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7 PlayStation VR2 launch window games you’ll want to grab on day one

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The VR space is ever-expanding with new headsets and technology pushing the medium forward in impressive ways, but it’s usually the games and how they take advantage of each headset that matters most. That’s why Sony is ensuring that its upcoming PlayStation VR2 — set to launch February 22 — has a diverse lineup of titles that showcase what its new device is capable of achieving.

While many of these titles are updated ports from other headsets, the sheer number of unique experiences in the PSVR2 launch window means there should be a bit of something for everyone. If you’re planning to snag the headset next month, here are seven launch games that you’ll want to keep on your radar as you plan out what to buy first.

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Horizon: Call of the Mountain

Horizon Call of the Mountain game still with characters in a boat.

Sony has positioned Horizon: Call of the Mountain as the PSVR2’s killer app, and it’s easy to see why. Expanding on the world and story of one of the company’s most popular first-party franchises, Call of the Mountain is a visual showcase unlike anything else currently in the launch window. The game’s gorgeous vistas are already a thing to behold based on early trailers, but being able to experience the thrill of the series’ massive robot dinosaurs walking over you or attacking you in breathtaking action sequences is all but certain to elevate this one to a must-have for most PSVR2 owners.

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Moss and Moss: Book II

moss 2 press image showing Quill and other characters in action poses

Moss and Moss: Book II were originally released to widespread acclaim for Sony’s first VR headset, but both games are now headed to PSVR2. Each will come with updates that take advantage of the PSVR2’s new controllers. The Moss franchise blends third-person platforming with first-person interaction to amazing effect, letting players assist adorable mouse protagonist Quill on her quests through a beautiful, dangerous fairytale world. While perhaps not the visual powerhouse of something like Horizon: Call of the Mountain, these two beloved and emotional journeys are certain to warm all but the coldest hearts — even if the lack of a free upgrade for existing owners is a bit disappointing.

Firewall Ultra

first-person perspective of a hand holding a gun

First-person multiplayer shooter Firewall Zero Hour was a standout hit for PS VR when it launched back in 2018, prompting developer First Contact Entertainment to push ahead with its upcoming sequel Firewall Ultra for PSVR2. Set five years after the original game, this remarkably detailed tactical shooter lets players squad up for strategic PVP and brand-new expanded PVE content across multiple modes with all new contractors, weapons, and maps. The team has even promised that it has answered fans’ cries for a round-based structure and dedicated servers, too. Though a release date hasn’t been formally announced, this thrilling action game has the potential to be the go-to multiplayer experience during the PSVR2 launch window.

Zenith: The Last City

players congregate around a point of interest

MMOs are an obvious choice for VR, but the genre has previously struggled to land particularly well with players due to the poor quality of releases. That all changed with Zenith: The Last City when it hit early access on headsets last year. This anime-style role-playing adventure has been a huge hit with players around the world thanks to its accessible gameplay and interesting world design, which has ensured that developer Ramen VR has remained dedicated to keeping the game updated regularly with fresh content. With improved graphics and a completely free upgrade for PS VR owners, Zenith: The Last City is likely to only see further success on PSVR2.

Gran Turismo 7

Gran Turismo 7 has been one of the best-received racing titles in recent memory, and the announcement that the game is set to receive a free day-one upgrade for PSVR2 has been met with praise from across the industry. With 4K visuals and all of the unique controller innovations the PSVR2 promises, this should be the most immersive way for players to enjoy racing in Sony’s beloved sim racer. For those interested, the game even be taken online to play against others while in VR mode, making this one of the PSVR2’s most enticing offerings for those seeking multiplayer challenges on launch day.

Resident Evil Village

Player battling creature in Resident Evil Village Gold Edition.

Given the popularity of Resident Evil 7‘s VR mode, it was a no-brainer that Resident Evil Village would make its way to virtual reality, too. A free DLC update will be available on day one to owners of the original game and will allow them to play through the entire campaign in a freshly designed VR mode. The new mode will have some exclusive features, too, such as allowing players to hold two weapons at once (one in each hand) and embracing more interactive reloading by using the PSVR2 controllers. It may not be an entirely new survival horror game, but it’ll allow fans to see the whole story from an enveloping first-person perspective.

Tentacular

a huge squid moves things around an island

Tentacular made its debut last year on other headsets and quickly captured the hearts of VR fans everywhere. Players take on the role of a gentle but giant squid who has been raised by the human denizens of a small coastal town as it tries to discover its true origins by solving a variety of environmental puzzles around the island. While it certainly provides some brain-teasing moments, this humorous physics-based title is all about the laid-back and humorous vibes that should put it on the right track to be a winner when it lands on PSVR2.

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Billy Givens
Billy Givens
Gaming Writer
Billy Givens is a freelance writer with over a decade of experience writing gaming, film, and tech content. His work can be…
Get these 6 PlayStation VR2 launch games to showcase its features
A side view of the PlayStation VR2, which sits on a wood table.

If you're planning on buying a PlayStation VR2 at launch, be prepared for an intimidating process as you decide which games to pick up first. Early adopters will have a lot of options to choose from, as Sony's latest headset will support over 40 games at launch. The bulk of those, though, are ports of preexisting VR games from the past few years. That makes it a little tricky to figure out which games actually showcase what the PSVR2 is capable of and which will feel like a dated experience that doesn't benefit from new tech.

To help guide you, we've spent time playing through a wide variety of launch titles, from classics like Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy's Edge all the way to Horizon Call of the Mountain. While there are plenty of games that we've enjoyed, including charmers like What the Bat? and Jurassic World Aftermath Collection, six games in particular act as great showcases for various PSVR2 features. Whether you're looking to test its power, Sense controllers, or audio options, you'll want to put these six games in your digital shopping cart.
Horizon Call of the Mountain

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PlayStation VR2 adds even more games to its launch lineup
Gameplay from Sushi Ben, an upcoming PlayStation VR2 game.

Sony has finalized the launch lineup of the PlayStation VR2 headset just before its February 22 release. With that comes the confirmation of the new games coming to the PSVR2 platform throughout the rest of 2023, including a sequel to a critically acclaimed PlayStation VR title, as well as many exciting ports.

Starting with the newly confirmed launch titles, ports of the Viking rhythm game Ragnarock, 1980s anime-themed motorcycle combat game Runner, sci-fi simulator Startenders: Intergalactic Bartending, medieval sword-fighting game Swordsman VR, and VR Guitar Hero-like Unplugged: Air Guitar will all be available on February 22. This cements the following list as PlayStation VR2's 43-game launch game lineup.

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Bringing VR’s best Star Wars game to PlayStation VR2 was a no-brainer, devs say
star wars tales from the galaxys edge psvr2 interview ilmxlab starwarstalesee screenshot c 3po and r2 d2

When ILMxLAB learned about the PlayStation VR2, Director Jose Perez III thought it was a "no-brainer" for the studio to bring the Oculus Quest game Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy's Edge to the new headset.
"We're always looking at how we can push the fidelity of the work that we're doing," Perez III tells Digital Trends in an interview. "PlayStation VR2 is ridiculously powerful; we got really excited about what we could bring to that. We started talking with our friends at Sony because we had a great relationship with them for Vader Immortal, and it was really a no-brainer. Then, you put the headset on, you start feeling the haptics, and you start seeing what you can do with the visual fidelity and lighting, and it's like, 'Oh, this is awesome!'"
Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy's Edge - Enhanced Edition | Official Trailer | PS VR2
PlayStation VR2's launch and its first wave of games are nearly upon us, and Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy's Edge Enhanced Edition is one of those titles. This is a make-or-break time for VR, which is still struggling to move into the mainstream but could become more popular if Sony's headset can offer a compelling and accessible virtual reality experience. Ahead of its release, Digital Trends spoke to Director Jose Perez III and Producer Harvey Whitney from ILMxLAB to learn about the process of crafting one of these critical "no-brainer" launch games and PlayStation VR2 will ultimately stand when it comes to the future of VR gaming.
The power of PlayStation VR2
Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy's Edge was originally released for Meta Quest VR headsets in November 2020. It's set on the planet of Batuu, which people also explore at Dinsey parks, and follows a Droid Technician who gets caught in the middle of a grander fight against the First Order after crash-landing on the planet. At the time, it was meant with decent reviews and only got better as its story was completed and expanded with the Last Call DLC.
After getting the "Enhanced Edition" of the game for PlayStation VR2 greenlit, ILMxLAB actually had to go and make it. As the team was dealing with new hardware for the first time, producer Harvey Whitney thought it was good that the team's first project on PlayStation VR2 was an enhanced version of an existing game.
"Early on, knowing that we already had the content that was created for the original, that changes things quite a bit," Whitney tells Digital Trends. "We're not redeveloping the story and coming up with all of that. We just had that opportunity to work as a team and ask, 'What do we really push here, and where are the changes that we want to make, and what we can do to really take advantage of this hardware?'"

The VR space is full of different headsets with unique specs, with the much higher specs of the PS VR2 standing out. The PlayStation VR2 sports some impressive specs compared to its VR peers, displaying content in a 4000x2030 HDR format at a 90Hz or 120Hz frame rate. Plus, games have the PS5's power, spatial, and brand new Sense controllers to take advantage of, rather than the 2013 console and 2010 motion controls that limited the original PlayStation VR.
PlayStation VR2 supports Roomscale, Sitting, and Standing play styles, which added more complexity as Tales from the Galaxy's Edge supports all three. Thankfully, Perez III that bringing Tales from the Galaxy's Edge to PlayStation VR2 was relatively manageable because of how impressive the system's specs were.
"A lot of the development processes are similar [to other VR platforms]," Perez III says. "We're still working inside of Unreal, and we're doing a lot of those same processes. But we don't have to look at performance quite as much as we do on some of the other devices, so we're able to open up a lot of things or not be as concerned about certain things. That comes with better hardware."
Better hardware, better games
Looking at the biggest games of the PlayStation VR2 launch window lineup, the visuals of titles like Horizon Call of the Mountain and the VR modes of Resident Evil Village and Gran Turismo 7 are impressive. In our discussion, Whitney also made it quite clear that one of the real advantages of working on this remaster was not having to worry about strict limitations on the visuals or even the audio. "We got lucky in the sense that there's a lot more to PlayStation VR2 that we hadn't had previously," Whitney says. "We could really push the graphics and make it shine. But then there were also some other things that came into play. We totally redid the audio, it sounds amazing."

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