JULY 2020 PCWorld 35Reverb G2 might prove to be Valve’s proxy-
war competition for the Oculus Rift S. The Rift
S has one more camera, the Reverb G2 has a
better display (2160x2160 at 90Hz). The Rift S
has the more convenient bicycle helmet
adjustment, the Reverb G2 has the Index
speakers. Neither is really an Index
competitor, but neither is trying to be.
The only aspect I’m really concerned
about is the controllers. HP claims it
redesigned the Reverb G2’s controllers,
ditching the stock Windows MR
controllers. They’ve removed the touchpad
on each controller, instead mirroring the
more traditional ABXY layout from the
Oculus Touch.
It’s a good step forward, but the Reverb
G2 controllers still look a bit like third-party
Oculus Touch knockoffs. I’ll be curious to
know how comfortable they are, given the
original Windows MR controllers felt angular
and awkward. Either way, they’re certainly no
match for the finger-tracking Index controllers.
There’s one more aspect I’m concerned
about: price. The Rift S and Quest are a steal
at $400. VR’s barrier to entry has dropped
considerably since the consumer models
debuted in 2016. While I love the $1,000
Index, it could use an entry-level equivalent.
The Reverb G2 lands north of
competitive, though. At $600, it’s definitely
cheaper than an Index—but still much, much
more expensive than a Rift S or Quest. That’s
doubly disappointing given that buying into
Oculus’s ecosystem gives you headache-free
access to some of the best VR titles available,
like the Oculus-exclusive Lone Echo and
Asgard’s Wrath.
Sure, the Reverb Gen 2 has better audio
and a better display. It might even have better
tracking, though we won’t know for sure until
we’ve spent some time with the headset. But
it might not matter. At $600, the Reverb G2
already feels like it’s at a disadvantage. It
could be interesting for people who want an
upgrade to the Rift S and Quest, but how
many of those people would settle for the
Reverb G2 instead of springing a few hundred
dollars more for the Index? I’m not sure.
There’s no clear path to upgrade, either.