POOLS Dives onto PS5 and PS VR2 on Nov 25 — Why This Liminal Horror Could Be VR’s Next Sleeper Hit

Why This Announcement Actually Matters

POOLS is the kind of game you either bounce off in five minutes or think about for weeks. Tensori’s minimalist, liminal-space horror took off on PC for its photoreal pools, endless corridors, and the slow, sinking feeling that something is wrong just out of frame. Now it’s coming to PlayStation 5 on November 25, 2025, with native PS VR2 support included at no extra cost. A free flatscreen demo is live on the PlayStation Store today, with a VR-enabled demo update planned. As someone who loves “vibes-first” horror, this caught my attention because POOLS isn’t about jump scares; it’s about acoustics, geometry, and dread-exactly the kind of experience VR can turn into a gut punch.

Key Takeaways

• Release date: November 25, 2025 on PS5 with optional PS VR2 mode.
• Free demo out now (flatscreen first, VR demo update planned).
• Includes the base game plus Chapter 0 expansion-console players get the full package day one.
• POOLS’ slow-burn, audio-driven design is a strong fit for PS VR2’s strengths-if performance and comfort options are dialed in.

Breaking Down the Announcement

Tensori is bundling the base game with Chapter 0, which is a good move. On PC, the add-on helped round out the journey with extra context and fresh spaces to wander (read: get lost in). Bringing that to PS5 as standard means there’s no nickel-and-diming and fewer “should I wait for a complete edition?” questions. The free demo is the right call too; POOLS is hard to sell in trailers because the appeal is experiential—reverb off tile, the slap of water on concrete, fluorescent hum that gets under your skin. Let people feel it for themselves.

Crucially, PS VR2 support is included, not spun off as a separate SKU. That matters. VR add-ons too often show up as paid DLC or side modes; here, it’s a first-class option. The studio says a VR-enabled demo update is on the way, which signals they actually want people to test comfort and performance before launch—another encouraging sign.

Why This Could Sing in VR

POOLS lives and dies on atmosphere. On PS VR2, that means three features could make it special: spatial audio, haptics, and scale. The original’s sound mix—echoes, distant sloshes, the uneasy emptiness of off-hours pool facilities—was already the star. With PS5’s Tempest 3D audio through PS VR2’s headphones, every drip and footfall could anchor you in the space. If Tensori leans into subtle haptics (headset rumble for nearby turbines, Sense controller taps as water laps at your legs), the vibe goes from “cool” to “I want to take the headset off.”

There’s also a comfort factor. You’re mostly walking on flat surfaces in ankle-to-knee-high water. That’s good news for motion sick players: slower speeds, no combat strafing, and wide, readable sightlines. But water can be tricky in VR—visual flow that doesn’t match bodily sensation can churn stomachs. The must-haves here are robust comfort options: smooth/snap turn, vignette intensity, adjustable movement speed, and a seated mode. If the demo update lets us toggle these, confidence goes way up.

Liminal Horror Is Having a Moment—Again

POOLS sits alongside the “Backrooms” wave and games like Anemoiapolis in the liminal-horror lane: empty-but-too-familiar architecture, fluorescent purgatories, dream logic. On flatscreen, that works because your brain fills in the gaps. In VR, the brain doesn’t have to imagine; it believes. This genre falls apart when developers cram in monsters or busywork. Tensori’s restraint was precisely why the PC release earned a cult following. If that ethos holds on PS VR2—no forced stealth, no collectible hunts, just immaculate sound and uncomfortable stillness—this could be one of the headset’s standout indie experiences.

The PS VR2 Context: A Welcome Win (If It Lands)

PS VR2 needs more native-feeling software that isn’t a shooting gallery. We’ve had some heavy hitters, but the library still lives and dies on niche gems showing off what the hardware can do beyond aim-and-fire. POOLS has the right ingredients: slow traversal that should run well, art direction that pops in HDR, and a soundscape tailor-made for the hardware. The risk? A simple “VR toggle” without interaction tweaks. I’d love to see diegetic flashlight handling with the Sense controllers, subtle hand presence for doors or ladders, and a photo mode to capture those cursed-architectural postcards.

What I’m Watching For

• Performance: Can it hold a comfortable refresh without distracting reprojection artifacts? This is a slow game; consistency matters more than raw fidelity.
• Comfort Options: Full suite of locomotion settings, FOV vignette, height calibration, seated/standing presets.
• Haptics and 3D Audio: Thoughtful use, not gimmicks. Let the sound do the heavy lifting; use haptics sparingly to sell proximity and texture.
• Content Parity: Chapter 0 is included—great. Any PS5-specific visual toggles or VR extras would be icing.
• Demo Quality: The VR demo update is the make-or-break moment. Let players tune settings and showcase one unforgettable space.

One clarification for anyone skimming: POOLS is not a billiards sim. It’s an eerie, exploration-forward horror experience set in labyrinthine swimming facilities and municipal spaces. Think echoing tiles, emergency lighting, and the kind of “did I loop this hallway?” anxiety that TikTok liminal-space fans feast on.

TL;DR

POOLS hits PS5 and PS VR2 on November 25 with the base game, Chapter 0, and VR support included. The flatscreen demo is live now; a VR demo update is coming. If Tensori nails performance and comfort, this could be PS VR2’s next cult favorite—proof that quiet horror can be the loudest thing in VR.