Sony's next-generation virtual reality headset PSVR 2 will reportedly launch "next holiday season" and will reportedly feature an OLED panel rather than LCD like some competitors.

This comes from a Bloomberg report, citing unnamed sources "familiar with the matter," indicating that PSVR 2 will be Sony's flagship product for the 2022 holiday season. However, it will require a PS5 to make it work, and the current state of PS5 restocking means that Sony's newest console will be very hard to find.

PSVR 2 was announced earlier this year, and while Sony was not forthcoming about a release date, many thought it would appear at some point in 2022; if Bloomberg's report is accurate, that release date would be narrowed to the end of this year. It seems inevitable that there will be a Christmas rush to buy VR headsets before they sell out, especially if the global chip shortage continues.

Bloomberg also notes that Sony plans to use Samsung's OLED panels for the PSVR 2. Competing headsets like the Oculus Quest 2 and HTC Vive Pro 2 have already switched to LCD panels, but PlayStation seems to be sticking with OLED.

While the advantages of OLEDs include faster response times and better contrast, the report notes that other manufacturers are increasingly turning to LCD technology, which is easier to achieve higher resolutions without a significant cost increase. This may suggest that PSVR 2 will be at the high end of the VR market in terms of price.

While we have yet to see what the PSVR 2 headset actually looks like, we do know that it requires only one cable to connect to the PS5, freeing it from the spaghetti of wires caused by the multiple cables of the original PSVR.

Recent spec leaks suggest that the kit will be much more sophisticated than its predecessor and may use smart technical tricks such as phoveitrending. This involves reducing the resolution of what the user is not looking at directly, thus reducing the hardware's rendering load while not compromising the immersive experience.

Sony has previously announced the controllers that PSVR 2 will use. These are a significant upgrade from the PlayStation Move wands and will likely incorporate many of the features of the PS5 DualSense controller, including haptic feedback and adaptive triggers.

There is still much we don't know about PSVR 2, but what we do know for sure is that you will need a PS5 to use it. Of course, actually getting Sony's next-generation gaming console is easier said than done these past few months. If you still want a PS5, bookmark the PS5 Restocking Hub to stay up-to-date on the latest inventory.