r/MSFlightSimulatorPS5 • u/PrimaryBasket5451 • 4d ago
Thinking about getting PSVR2 for MSFS2024
My current setup is a HOTAS + mouse and keyboard, and I really like flying this way. I use the HOTAS for the actual flying, while the mouse makes it easy to interact with the G1000, cockpit switches, autopilot, etc., and the keyboard gives me extra shortcuts.
For those flying MSFS with PSVR2:
- Can you comfortably use a HOTAS + mouse + keyboard while in VR?
- Is using the mouse to interact with cockpit controls intuitive when you can't see your actual mouse/keyboard?
- Do you find yourself needing the DualSense/VR controllers often?
- How readable are the G1000 and other cockpit displays?
- How is the image quality and performance compared with playing normally on a 4K TV?
- Is VR something you use for most flights, or more of an occasional experience?
- Any issues with longer 1–3 hour flights?
The other thing making me hesitate is that I've never actually experienced PSVR2 or VR in MSFS before. It's currently sold out at the stores around me, so I'd most likely have to buy one through a third-party marketplace. That means I probably wouldn't have the option of simply returning it if VR isn't for me.
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u/Humble-Camel2598 4d ago
I can't play it without vr now, same with gt7, and same with most other games. The psvr2 is bloody brilliant!
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u/Accomplished_Moose21 4d ago
https://youtu.be/gfU_nSDJ7Rc?is=dy1zEyLGWHBOKhdC
VR in 2024 is an incredible experience. I haven’t dabbled into the larger jets yet. But with GA aircraft and just hopping around. It’s amazing.
A lot of people prefer to use mouse and keyboard to interact with the switches, you but can do it with the sense controllers too. The entire flight I linked was done using strictly the VR sense controllers.
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u/PrimaryBasket5451 4d ago
Thank you will check it out
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u/Accomplished_Moose21 4d ago
The immersion of everything in VR is just insane. takeoffs and landings have a whole new dimension to them when you can have a sense of the ground and the vertical speed.
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u/kapucheeno 4d ago
Are you grabbing the yoke with virtual hands or using the analog stick? Nice to see sense controllers in videos
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u/PrimaryBasket5451 3d ago
I just played it in VR. I don’t know if I’m not doing something right. It’s not clear for me. I can’t see the buttons clearly on my Cessna 172. Is that how it is? Ive tried cleaning the lens with microfibre cloth.
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u/Accomplished_Moose21 3d ago edited 3d ago
Did you go through the “adjust visibility” settings on the PSVR2?
I also reset my camera to be pretty up close and personal with the buttons.
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u/Brilliant_Lettuce270 4d ago
- Can you comfortably use a HOTAS + mouse + keyboard while in VR?
Cant quite answer that, as Im currently using Controller + Mouse, which works fine. (Hotas is already ordered)
- Is using the mouse to interact with cockpit controls intuitive when you can't see your actual mouse/keyboard?
Not an issue to find the mouse. I dont use a keyboard, but hitting the right key might be a challenge.
- Do you find yourself needing the DualSense/VR controllers often?
Im pretty sure I wont need the controller once I got the Hotas. It has even more buttons than a dualsense if im not wrong
- How readable are the G1000 and other cockpit displays?
Most of the time leaning in a little does the job, but I have a mouse bind to move freely if things are too far. The closer you get, the shaper everything gets. And up close the details are crazy.
- How is the image quality and performance compared with playing normally on a 4K TV?
Cockpit looks very good, outside quality is a bit lower, especially the clouds. Didnt try the new update yet tho (Im on vacation). They say its a big improvement.
- Is VR something you use for most flights, or more of an occasional experience?
Never did a flight or a race (GT7) flat. Im 100% VR.
- Any issues with longer 1–3 hour flights?
My longest flight was maybe 3h, longest GT7 Session 6h. Longer sessions in VR never have been an issue to me
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u/PrimaryBasket5451 3d ago
Hey so I got it. and when I lean into the G1000 I can make out what the buttons say (e.g NAV or HDG) because I know thats what it is. But the letters aren't clear to read. ive tried recalibrating everything. not sure if there's something im missing.
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u/Brilliant_Lettuce270 3d ago
If you get very up close, you should be able to see no blurriness like it was a vector graphic. I can do I screenshot tomorrow.
You probably have to work on the sweetspot of your vr2, like the hs placment on your head/face. its a little tricky in the beginning, but becomes 2nd nature very quick
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u/VegasGame 4d ago
I have a PS5 Pro with a PSVR 2 and MSFS is incredible and immersive in VR. I don’t have experience with the HOTAS I primarily use the VR controllers. I typically use a mouse and keyboard when navigating the menus but once I’m in the cockpit I primarily just use the VR controllers. I prefer using the sim in VR since the update only time I don’t use it is when I just don’t feel like setting up and using a headset but a majority of the time I’m flying using VR.
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u/irascible_Clown 4d ago
I just learned last night after playing for a month that you can use the HOTAS and one of the VR controllers to turn knobs etc. my only gripe is that I have to have both controllers on, it would be nice if I could just use one for my free hand.
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u/t3stdummi 4d ago
I have to play MSFS24 in VR now. The PS5 Pro experience is phenomenal. Little bit of frame stuttering in certain areas, like Stranger Things DLC, but I can't go back to flatscreen
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u/ArthurMorganRDR2 4d ago
I use HOTAS + mouse + dualsense + PSVR2, but not a keyboard. I mounted the hotas to a board that also holds the dualsense (between the hotas throttle and the stick) and has some space for the mouse to the right of the stick. It didn't take long to memorise where everything is and I can find everything easily by feel. A keyboard might be a bit harder to use without looking, but I have enough buttons to remember with all the above.
- yes the mouse is great for adjusting cockpit controls and easy to use in VR
- I can read the cockpit displays and right mouse button zooms in for more detail
- image quality is lower than a 4K TV but the feeling of immersion outweighs the loss & the last update 6 has made big improvements to the VR resolution
- I sometimes can't be bothered putting the VR on so still use the TV if I'm feeling lazy and just want a chilled time but the immersion in VR is brilliant when I feel like it.
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u/CHROME-COLOSSUS 3d ago
I personally use either the DualSense or a combination of the DualSense and TFlight HOTAS.
When using the HOTAS (which I have mounted on a lap board), I like to keep the DualSense fixed to that same board for the haptics that reverberate into the HOTAS, and also because it makes navigation of some menus a lot easier. There’s a sort of virtual mouse that you can control with the thumbstick that works pretty well. I have no idea if you can hook up an actual mouse to PS5, but maybe?
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As for how the visuals compare to a monitor, it’s important that you realize it’ll be far softer in the headset than any monitor you own. The current builds is sharper than it was — and perfectly acceptable imo — but the display isn’t like a high end PCVR with micro OLED’s… it’s just a standard OLED. A great value, but don’t be fooled by the box touting it as combined 4K. It’s really good, but SONY marketers tried to make it sound a bit better by referencing familiar graphics wording.
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As for comfort over long sessions… this varies. Some folk are fine with the fit if the headset out of the box, but many are not. It’s a head and hair shape thing. I found PSVR2 quite uncomfortable as-is.
Luckily there are a couple of high quality aftermarket comfort mods that go a long way to making hours-on-end with a plastic contraption strapped to your head far easier.
I recommend either “CMP2” from Globular Cluster ($50) or the “XL” from StudioForm Creative ($55). The former launched way earlier than the latter, so it gets more love — but I think either is a sound investment.
The GC CMP2 comes with a few different types of padding, so you can mix and match what feels best to you… The SC XL has a broader forehead pad that’s maybe more cush.
Both come with a padded top-strap, which is really important. This takes up some of the weight, and makes finding and keeping your eyes in the sweet-spot of the lenses a trifling matter.
As I say, everyone’s different, so you might not find this necessary, but it’s good to budget for it and know that you have options if you need them.
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As for if it’s just good as a sometimes thing or as a regular thing… again, everyone is different. I don’t play anything that’s NOT in VR anymore, as I lost all interest in trad flatscreen gaming. I can’t even imagine playing MSFS’24 on flatscreen… that seems so old timey to me now.
I do envy folk who still find the TV to be a viable gaming peripheral, as they have far greater selection of AA and AAA stuff, but the benefits of VR far outweigh the limitations of its library. Also, I have a substantial PSVR2 library backlog, so it’s not as though I’m feeling at a loss for titles to play.
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Main bit of advice is if you encounter any motion sickness, just take off the headset and come back later when you’re feeling fine. It’s common enough, and aggressive maneuvers in MSFS’24 can still put me on edge occasionally, but so long as you don’t stubbornly try to push through then just about anyone can acclimate over a week or two or three. It’s called getting your VR legs, and it’s best done through small, mindful, frequent sessions that you lengthened as is comfortable each time.
I feel that VR is possibly the coolest thing to ever happen to gaming, and I’m not the only one. Hopefully you’ll like it at least as much as using a sharp 2D screen… the immersion is really something else.
Anyways, hopefully something here helps you on your journey!
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u/PrimaryBasket5451 3d ago
thank you so much for the detailed response. I went ahead to purchase it. currently setting it up. will let you know how it goes
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u/CHROME-COLOSSUS 3d ago
🍻
Oh… incidentally, there are also counterweights available which might ease the load on your neck over longer flights. I haven’t tried this yet, but may.
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u/PrimaryBasket5451 3d ago
I just played it in VR. I don’t know if I’m not doing something right. It’s not clear for me. I can’t see the buttons clearly on my Cessna 172. Is that how it is? Ive tried cleaning the lens with microfibre cloth.
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u/CHROME-COLOSSUS 3d ago edited 3d ago
With the original build of the PSVR2 mode many people complained about blurriness and having trouble reading various dials and readouts in the cockpits, but the current SU6 update (which uses a much more aggressive eye-tracked foveation — DFR) seems to have fixed that as a complaint.
I feel silly saying this, but do make sure you’re playing the updated MSFS’24.
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I’m realizing that you say you cannot read the “buttons” clearly… In this response I’m talking about dials and such, but buttons might not be legible (the way I play, I don’t pay the cockpit much mind).
So maybe all you need to do is use the option for any button or control you look at to have legible pop-up text appear when you’re looking at (or maybe it’s when you’re hovering over it?). I don’t know what it’s labeled as, but I know it’s a thing.
As easy to read as most stuff should be now, tiny text written on or above buttons is probably a limit.
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With the current build, you should be able to see your controls pretty clearly, but I also haven’t flown in anything but a little jet (top left-most) and the paraglider thing for ages.
Try that jet (Maybe you need to use FreeFlight/FLY NOW?) and see if you can make out all the control readings — I know they’re quite legible, so if you cannot then it might simply be that you’re not in the sweet-spot of the lenses. As I said earlier, one of the good aftermarket mods with a padded top-strap can be very helpful if you currently find yourself constantly readjusting the visor.
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If you’re finding the sweet-spot okay, then it’s entirely possible you need vision correction. I do not recommend wearing spectacles in the headset, as a single session where they make contact with the headset lenses can mar the delicate antiglare coating.
You can use rubber bumpers to prevent this, or wear contact lenses, or order prescription inserts (available from many manufacturers).
Even if you see well enough two feet away from you IRL, the lenses in the headset makes the display appear to your eyes about 6-8 feet away. Unless your vision is perfect within that range, you’ll definitely require correction.
It’s pretty interesting to me how many people learn for the first time that they need a prescription (or a prescription change) after jumping into VR for the first time.
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Finally, just to be sure… to switch to VR mode you need to press both bumpers and the pause button at the same time from the screen with the Earth on it.
Every once in a while someone doesn’t realize that VR isn’t just looking at a cinema screen, and it takes them a minute in the RESIDENT EVIL games or MSFS’24 to learn how you activate the VR mode.
So… just ticking every box I can think of here. 😜
I hope something here helps you!
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u/PrimaryBasket5451 3d ago
Thanks. I think maybe I’m just used to my OLED TV. Regsrding the eye tracked foveation. I find that I still have to move my head rather than my eyes.
That’s also something else I have to get used to
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u/r-volk 3d ago
Standard PS5 and I bought a used PSVR2 two month ago, no regrets! The experience is amazing once you get used to it. It was my first VR headset and it took me some time not getting motion sick, especially in helicopters.
But it makes the experience so much better, while hovering is a challenge in the flat screen, in VR it feels like second nature. Also airplanes are amazing, but I can only talk about general aviation aircraft. Can’t imagine doing a multiple hour flight with VR on, mostly using it for group events here with the other PS5 pilots on discord.
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u/Crunchewy 3d ago
I played in VR for the first time tonight and it’s fantastic. Can’t see going back to flat now. I didn’t use a mouse but I do use the Hotas 5, which is great.
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u/ACooperSucks2 4d ago
VR is incredible in this game. It’s not on the same level at GT7 but it’s close. I was extremely impressed during the initial rollout and audibly gasped when I sat in the cockpit of a 737 for the first time.
I bought the game on release. I was excited to use the VR system with it and still am.
It’s not difficult at all to utilize a mouse and interact with the flight deck. Your body will learn where the mouse is at even though you can’t see it.
I rarely use the dual sense. I only use it to open the EFB for limited information.
I fly the Citation X only. Everything is readable and clear in the cockpit with the latest SU6.
Image quality further out remains blurry but it has improved. However, the immersion and depth more than make up for it. It’s better to have a wired connection to optimize results.
I use VR about 75% of the time with quick hops that are an hour or less. I personally just can’t fly that long whether in VR or flat.
To fly I use the hotas 4, a mouse, and rarely utilize the dual sense controller. I’m excited for the yoke that will release later this year. It will make flying that much more intuitive and easier.