The PlayStation VR is still one of the cheapest virtual reality headsets on the market, giving you high-end VR experiences powered by your PS4 or PS5 without breaking the bank.
Still, not all of the best VR games launch on PSVR, and if you own both a PlayStation and a gaming PC you might balk at the idea of having to buy a second headset for your desktop.
While it’s not the best way to experience PC-powered VR games and experiences, there is a way to use your PlayStation VR headset on your PC. You won’t be able to play room-scale games, or take full advantage of the PS Move controllers, but you should be able to enjoy standing VR games that offer keyboard and mouse or controller support.
Either way, it’s worth a go, especially if one of your favourite games has VR support. Here’s how to set up and use PlayStation VR on your PC.
How to use PSVR on PC
The first step to using PlayStation VR is to download and install Trinus PSVR, the third-party software that allows your PC and your PSVR headset to ‘talk’ to one another.
- Head to the Trinus VR website and click Download Trinus PSVR to download the installer.
- Run the Trinus PSVR installer, and follow the on-screen instructions to install the software.
Once Trinus PSVR has been installed on your PC, the next step is to connect the headset and adjust the resolution settings – PSVR operates best at 1080p, so you’ll want to make sure that your display output matches this.
- Plug the HDMI cable into the PS4 HDMI port on the PSVR processing unit.
- Plug the other end of the HDMI cable into the HDMI port on your PC\’s GPU. If you only have DisplayPort available, you can pick up a HDMI-to-DisplayPort adapter on Amazon for only £5.95.
- Plug one end of the USB cable into the processing unit, and the other into your PC – a USB 3.0 port, if possible.
- Plug your PSVR headset into the processing unit, and finally, plug the power cable into the power outlet.
- Press the power button on the inline cable remote to turn the headset on. The PC should then recognise the headset as a second display.
- On the PC, head to Settings > System > Display and, under the Multiple Displays subheading, select Extend these displays.
- Under Resolution, select 1920 x 1080.
- Click Apply.
Now that you’ve got your PlayStation VR headset hooked up to your PC, it’s time to configure Trinus PSVR and Steam VR to play your favourite Steam games.
- Right-click Trinus PSVR in the Start menu (or Desktop) and select Run as Administrator.
- Click Install. Trinus PSVR should then automatically find your Steam library.
- Click the Main tab, select the dropdown menu next to PSVR Display and select DISPLAY1.
- Click the dropdown menu next to PSVR Mode, and select VR. It’s worth noting that if you want to play standard 2D games in VR, you can select Cinematic mode.
- Click Assign button next to Reset View to bind a key on your keyboard to reset your view in PSVR. Unlike with the PlayStation, there’s no camera to capture movement information, so it all comes from internal sensors that can (occasionally) get the tracking a little wrong.
- If you want to be able to zoom while in-game using your mouse scroll wheel, make sure the checkbox next to Use Mouse Wheel is checked.
- Make sure that your PSVR is on a flat surface, and click Start to begin calibration.
- Right-click the Steam icon in the Start menu or on the Desktop, and click Run as Administrator.
- Select the VR icon.
- Click Run Room Setup > Standing Only > Next > Calibrate Center > Next > and enter your height in inches or cm in the height field. Then, click Calibrate Floor > Next > Done.
- If successful, you should see the SteamVR Home pop-up on your display in split view, ready for your PSVR headset. Simply make sure the window is highlighted and hit Windows key + Shift + Right arrow to move the window to the headset.
That’s it! You should now be able to play any Steam VR games that offer keyboard and mouse support. You may not be able to move around or physically interact with the environment like with the HTC Vive or get the freedom of a standalone headset like the Oculus Quest 2, but it’ll save you the hassle of buying a second headset just for use with PC.
And who knows, maybe PC setup will be a little easier when the almost-inevitable PlayStation VR 2 finally launches.
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