What VR headset is recommended for 2025?

[Mystic Monkey]

I no longer trust Meta.
I don't know if this has happened to any other Oculus Rift S owners but last year my Rift S headset no longer works. It worked fine before, but after a software update it no longer does and I have a gut feeling Meta gave it a "sabotage update" in order to encourage consumers to move onto the Meta Quest 3.

This was all last year and I haven't played VR games since. I decided to wait until my birthday to browse for a new VR headset for myself because I know the VIVE XR Elite is coming out this month. But I noticed it was also compared to it's cousin, the VIVE Focus Vision which appears to be slightly better than the XR Elite.

But the Valve Index is also second on my list because, despite being fairly dated tech at this point (it's only a few months younger than the Oculus Rift S), I do use Steam a lot and it's annoying having to start Meta and then run SteamVR afterwards.
But I also heard that VALVe are working on the "Valve Index 2" or "Deckard" as it's called. So perhaps I should save my money and hold off for that if it's coming out soon?

[Poor Bastard]

Why not consider the PSVR2? It's still under $400 at some places. It's a decent headset with a real IPD slider, wide FOV, and OLED.

[Mystic Monkey]

Originally posted by Poor Bastard:

Why not consider the PSVR2? It's still under $400 at some places. It's a decent headset with a real IPD slider, wide FOV, and OLED.

I don't own a PlayStation though. I gave up console gaming since the Wii U.

[Bob Loblaw]

PSVR2 connects directly to steamvr now. https://www.playstation.com/en-us/support/hardware/pc-ps-vr2-set-up/

[Poor Bastard]

Originally posted by Mystic Monkey:

Originally posted by Poor Bastard:

Why not consider the PSVR2? It's still under $400 at some places. It's a decent headset with a real IPD slider, wide FOV, and OLED.

I don't own a PlayStation though. I gave up console gaming since the Wii U.

It's not necessary. Kind of like how you can use an Xbox controller on PC without having an Xbox.

[Mystic Monkey]

Originally posted by Poor Bastard:

Originally posted by Mystic Monkey:

I don't own a PlayStation though. I gave up console gaming since the Wii U.

It's not necessary. Kind of like how you can use an Xbox controller on PC without having an Xbox.

Originally posted by Poor Bastard:

Originally posted by Mystic Monkey:

I don't own a PlayStation though. I gave up console gaming since the Wii U.

It's not necessary. Kind of like how you can use an Xbox controller on PC without having an Xbox.

Oh wow! PSVR2 is on my list now.

[The HappyBoY]

PSVR2 & Quest3

[Mystic Monkey]

Does the PSVR2 require a PSN account to run on PC?

[Poor Bastard]

Originally posted by Mystic Monkey:

Does the PSVR2 require a PSN account to run on PC?

Surprisingly no. It's not trying to push a platform like the Meta app. The PSVR2 software only installs the drivers and gives you a tutorial. After that, the headset behaves like a basic accessory. You only need to use the Playstation software again if you want to create or edit a playspace or want to update the firmware.

[WarBucks]

I third the psvr2. i dont have a ps5 either.

Honestly, its been pretty great especially compared to my jank fest, now brick, of a HP reverb g2. Too bad really because it seemed great picture quality wise. when it worked.

The only thing id say about the psvr2 is a few of the technical features HDR, the fovated rendering thing, and i think something else? Arent supported in PC. I dont expect they will he until steamvr adds those functions too?

[Mystic Monkey]

So far, my list, in order of appeal:

1. PSVR2
   
2. Vive Focus Vision
   
3. Vive XR Elite
   
4. Valve Index 2 (Still in development? Release date? Worth the wait?)
   
5. Valve Index

[Aidenel]

Originally posted by Bob Loblaw:

PSVR2 connects directly to steamvr now. https://www.playstation.com/en-us/support/hardware/pc-ps-vr2-set-up/

also this
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2580190/PlayStationVR2_App/
right here on steam. Not the best reviews though.. seems unstable on PC?

[Mystic Monkey]

Originally posted by Aidenel:

Originally posted by Bob Loblaw:

PSVR2 connects directly to steamvr now. https://www.playstation.com/en-us/support/hardware/pc-ps-vr2-set-up/

also this
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2580190/PlayStationVR2_App/
right here on steam. Not the best reviews though.. seems unstable on PC?

I see.
Against the Meta Quest 3, I'd say the PSVR2 has the slight edge. yeah it still relies on a cable but my room is too small for stand-up VR anyway. The price is also very favourable.

But if the Steam PSVR2 app is unstable, that is a bit of a drawback.

[Mystic Monkey]

Also, what are peoples stance on the Pico 4 Ultra? I only just heard about it and from what YouTube says about it, was made to directly compete with Meta Quest 3. But I am wondering why I only heard about it until now. (I also noticed ByteDance had some controversy over censorship, surveillance, and data privacy concerns.)

[Zaichi]

Originally posted by Mystic Monkey:

Also, what are peoples stance on the Pico 4 Ultra? I only just heard about it and from what YouTube says about it, was made to directly compete with Meta Quest 3. But I am wondering why I only heard about it until now. (I also noticed ByteDance had some controversy over censorship, surveillance, and data privacy concerns.)

i love my brother's PICO lol i've used it more than he has since he bought it because i couldn't help wanting to try Subnautica, We Happy Few & Alien Isolation in VR as soon as possible.

i haven't had any issues with it. you install Streaming Assistant that you have to connect to every time you wanna play a game in VR and just start a game. sometimes there's lag in the headset, like the game is slower to respond or if you turn your head fast you can see the black boundary, but i'm unsure if it's a PICO issue or SteamVR issue since i've had problems with SteamVR. whichever it is i just shut down the headset and restart it and all's good again.
it's wireless and the battery lasts 2 hours or so. it recharges in an hour and a half or so.

i don't know much about other headsets but for me PICO does the job.

[Bob Loblaw]

Details on Microsoft's deprecation of WMR support:
https://www.uploadvr.com/windows-mixed-reality-headset-support-end-date/