Skip to main content

Sniper Elite VR and six more PS VR titles get release windows and new details

Sony announced details for seven titles on the way to the PlayStation VR via its PS VR Spotlight series. These details range from full reveals of new games to updates on previously announced games for its virtual reality system. Here’s a rundown of all of the PS VR news that Sony shared today.

Sniper Elite VR - Release Date Trailer | PS VR

Arashi: Castles of Sin

Sony announced a brand new VR stealth game called Arashi: Castles of Sin. In this sandbox-action game, players control Kenshiro, a shinobi who must use weapons and the environment to defeat enemies in a myriad of different ways. It’s scheduled to launch this summer.

Related Videos

Puzzle Bobble 3D: Vacation Odyssey

The VR take on the classic puzzle game series, Puzzle Bobble is also coming to PS VR. Puzzle Bobble 3D: Vacation Odyssey is already available on Oculus Quest, but is now making its way to PlayStation later this year.

Wind and Leaves

Nurture the world back to life, one tree at a time 🌳 Expand your forest to explore in Wind & Leaves, a new #PSVR game that blooms July 27: https://t.co/racBZO8M08 pic.twitter.com/DzCopmlHqz

— PlayStation (@PlayStation) June 3, 2021

The previously revealed Wind and Leaves is a world-builder that was made specifically for the PS VR that gives players the task of exploring the world and using mother nature to rebuild it. It is confirmed for release on July 27.

After the Fall

The four player co-op first-person-shooter After the Fall is coming to PS VR with full cross-platform multiplayer. Though no release date is set, it is still stated to be released in 2021.

Fracked

Fracked is a highly anticipated VR shooter that was previously announced for PS VR. During the VR Spotlight, developer nDreams showed off an extended gameplay reveal. The trailer emphasizes freeform movement and a variety of weapons. Fracked is currently scheduled for a summer release.

Wanderer

Jump back and forth through time in Wanderer, a new variety-filled #PSVR adventure arriving this summer: https://t.co/YUCtoAhOGV pic.twitter.com/a1aCHVsBho

— PlayStation (@PlayStation) June 3, 2021

The time-traveling puzzle-action-adventure game Wanderer is coming to PS VR. Wanderer gives players the ability to jump through different major historical events in order to right different wrongs while finding their way home. It is releasing in Q3 of 2021.

Sniper Elite VR

Sniper Elite VR is another highly anticipated virtual reality game on its way to PS VR. The virtual reality stealth-action FPS spin-off of the Sniper Elite series has been slated for a July 8 release.

Editors' Recommendations

Sony revives a PlayStation 2 deep cut as a PS VR2 launch title
Fireworks explode in Fantavision 202X.

Sony announced a new batch of games coming to the PlayStation VR2, including a handful of titles that'll launch with the hardware on February 22. The most notable game on that list is Fantavision 202X, a left-field revival of one of the PlayStation 2's most peculiar launch games.

The announcement comes from a new Sony blog post focused on Japanese-developed games coming to PS VR2. The post includes five games, four of which are newly announced launch titles for the tech. Fantavision, which launches February 22, especially stands out as it has some historical significance for PlayStation fans.

Read more
Is PlayStation VR2 worth $550? There’s a good case for and against it
Playstation VR2 headset on a PlayStation-themed wallpaper.

Across the board, VR headsets are going up in price. Just look at Meta's Quest Pro, which costs a whopping $1,500. That trend seems to be continuing with the PlayStation VR2, which we now know we retail at $550 ($50 more than the PS5 it hooks up to). These lavish prices signal that the entry-level days of VR are coming to an end, and that companies may be comfortable courting hardcore fans of the tech who want more powerful and impressive hardware.
Feel a New Real | PS VR2
But will this high pricing pay off for companies like Sony? Look at the comments on the PlayStation Blog post or tweet about the PlayStation VR2's release date, and you'll see how divided the opinions are already. For someone looking to get into VR for the first time with PlayStation's new headset, that big price tag may be off-putting, creating doubt that we'll see VR break into the mainstream in the way manufacturers had hoped.
While some of the current VR price changes may seem like a tough sell, these decisions are more practical than you might think. As soon as you start digging into the nuances of the tech, it becomes clear why prices are going up and why it might pay off for companies like Sony. That said, there's a good case both for and against PS VR2's $550 price tag. Which one is right in the long run might be more about Sony's ability to follow through than initial reactions from fans.
The case for PlayStation VR2's $550 price
To get some context on the current state of VR, I spoke with George Jijiashvili, principal analyst at Omdia. Jijiashvili was surprised by the price point, as Omdia expected PlayStation VR2 to be priced less than the PS5. Still, he explained the factors that likely led to this PlayStation VR2 pricing decision. To start, expensive VR headsets like the $999 Valve Index "underlined the demand for high-end VR headsets on PC, so Sony must have been encouraged to pursue higher-than-expected PlayStation VR2 pricing," Jijiashvili says.
Selling a PSVR with its controllers at a higher price than the PlayStation console is not without precedent.

He also pointed out that the original model of the first PlayStation VR was $399, the same price as a PS4 Slim, when it launched in 2016. That said, it didn't come with a PlayStation Camera or PlayStation Move controllers, which were required to play specific games. Bundles featuring those items that came after the fact would cost players more than a PS4. While the PlayStation VR2 doesn't need a camera, the base $550 version does come with its new proprietary Sense controllers. Jijiashvili believes the cost of the technology included justifies its price tag.
"On reflection, selling a PSVR with its controllers at a higher price than the PlayStation console is not without precedent," Jijiashvili explained. "Sony must not have encountered significant pushback on this six years ago, so they've opted for a similar pricing strategy now with PlayStation VR2 … PlayStation VR2 also offers significantly improved hardware specs over PlayStation VR, which come at increased component and manufacturing costs."

Read more
PlayStation VR2 launches in February and it costs more than a PS5
PlayStation VR2 headset on blue background.

Sony finally announced that the PlayStation VR2 will release on February 22, 2023. It'll cost notably more than its predecessor, with base models retailing for $550.
In a PlayStation Blog post, Sony confirmed that preorders for the VR headset in North America will begin on November 15 on the PlayStation Direct website. Players will have the option to purchase the basic version for $550, a bundle with Horizon Call of the Mountain for $600, and a $50 charging station for the PlayStation VR2's Sense controllers. 

First announced in February 2021, Sony has since slowly rolled out details about its next-generation VR headset and revealed some games for it. Information like the release date and price remained a mystery until today, though. Now, not only do we know when to expect the title and how much it will cost, but we learned about even more games coming to PlayStation VR2. 
A separate PlayStation Blog post announced new games and ports coming to the platforms. These include The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR by Supermassive Game, Crossfire: Sierra Squad by Smilgate, The Light Brigade by Funktronic Labs, Cities VR - Enhanced Edition by Fast Travel Games, Cosmonious High by Owlchemy Labs, Hello Neighbor: Search and Rescue by tinyBuild Games, Jurassic World Aftermath Collection by Coatsink, Pistol Whip VR by Cloudhead Games, Zenith: The Last City by Ramen VR, After the Fall by Vertigo Games, and Tentacular by Firepunchd Games.
Specific release dates for those games weren't shared, but considering that Tentacular, Zenith: The Last City, Hello Neighbor: Search and Rescue, Cosmonious High, Cities VR, and The Light Brigade will be available for preorder starting on November 15, it's likely that those games will come out around the PlayStation VR2's launch.
The PlayStation VR2 launches on February 22, 2023.

Read more