press the PS button.

7. You can also try clearing the cache and/or rebuilding the database on your PlayStation 5.

To do so, you need to head into Safe Mode by first turning off the PS5. Afterwards, hold the power button on the console until you hear a second beep. You are then asked to plug a controller into the PlayStation 5 and then press the PS button.

Once you do, you should be in Safe Mode, where you can go to the Clear Cache and Rebuild Database section.

8. You may also want to consider factory resetting the PlayStation 5.

To start off, back up your existing data by heading over to Settings > System > System Software > Back Up and Restore > Back Up Your PS5.

Next, you should go to Settings > System > System Software > Reset Options > Reset Your Console to factory reset the console.

Finally, head back to Settings > System > System Software > Back Up and Restore > Restore Your PS5 to get back your data.

9. You should also check if there are new firmware updates available for your PlayStation 5, PlayStation VR 2 as well as the PlayStation VR 2 Sense controllers.

If you still can’t get the motion controls to be responsive, then we suggest contacting PlayStation Support to get additional help.

How to reset the left and right PlayStation VR2 Sense Controllers

If you are experiencing issues when it comes to tracking and/or responsiveness of the PlayStation VR2 Sense Controllers, then you can try resetting these motion game pads. To find out how to do so, you can follow the steps laid out in this tutorial from Seeking Tech.

1. To start off, make sure that your PlayStation VR2 Sense Controller still has battery life. If it isn’t turning on, or turns off shortly after you turn it on, then we recommend that you try recharging it first before moving on to the next step.

2. Once your controller is ready to be reset, you need to turn off your PlayStation 5 or PlayStation 5 Digital Edition console.

In order to do so, press the PS button on either your left or right PlayStation VR2 Sense Controller. You can also press the PS button on the DualSense game pad if you have it connected. In the quick menu, you can then select the Power option and then the Turn Off PS5 option.

2. You may also want to consider unplugging the power cord from the PlayStation 5. By doing so, you should be able to prevent accidentally turning on the console if you hit the PS logo button during the rest process.

3. With the PS5 turned off, look underneath the handle part of the left or right PlayStation VR2 Sense Controller. You should be able to find a small hole.

4. Use a pin that is thin enough to fit into a hole. You should eventually feel a button.

5. Press the button in the hole down in order to reset it.

6. If the other PlayStation VR2 Sense Controller is also having issues, then you should make sure that you reset it as well.

7. After you reset your controller, you will need to pair it again to your PlayStation 5. In order to do so, turn on your console.

8. Next, you need to use a USB cable to connect the VR2 Sense Controller you previously have to reset to the PlayStation 5.

9. Press the PS button on the Sense Controller in order to pair it to the console.

Once you have reset and paired the motion controller, try to test it in a PlayStation VR2 game to see if it is working normally.

How to access the PlayStation VR 2 volume control

The PlayStation VR 2 features a headphones jack that you can use to plug in wired earphones, headphones or headsets in order to listen to the sounds and music of a virtual reality game.

The default earphones piece that comes bundled with PSVR 2 does not feature in-line volume controls, however. There also aren’t any buttons you can use on the virtual reality headset to lower or increase the sound output.

So, if you are having a hard time trying to change the volume while wearing the PlayStation VR 2, then you can take a look at this tutorial from Seeking Tech to see how you can properly do so.

1. For the first step, we recommend that you pause the game if you are currently playing one. If you can’t pause the game, then you can head over to a safe area.

2. Next, you need to press the PS logo button located on either the left or right PlayStation VR Sense Controller to bring up a menu that should appear at the bottom of the screen.

3. From there, you need to select the Sound option, which has the speaker icon.

4. You should then be able to Sound menu, here you should see PlayStation VR 2 headphones as the Output Device. To change the volume, you need to select the Volume option.

5. You should then be able to adjust the volume for the earphones, headphones or headsets device that is connected to the PSVR 2.

To decrease the volume, move the slider to the left. In order to increase the volume, you need to move the slider to the right.

6. Once you are done, press the X button to confirm the change.

In addition to using the system menu, you can also check the in-game menus of the game you are currently playing. Most modern titles, including those created for the PlayStation VR2, come with adjustable Audio settings where you can change the level for the Master Volume. There may also be volume controls for the voice, sound effects and music components.

So, if some games sound fine while others sound either too loud or too quiet, then we recommend checking the Audio settings for the problematic game first before using the system menu of the PlayStation 5 for the volume control.

How to fix PlayStation VR 2 blurriness

When you put on the PlayStation VR 2 headset, you may notice that the graphics appear to be blurrier than what you are expecting. To see how you can get a sharper image quality, you can take a look at this troubleshooting article from Seeking Tech.

It is very likely that the blurry screen of the PSVR2 headset is due to incorrect positioning. When moving the headset around, you need to make sure that you hit the so-called “sweet spot” in order to get the sharpest image.

1. For the first step, we recommend that you look at a text in the PSVR 2 headset.

2. If the text appears to be blurry, then we suggest that you re-adjust the virtual reality headset’s position on your face.

Losen the headband and then make your adjustment. In most cases, most people were able to get a clearer image by moving the lens higher up on their face.

You can also try moving to the left or right, as well as diagonally, until the texts appear sharper on the VR screen.

3. You may need to use the lens adjustment dial located on the headset as well if you still can’t get a sharper image.

If you need a visual guide, then you can head over to the Settings menu of your PlayStation 5 or PlayStation 5 Digital Edition console and then select Accessories > PlayStation VR2 > Adjust Lens and VR Headset Position menu.

You can also open the quick menu by quickly pressing the PS button button on the left or right PlayStation VR 2 Sense controller while wearing the virtual reality headset. You should then be able to select the Adjust Visibility option from there.

4. You should eventually reach the sweet spot with enough fiddling when it comes to finding the right placement. Once you do, make sure that you use the headband adjustment dial to secure the headset in place on your face.

If you move the VR screen higher up on your face, for instance, then you should lock in the headband on the lower half of the back of your head to make sure that it stays in place.

5. If you are able to see the texts more clearly on the VR screen, then you should get a sharper image when playing a game as well.

It is very important to note that the PlayStation VR 2 headset does not offer the same sharpness as a 4K television set. So, make sure that you have your expectations in check if you expect to see the same clarity as a 2160p TV.

The clarity also depends on the game you are playing. Some games may use image reconstruction from a lower native resolution, which will result in a softer look, especially in motion.

Other titles may feature re-projection, turning a 60 frames per second game into a 120 frames per second game when playing in virtual reality. This may add a ghosting effect in motion.

Another factor is the OLED panels used by the PlayStation VR 2, which aren’t as sharp as LCD panels when compared to other virtual reality headsets. With that said, OLED has the advantage when it comes to brightness and black levels.

So, if you are seeing a blurry image with one game, even after doing all the aforementioned steps, then we recommend trying another PSVR 2 title to see if you are encountering the same issue. If possible, try to play a game with a completely different visual style to see if you notice a difference in image quality.

What to do if PlayStation VR 2 is not working in Gran Turismo 7

The PlayStation 5 version of Gran Turismo 7 added support for the PlayStation VR 2. If you can’t seem to play this racing simulator in virtual reality, then you can take a look at this troubleshooting article to see how you can potentially fix this issue.

1. Make sure you go through the setup process for your PSVR2 headset if you haven’t done so already.

2. You should also make sure that you have the latest patch downloaded for Gran Turismo 7 as the ability to play this game in virtual reality was added in version 1.29.

If you are having issues getting the update to download, then you can take a look at this patch update tutorial.

3. It is important to note that the game does not natively support the PlayStation VR 2 Sense Controllers. So, once you are done setting up your virtual reality headset, you need to switch over to use either a DualSense controller or a wheel with buttons.

You can then use the DualSense controller or wheel to control the game while viewing it from your PlayStation VR 2 headset.

4. It is also important to note that the main menus of Gran Turismo 7 will be shown just like they would over a television set or monitor in your PSVR2 headset.

You won’t be able to see the virtual reality effects until you actually start a race. During the race, you should be sent right into the car’s cockpit view in full virtual reality a few seconds after the introduction.

Gran Turismo 7 also has a VR Showroom mode that you can find in the Garage section of the world map.

How to fix crashing issues when setting up the PlayStation VR 2

During the set-up process for the PlayStation VR 2, your PlayStation 5 or PlayStation 5 Digital Edition may end up crashing as you may see the “something went wrong with the system software” error or a similar message appear on the screen. This may occur when setting up your play area and/or scanning your room.

To see how you can fix these crashing problems, you can take a look at this troubleshooting article from Seeking Tech.

1. To start off we recommend that you check the USB connection on your headset and PlayStation 5. Make sure that the cable is securely connected on both ends.

2. Next, you can try clearing the cache on your PS5 by taking the following steps:

  • Completely turn off your console.
  • With the console turned off, press and hold the power button located directly on it for around 7 seconds. You should hear one beep initially and then a second beep a short while later.
  • The PS5 should ask you to connect the DualSense to the PlayStation 5 via a USB cable. Do so and then press the PS button on the controller.
  • Now that you have gained control in the Safe Mode menu, select Clear Cache and Rebuild Database.
  • You then need to select Clear System Software Cache.

3. If clearing the cache does not work, then you can try rebuilding the database.

To do so, you first need to go back to the Safe Mode menu and then select Clear Cache and Rebuild Database. Afterwards, select Rebuild Database.

4. You should also make sure that you have the latest firmware installed for your PlayStation 5 as the new update may improve the stability of the console.

To update, make sure that the PS5 is connected to the internet and then head over to Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings > Update System Software > Update Using Internet.

5. Furthermore, make sure that you update the firmware of your PlayStation VR 2 headset as well.

If there is an update available, you should get an on-screen prompt when you plug the virtual reality headset into your PlayStation 5 with the console connected online.

6. Make sure that the room temperature is too hot; otherwise, the console and/or headset may end up overheating.

Furthermore, you should also avoid playing the PS5 in an enclosed place as it will trap the heat generated by the system. Instead, make sure that it is surrounded by open air.

7. As a last resort, you can also try factory resetting the PlayStation 5.

In order to do so, you first need to back up your data by going to Settings > System > System Software > Back Up and Restore > Back Up Your PS5.

Next, you need to factory reset the gaming system by heading over to Settings > System > System Software > Reset Options > Reset Your Console.

Finally, you can restore your back up data by going to Settings > System > System Software > Back Up and Restore > Restore Your PS5.