Over the last few years of this console generation, I’ve watched the console wars from the sidelines. I don’t subscribe to the idea that one console brand is better than the other and I’m lucky enough to have several consoles in my household. However, I used to play primarily on my Xbox One. There are several generic reasons for this: a lot of my active gamer friends play on Xbox; I have the Xbox One S so it gets the first crack at the 4K TV in my living room; I have a weird infatuation with growing my GamerScore. But mostly it’s just more convenient.

That said, I’ve eyed up the PSVR since it launched – one feature that the PS4 boasts that my Xbox One does not. I’ve waited on sales because I could never justify spending more on an accessory than I paid for the console itself. I finally pulled the trigger on PSVR during the E3 Days of Play sale and it has completely revitalized my PS4 experience.

Now, besides the price, I was a little gun-shy on the PSVR because I wasn’t sure if it was right for me. I don’t have the PS4 Pro, which is the most optimal version of the PS4 in terms of VR performance. I was also wary of motion sickness, which hasn’t been a major problem for me in the past but has the potential to render the headset useless. Not to mention, there are some pretty damning critiques of the breadth of the PSVR library. I shouldn’t have worried about any of these.

So far, the PSVR has exceeded my expectations and changed the way I think about the future of gaming. PSVR is amazing. Even without the highest graphics quality, games and experiences are astonishingly immersive. Some of the controls are a little clunky, and it can take a bit of time to get your VR legs. However, once you acclimate it’s easy to lose yourself in the virtual world (which is a little scary, but that’s a different conversation). My first drop-in to Superhot VR – a game I’ve already played “flat” and loved – was exhilarating and made the game feel completely new and fresh. I felt like Neo in the Matrix and lost two hours to the game in what felt like the blink of an eye. I’m a sucker for summer weather but I no longer loathe the rainy days as it gives me a guilt-free chance to hop into PSVR. So far I haven’t run out of games to play.

What’s even crazier is the potential that virtual reality holds. At the moment, VR isn’t taking off like expected because of its technological and economic limitations. But if this is what VR feels like in its limited state, it’ll be astounding to see what’s next as our technology improves.

All this is basically to say, strap in and bear with me. PSVR tips, musings, and reviews will be incoming.

Feature Photo by Jens Kreuter on Unsplash