If there is one thing that tech savvy’s can all agree on is the fact that 2017 was the year of Virtual Reality. Although these high-tech devices made their debut last year, it wasn’t until several months later that sells began to go up. More growth can be expected in 2018, so we’ve decided to compare two popular Virtual Reality gadgets, the PSVR vs HTC Vive.
By now, the craze is at its highest point: PlayStation recently released an upgrade for their VR model while Vive began to sell finger tracking controllers that enhance the playing experience. In the middle of all that, incredibly attractive games have been developed and are for sale now in all stores.
It is a common trend among Millennials that Virtual Reality headsets are favorite gift options but because every gamer has different likes and needs, it is difficult to know exactly which model they will have more fun with.
That exactly is the main purpose of this guide: to enlighten those who are planning on getting a VR headset for a close one but are not quite sure where to start. This time, it is PlayStation VR vs HTC Vive the ones that take the spotlight.
PlayStation Virtual Reality Headset Review
The PSVR is a must for those who have always enjoyed PlayStation and all the games it offers. Originally released in 2016, the headset had minor upgrades this past November and now gamers can have a slightly improved experience.
The PSVR provides an immersive experience where the gamer uses also a pair of Move Motion controllers that takes them deeper into the video game world. At the time of writing this article, this VR headset together with a PS4 camera, which is needed to play, can be bought on Amazon as shown in this article. The pack of two controllers can be purchased also from Amazon which is a trusted e-commerce source for such products.
Nevertheless, you can also find great deals where PlayStation sells the headset, the camera, the controllers and the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR game, all for $349. These offers are much better than buying everything separately as only the game itself costs around $70.
What Else Do You Need?
The PSVR works only with PS4 and PS4 Pro so if the person you are buying the gift for doesn’t own one, you’ll have to get that as well. The PS4 costs around $280 on Amazon and its most recent upgrade, the PS4 Pro, can be bought for around $349. The latter is a better choice as it has several small changes that improve the gameplay.
Space and Setup
To play, you will also need a High Definition TV that can project the game. The setup is fairly easy: the PlayStation connects to the TV while the headset connects to the PlayStation. It shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes to get it all ready to play.
As for space, it will depend on whether the gamer will play standing up or sitting down. It won’t be necessary to find a big area because most games can be played on the couch. As long as there is a considerable distance between the PS4 Camera and the player, it’s all good to go.
PSVR Games
PlayStation has excellent games and luckily, many of them are available for VR, such as the already named Skyrim, which is a favorite among fantasy lovers. Likewise, there is Arizona Sunshine, a zombie shooter game, and of course, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard ($45), a survival horror classic.
For car race gamers, there is DiRT: Rally ($35), and for those who want to travel to outer space, you can choose Sparc and its quite ambitious graphics, or Star Trek: Bridge Crew ($34), which can be easily played with other people.
Recommended Bundle Product
At the time of this writing here are the prices for our recommended bundle:
PSVR Skyrim Bundle (includes 2 controllers + PS4 Camera + 1 game):
PSVR – A VR Headset Made for Gaming
It goes without saying that a PlayStation 4 VR headset was designed primarily and almost exclusively for gaming. Games like Farpoint, Arizona Sunshine, Doom VFR and especially Sparc work very well with the system.
Limitations are obvious though. You have to be positioned directly in front of the camera for it work, the Move controllers are old-tech, there are only a handful of games worth playing longer than 2-3 hours.
Despite the shortcomings, PSVR does a few things it’s supposed to do and does them well. First of all, it’s a plug-and-play product – the chances of something going awry are minimal. Second, those few games, like Sparc, for example, are really, really fun to play.
Last, but not least, it won’t break the bank. With regular discounts and the price going down, it will satiate most gamers’ desire to try out the virtual reality. What more do you even need?
HTC Vive Virtual Reality Headset Review
Also launched in 2016, this headset was one of the first to reach the stores and it has its differences from other Virtual Reality devices. To begin with, the Vive set can be acquired through vive.com or through Amazon (see actual price on Amazon below) and it includes a whole lot of pieces such as the headset, two wireless controllers, two extra face cushions, and two base stations.
What Else Do You Need?
However, this is not enough to play with the HTC as it needs certain requirements that the gamer’s PC has to meet. Given the case that it doesn’t, you can always acquire a Vive Ready PC which range from a few HP models to several MSI laptops, the latter being the number one gamer brand on the market.
The MSI PC and this MSI Laptop are just a couple of the Vive Ready computers you can get. These can be bought directly on the store or online but beware that they generously cost over $1,200 so you will have to add that to the HTC Vive final price.
Space and Setup
This VR headset works quite different from the PSVR and it needs a lot more space, too. It is meant to be played in a 15 feet x 15 feet room so be ready to set that up in the house. Fortunately, the “chaperone” system of the HTC Vive prevents gamers from bumping into real objects by projecting virtual ones over them.
The set up takes a bit of time. After installing the software, the base stations need to be mounted: these are the ones that will read the space where the player is at and create a virtual world to be submerge into.
There are several cables as well, and the floor needs to be calibrated so save some time to set it up before playing.
HTC Vive Games
A lot of Oculus Rift games can be played on the HTC Vive and vice versa so as months pass by, there are more and more titles that can be enjoyed by Vive players. However, not all of them are worth getting into so here are a couple that definitely deserve a chance.
Vanishing Realms ($20) is an adventure, sword-wielding game that soon became a favorite while The Gallery Episodes 1 & 2 (around $20 each) are also great for those who like to explore worlds and solve puzzles.
Island: 359 features a mercenary in a dinosaur island that can be quite terrifying. There’s also Batman: Arkham and lastly, the recently released Fallout 4 VR, which needs no explaining among gamers and is completely free when you purchase the HTC Vive.
Recommended Bundle Product
At the time of this writing here are the prices for our recommended bundle:
HTC VIVE Virtual Reality System and CYBERPOWERPC Gaming PC:
HTC Vive – Many possibilities, even more problems
Whoever has meddled with HTC Vive will agree that it’s not the most streamlined and polished product out there. Users regularly run into all kinds of annoying little problems, and despite their best efforts, neither SteamVR nor HTC Vive can put an end to an endless stream of new issues.
These issues tie into a broader spectrum of problems. There are countless PC hardware and software combinations out there to account for, and more often than not, something will refuse to work with something else.
Still, for a true tech fanatic, PC is the only way to go. For people willing to put up with all the little glitches, bugs, crashes and errors, PC systems provide the platform capable of running most anything VR-related out there.
Therefore, if your nephew or that nutty uncle constantly bore you with details about next-gen CPUs and graphics cards, gigabytes, teraflops and 4K resolutions, be sure to get them HTC Vive.
Bottom line is, it’s a great product well worth the money for someone you know will enjoy it. But please, make sure the person you’re buying HTC Vive for can actually use it. The minimum system requirements to run these VR headsets are still quite high, so if they’re talking Intel i7, but running with stone-age Pentium IV’s (unlikely, but weirder things happened…), better buy them a whole PS4+PSVR setup all-in-one. The price is more or less the same.
Technical Differences Summary
Firstly, as for the experience, the PlayStation offers a VR gameplay immersion with two controllers and a camera that reads your movements. On the other hand, HTC Vive is fully immersive and even has wall and object tracking systems that allow the gamer to play in a room as big as 15ft x 15ft, moving around in the video game world.
Setting the PSVR is much easier than the HTC Vive, which requires some time because of all the gadgets it brings. If you are looking for an easy setup, PSVR is the way to go: fewer cables and simpler process.
The price is much higher for the HTC Vive. It is certainly expected considering how it works and how immersive it is. However, if you are planning on getting a VR headset for a person that already owns a PlayStation, it’s better to get the PSVR. Make sure you also check opinions on buying PSVR now or waiting for the next generation, and for HTC Vive as well.
As for the games, it’s a tie: both devices have great +16 titles and even some of them are available on the two of them. However, kid’s games are more abundant on the HTC Vive.
Finally, make sure to find out what type of gamer you will be getting the headset for and this will help you figure out easily which of the two is better for them. After all, they’re both high-quality devices and will offer a one-of-a-kind experience, no matter what.
Which VR Headset is Better for a Birthday Present?
If you belong to a rare breed of people that can afford to spend a couple hundred dollars to give your best friends or family relatives expensive birthday presents, then congratulations – you’re officially on my envy list. If your friends or family members happen to be tech geeks and gadget-junkies, you’re in double luck today.
You see, for someone who enjoys all the latest, shiny and totally unnecessary tech & gaming gadgets and peripherals, virtual reality is certainly a venue to explore. Therefore, if you can afford it, PSVR or HTC Vive VR systems make for a perfect gift.
However, if you’re unsure which one is better, this short overview will give you some insight. By the time you’re finished reading, you’ll have a much better understanding of these two VR headsets.
PSVR vs HTC Vive – Final Verdict
Although PSVR has better value for money, and potentially has more options in terms of games and VR experiences, HTC Vive is definitely a better choice. Using VR headset for the first time can be frustrating but things go smoother with Vive than with PSVR. If you try each headset for 5 minutes you’ll get an idea why. Tracking is better, great room-scale support and play areas, graphics and resolution screen make HTC Vive an absolute winner for this comparison.
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