A new Gorn PSVR update fixes many of the issues players have been talking about since release early last month.
Developer Free Lives just confirmed that a Gorn PSVR update patch should be going out later today, with a few key highlights. For starters, there are improvements made to the game’s opening height calibration system, which many players were having trouble with. Perhaps more importantly, though, Free Lives added ‘additional movement options’ to the game.
At launch, Gorn PSVR only supported movement via grabbing the air and pulling yourself through the world. We’re not sure exactly what’s in these new options but hopefully, there will be something for everyone. Plus, the patch reduces the difficulty of the Alimta battle, which people were really struggling with given the tracking limitations of PSVR.
On that note, the game also adds the option to remove the PSVR guardian system, which automatically displays when players are getting too close to the edges of camera tracking. It’s quite a helpful feature in a game such as this, but can also be distracting.
This patch does away with some of the problems we cited with Gorn PSVR earlier this month, then. Even with those issues considered, though, this is still a rock-solid port of one of our favorite PC VR games. It still doesn’t sound like there’s a way to easily pick objects off of the ground up just yet, but hopefully that could come in a future update.
Will you be checking out the Gorn PSVR update? Let us know in the comments below!
The latest behind the scenes look at Marvel’s Iron Man VR gives us a look at some more famous Marvel faces.
The video, which sees members of developer Camouflaj speak to the game’s immersive elements, features S.H.I.E.L.D. head Nick Fury and Ghost, who will serve as the game’s antagonist. You probably know her from Ant-Man & The Wasp, but the character is primarily an Iron Man baddie when it comes to the comics.
We also get our first fresh look at some gameplay outside of the game’s first two missions. A battle above a S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier looks like the perfect setpiece for Marvel fans and a city-wide brawl also features.
Camouflaj is promising a full story-driven campaign here, so we’re really excited to see where else the game takes us and who else we might meet. What’s impressed us so much about Iron Man VR thus far is the tracking, which works its way around the PSVR headset’s limitations with surprising efficiency thanks to smart implementation. The jury’s still out on if that will translate well to a fun full game, though.
Iron Man VR is out on July 3rd exclusively on PSVR. A free demo for the game released a little while back, which we thought was an excellent showcase, though it does highlight a few of the game’s issues, too. If you’re yet to pick up a PSVR or need a pair of Moves, Sony is bundling the game with some hardware in different regions, so be sure to check out those promotions.
Looking for the best VR games in 2020? Look no further!
Well, 2020 might not be going the way anyone exactly planned, but one thing’s for sure; there’s already been a lot of great VR games. As we approach the halfway point, it’s time to reflect on some of the best experiences released for headsets so far.
To recognize as many games as possible we’re splitting our current list of best VR games in 2020 into two parts. First is the all-new releases, but we’re also recognizing ports of older games that made successful transitions to other headsets. Also check out our lists for the best 25 games on PSVR, Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift and SteamVR!
Best VR Games 2020: All-New Releases
Half-Life: Alyx
What Is It?: Do we really need to remind you? Valve’s legendary series finally returned in fine form as a prequel to Half-Life 2 in which we play as Alyx Vance.
Our Score: 5/5
What We Said: “But, for the already-initiated and those susceptible to it, Alyx is a triumphant return; a stunningly produced, meticulously refined capping off of the past four years of VR learnings. Its 10+ hours of best-in-class combat, evolving level design and, every so often, moments of truly inventive ideas swiftly establishes it as a new benchmark for the platform.”
OhShape (Quest, PC VR, PSVR coming soon)
What Is It?: Beat Saber meets human Tetris; you have to fit shapes in a wall, avoid obstacles and grab coins to the beat. A nice change of pace from other VR rhythm games.
Our Score: 4/5
What We Said: ” It’s a smart, straight, no-nonsense rhythm game with an energetic core mechanic and plenty of options to tailor the experience to your liking. There’s a few presentation hiccups and the initial track list could be more inspiring, but these are minor and very fixable issues. If you’re growing tired of slashing or shooting beats in VR, then you should definitely try throwing some shapes here instead.”
What Is It?: Based on the enduring comic book series, Saints & Sinners takes players to zombie-infested New Orleans, where they shoot and stab their way to survival.
Our Score: 4/5
What We Said: “Despite its minor issues like relatively boring environments, repetitive mission structure, and human AI that leaves a bit to be desired, The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners is easily the best zombie game in VR to date. The shooting mechanics feel heavy and impactful and melee is extremely violent in just the right ways. There’s plenty of depth between the survival systems and crafting mechanics and it packs a large and dense adventure unlike anything else out there.”
Paper Beast (PSVR)
What Is It?: Another World creator Eric Chahi makes his VR debut with this sensational VR animal kingdom.
Our Score: 4/5
What We Said: “It is a game not content with just one miracle, be it the authentic, almost documentarian approach to a virtual ecosystem, nor the technical milestones such a feat requires. Even its set of puzzles somehow emerge as a remarkably natural extension of its core themes and systems, creating a cohesive and curiously precious VR game to be preserved and savoured. Though it usually comes with unintended pitfalls, Paper Beast proves playing god can be great from time to time.”
Down The Rabbit Hole (Quest, PC VR, PSVR)
What Is It?: An all-new adventure set in Wonderland that takes you on a whirlwind tour of strange places and crazy characters.
Our Score: 4/5
What We Said: “Even Down The Rabbit Hole’s sheer existence seems like lunacy. It’s as strange a VR game you’ll find, one that refuses to be pegged down to any one demographic or tick any certain box. There might be a touch of tameness to some of its puzzles and the adventure is over a little too soon, but when the game tips its box of ideas upside down, magic usually falls out. Down The Rabbit Hole is as Mad as a Hatter, and that’s exactly what you’d want it to be.”
The Room VR: A Dark Matter (Quest, PC VR, PSVR)
What Is It?: Fireproof Games’ award-winning series delivers a compelling VR-native series of intriguing puzzles.
Our Score: 4/5
What We Said: “The Room VR: A Dark Matter is an exemplary puzzle game that not only serves as a prime example of what makes puzzle games so compelling in the first place, but elevates the genre via VR with supreme interactivity, excellent visuals, and a palpably mysterious atmosphere.”
Lies Beneath (Quest, Rift)
What Is It?: Drifter does Silent Hill in this story-driven first-person shooter that pits you against horrific monsters.
Our Score: 4/5
What We Said: “While Lies Beneath doesn’t pack enough true terror to be considered a new peak for VR horror, it does manage to craft an intriguing story in a stylishly formed world with mostly satisfying combat and palpable tension. It’s exciting to see a developer that was so previously rooted in the fast-paced action shooter category branching out to something more slow-paced, narratively-driven, and visually unique.”
Pixel Ripped 1996 (Quest, PC VR, PSVR)
What Is It?: The next in ARVORE’s series of love letters to retro gaming, Pixel Ripped 1995 has players enjoying tributes to classic consoles inside VR.
Our Score: 4/5
What We Said: Pixel Ripped 1995 is a bigger, bolder, and even more nostalgic walk down memory lane that shifts the focus from the late 80s to the early 90s — perhaps the most iconic and formative decade of the video game industry to date.
Spaceteam VR (Quest, PC VR, PSVR coming soon)
What Is It?: A successful conversion of a frantic mobile party game, Spaceteam has up to six players working together to keep their vessel going.
Our Score: 4/5
What We Said: “Inevitably, some of the same-room companionship is lost in the transition from physical to virtual, but not nearly as much as you might think, and thoughtful additions made possible by headsets go a good way to making up for it. Spaceteam VR will break friendships, ruin your vocal cords and raise your blood pressure. That is to say, it’s quite a delight.”
Best VR Games 2020: Ports
Ghost Giant On Quest
What Is It?: A touching story-driven adventure in a gorgeous papercraft world, with fun puzzles and a mature take on a troubling subject.
Our Score: 5/5
What We Said: “Ghost Giant remains a delicate balance of charm and poignancy; an important story told with the right amount of sensitivity, steeped in the power of VR connection and companionship. Solving its puzzles might present the occasional road bump, but you’ll otherwise be swept up by its marvellous world of miracles and the characters that live in it. And, thanks to Quest, that’s easier to do than ever.”
Final Assault On PSVR
What Is It?: VR does the WW2 RTS with fantastic results.
Our Score: 4/5
What We Said: “There’s a fun focus on planning and improvising in Final Assault, making it an engaging, albeit somewhat less involved, entry for the genre even if it wasn’t on a headset, but in virtual reality, the RTS shines as an imaginative chest of colorful toys. Just make sure when you’re planning your attack to call in a supply drop of dramamine.”
Form On PSVR
What Is It?: A sublime piece of VR puzzling with first-class interactions and amazing visuals.
Our Score: 4/5
What We Said: “FORM is a little too short and lacking in challenge for it to be considered a true classic, but it stands tall as a VR puzzler unlike any other. There’s an understanding of this new medium here that few developers have been able to demonstrate. Its atmosphere is dense and engaging and its puzzles capture a strong sense of discovery, resulting in a brilliant blend of gameplay and experience. The flood of VR puzzle games could learn a lot from the foundations that Charm Games has laid here.”
Tetris Effect On Quest
What Is It?: Tetris… in VR. Yes, really.
What We Said: ” Playing Tetris Effect that way is a real prospect with an Oculus Quest — and an utter joy — that would be very hard to achieve with a console or PC tethering you to the house.”
Gorn On PSVR
What Is It?: Free Lives’ gloriously silly battle sim that rips up the rules on VR violence.
What We Said: “All that said, if you’re able to optimize your setup and come in with the right expectations, I’d still say Gorn is an easy recommendation for PSVR fans. No, you’re not getting an epic adventure comparable to the bar-raising The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners, but there’s still some of VR’s most entertaining combat on offer here.”
Do you agree these are the best VR games of 2020 so far? Let us know in the comments below!
Today in a tweet Sony announced the decision to postpone the PlayStation 5 reveal event that was previously scheduled for June 4th. Sony cites the need for “more important voices to be heard” at this time.
As of now there is now new date attached to the news, which means we will need to wait for an announcement about the rescheduled PlayStation 5 reveal event. Since the event is expected to be a livestream-only affair, it doesn’t have any physical limitations that would make rescheduling difficult.
We don’t know what to expect with this reveal event once it does happen, but common predictions usually involve details on what the PlayStation 5 looks like, specs, gameplay footage of upcoming games, and more. This was expected to be the big thing to replace Sony’s usual E3 presence, an event the company was planning to skip for the second year in a row.
Without a major focal point for the summer, most gaming news is trickling out gradually over the course of several months. For the second year in a row we’re hosting our own digital event: The UploadVR Showcase: Summer Edition. Last year it was E3 VR, but since E3 is canceled this year we adjusted the name. The event will include tons of new gameplay, unannounced games, exclusive interviews, and more.
In the meantime: what do you hope to find out at the PlayStation 5 event once it does happen? Do you have any big predictions or deep down desires? Let us know in the comments below!
The news you’ve been waiting for is here; the very first PS5 showcase takes place on June 4th.
Sony just confirmed as much on the PlayStation Blog. A digital showcase (like ours!) will be going live at 1pm PT on June 4th. That’s just a day after the initial reports that suggested the event would be on June 3rd.
Jim Ryan, President & CEO, Sony Interactive Entertainment, clarified that the event will be focused on “the games you’ll be playing after PlayStation 5 launches this holiday season.”
Expect a lot of information; the showcase will run for over an hour. “A lack of physical events has given us an amazing opportunity to think differently and bring you on this journey with us, and hopefully, closer than ever before. This is part of our series of PS5 updates and, rest assured, after next week’s showcase, we will still have much to share with you.”
PS5 is confirmed to be supporting the original PSVR headset and features backwards compatibility with the ‘majority’ of PS4 titles. We also know Sony is prototyping a potential successor to the device to run on PS5. But don’t expect any PSVR 2 announcements in next week’s showcase; Sony says the headset isn’t likely to launch this year. You can catch up with everything we know about PSVR 2 right here.
Still, it’ll be an exciting first glimpse at the console that will be powering a new generation of VR. We’ll be tuning in for sure. What do you want to see?
It’s been a bit of quiet start to 2020 for PlayStation VR with few videogames coming out and Iron Man VR delayed until May. Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) did reveal that 5 million headsets had been sold but a lot of the focus currently is on PlayStation 5. The new console is due for release at the end of the year with little mention about the future of PlayStation VR other than it’ll be supported by the new hardware. A new report indicates that SIE is still planning a new headset for after PlayStation 5 arrives.
In a recent article by Bloomberg, the news organisation writes that: “Sony plans to release a new version of the PlayStation VR virtual-reality headset, tentatively scheduled after the PlayStation 5 goes on sale,” according to unnamed sources. A new model has long been rumoured with patents appearing that indicate features like inside-out tracking and wireless gameplay – all features that rivals now have in place.
Don’t expect any news of a possible PlayStation VR 2 just yet as SIE still needs to get the launch of PlayStation 5 out the way first, not wanting to muddy the waters with two hardware releases. PlayStation 5 details relating to design and price are still thin on the ground, what is known is the console will feature an SSD (solid-state drive) to speed up load times while the DualShock 5 controller will have improved haptic feedback.
When it comes to price Bloomberg reports that there’s still an issue internally at Sony regarding how much to charge consumers. Supposedly, scarce components have pushed manufacturing costs to $450 USD for each unit, which would make for an expensive console if the company wants to make a profit. Sony could go down the traditional hardware route and make it a loss leader, recouping revenue elsewhere. One reason costs are being pushed up due to DRAM and NAND flash memory supply, which is in high demand, especially from the smartphone industry.
Another reason Sony is holding back on a price announcement will be to do with Microsoft and its Xbox Series X console which is due around the same time. Microsoft is expected to make that reveal during the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2020 in June when hosting its annual press conference. As previously reported, SIE won’t be attending E3 for the second year in a row, giving Microsoft plenty of space to dominate the event and leaving a big VR hole in the event. Because as Xbox’s Phil Spencer recently reiterated, VR isn’t part of the current plan for Xbox Series X.
A recent report from Bloomberg may reaffirm Sony’s previous hints that a possible PSVR 2 headset would launch after the release of PS5 this holiday season.
The report cites “people with knowledge of the matter” in saying that Sony plans to release ” a new version of the PlayStation VR virtual-reality headset, tentatively scheduled after the PlayStation 5 goes on sale”.
PSVR 2 Launching Later?
This isn’t too surprising given previous comments from Sony staff. Back in May 2019, PlayStation’s Head of R&D, Dominic Mallinson stated that there was “no reason” for a new headset to launch alongside PS5.
“From the point of view of the consumer, to be bombarded with many many things — oh, you have to buy this, you have to buy that — is a message that we don’t want to send,” Malinson said. “In some ways, it’s good to have a little breathing space between those things.”
Given PS5 is releasing in the holiday season, that would mean PSVR 2 wouldn’t be launching until 2021 at the very earliest. We do know, however, that the new console will also support the original PSVR in the meantime, and plays old PS4 games.
Elsewhere in its report Bloomberg claims that Sony is struggling to lock down the price of the PS5 due to a scarcity of DRAM and NAND flash memory parts. The current manufacturing cost of the console, according to the report, is $450 per unit.
If true, that puts the company in a tight spot trying to balance the console’s retail price; does it commit to making a loss in order to match price with Microsoft’s next Xbox consoles? Or does it price the PS5 higher than the PS4’s launch price and risk alienating early adopters? For now, we know that the company is considering the Xbox One Series X’s price in deciding its own.
Need more PSVR 2 updates? Check out our article rounding up everything we know about the headset so far.
PSVR 2 (or PS5 VR) – it’s no longer a question of if, but when?
Note: This is an evolving article, originally published at the beginning of 2020.
There’s still a lot to learn about Sony’s future plans for VR in a crucial year for PlayStation itself. PS5 is now with us and, as of February 23rd, 2021, we know for certain it will eventually have a VR headset to call its own. So far, though, very little has been officially confirmed about PSVR 2. In fact we only just learned that it will be officially called PSVR 2. Let’s go over what we do know, though, as well as rounding up some of the other bits of info that help fill in the picture a bit more.
Without further ado, here’s everything we know about PSVR 2, or PS5 VR.
PSVR 2: Everything We Know About PS5 VR
PSVR 2 Design Revealed
After a year on from its initial announcement, we finally know what PSVR 2 actually looks like. The headset boasts a sleek white form factor with a white shell similar to the PS5 console’s faceplates (and not too far off from a Meta Quest 2). Take a look below.
Not bad, right? We’re keeping the halo strap design from the original and you can see four front-facing cameras on the visor for inside-out tracking. The motion controllers also now have the same white shell (you can see the initial designs in black below). But let’s get into what all of this actually means.
PSVR 2 Release Date? Is It Coming In 2022?
In a post on the PlayStation Blog this February 2021, CEO Jim Ryan confirmed a new headset is in the works. Then, at CES in January 2022, Ryan confirmed the device would be called PSVR 2 (it had previously been referred to as ‘the next-generation of VR on PS5’). During a recent developer conference, the company reportedly codenamed the headset NGVR, or ‘Next-Generation VR’.
We’re hopeful that the PSVR 2 release date is sometime this year given that Sony seems to be actively talking about the headset now. But the company is yet to explicitly confirm a 2022 launch window and, given the ongoing component shortage plaguing the hardware industry (not to mention Sony’s own PS5), there’s every chance it could launch in 2023 instead.
There was some uncertainty about if PSVR 2 could ever happen. In the weeks leading up to launch of the PS5, Sony delivered somewhat mixed messages about the future of VR. In an interview with The Washington Post in October 2020, PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan said the future of the platform was “more than a few minutes away”, and the recent closure of Sony’s VR-dedicated studio in the UK didn’t inspire much confidence. Today, we can rest easy that those fears were unfounded: PSVR 2 (or PS5 VR) is definitely happening.
PSVR 2 Specs: Near-4K Resolution, Wider Field Of View And A PSVR vs Quest 2 Comparison
Official PSVR 2 specs have now been announced and confirm UploadVR’s report of the first reveal details in May 2021. The headset features a massive jump in display resolution over the original with 2000×2040 per eye and retains an OLED display with HDR support. It’s also got a 110 degree field of view and new features like eye-tracking and in-headset vibration. Below is the spec sheet stacked up next to the original PSVR’s specs and a comparison to Meta’s Quest 2, too. You can also read a much larger comparison between Quest 2 and Meta’s upcoming Project Cambria right here.
Specs
PSVR 2
PSVR
Quest 2
Display Per Eye
2000×2040
960×1080
1832×1920
Display Type
OLED
OLED
LCD
HDR?
Yes
No
No
Refresh Rate
90Hz/120Hz
90Hz/120Hz
72Hz/90Hz/120Hz (limited to only some apps)
Field of View
“Around 110 degrees”, direction undisclosed
Estimated around 95 degrees horizontal, 111 degrees vertical
Estimated around 90 degrees horizontal and vertical
Lens Separation
Adjustable (specifics TBA)
Yes
3-point adjustable
Eye Tracking?
Yes
No
No
Hand Tracking?
No
No
Yes
Headset Vibration
Yes
No
No
Microphone?
Yes
Yes
Yes
Audio
Headphone jack
Headphone jack
Built-in speakers, headphone jack
Controllers
Bundled Sense controllers with buttons, sticks, capacitive touch sensors, haptic feedback (single actuator per unit), trigger resistance
Support for DualShock 4, PS3-era PlayStation Move controllers and rifle-shaped Aim controller
Bundled Oculus Touch controllers with buttons, sticks and capacitive touch sensors
PSVR 2 Will Run On PS5 Via A Single Wire
This one’s a bit of a no-brainer but, just in case you didn’t know; PSVR 2 will run on PS5. Sony’s next-generation console is now rolling out across the globe and, although supply has been an issue, it’s slowly but surely finding its way into people’s homes.
In February 2021’s blog post, Ryan confirmed that the new headset connects to the console via a single cord, meaning a much simpler setup than the mess of wires included in the original PSVR. There’s no confirmation of any possible wireless connectivity just yet, but we’ll come to that in a bit. Either way, the added processing power of the PS5 should go a long way to improving the PSVR experience. Again, more on that further down.
PSVR 2 Has Inside-Out Tracking – You Won’t Need A Camera
The original PSVR had a camera-based tracking system that required you to place a PlayStation-branded camera in front of your play area. It allowed for full positional tracking when facing the lens, but there was a lot of drift and motion controls would be lost if their lights were obscured from the camera, so no turning your back around. PSVR 2 won’t have this issue – cameras on the headset will track the controllers and thus give you a much easier setup and a much great degree of freedom.
PSVR 2 Features Include Eye Tracking, Foveated Rendering And More
Beyond the PSVR 2 specs, the headset will have some big new features. The kit will be able to track the direction of your eyes, for example, to use a technique called foveated rendering. This is when an experience only fully renders the area of a screen you’re looking at; the rest isn’t fully rendered but this should be noticeable in your peripheral vision. This should help dramatically improve performance on PS5. It can also be used to mimic your eye’s gaze on a virtual avatar. It’ll also have a lens separation adjustment dial for people to find the clearest image possible with.
Eye Tracking Comes From Tobii
Earlier in 2022 Tobii confirmed it was in negotiations with Sony to be the eye tracking supplier for PSVR 2. In July, the company confirmed a deal had gone through and that the company’s eye tracking tech will be integrated into the headset. Currently you can find the company’s solution in other headsets like the HP Reverb G2 Omnicept Edition and the Vive Pro Eye.
It’s Got Haptics… In The Headset
Another interesting feature is the haptic feedback within the headset itself. This apparently isn’t as advanced a sensation as the haptic feedback seen in the new DualSense controllers, and might be employed more for comfort than enhancing immersion. We’re yet to really learn how the feature will be used exactly, though.
Sony Says PSVR 2 is A ‘Completely New Format’ For VR
In a follow-up interview with GQ, Ryan hinted that the new PS5 VR headset will be a “completely new format”. Exactly what he means by that isn’t clear. It might mean the device has its own ecosystem and UI on PS5 rather than just using a virtual screen of the standard menu.
The First PSVR 2 Game Has Been Announced
Sony’s CES announcement wasn’t just for a name – we also saw the first-ever PSVR 2 game confirmed. That game is Horizon Call of the Wild, a spin-off to Sony’s popular open-world series set in a post-apocalyptic world with robot dinosaurs. It’s been developed by Firesprite, the studio behind The Persistence that Sony acquired in 2021, with help from Horizon developer Guerrilla Games. You can see the first trailer for the project above – you won’t be playing as series protagonist Aloy but you will meet her as you take on the role of an entirely new character. A release date for the PSVR 2 exclusive hasn’t been confirmed.
…And Others Have Been Confirmed
We’re keeping a list of all confirmed and rumored PSVR 2 games. Currently we know that Coatsink and First Contact Entertainment are working on new projects, and games like Among Us VR and Firmament are coming to the device, too. Rumor-wise, Half-Life: Alyx leads the charge, but no official confirmation yet.
PS5 Specs Show Promise For PSVR 2
The PS5 is an absolute powerhouse, capable of delivering native 4K games with stunning graphics. Meanwhile, the specs promise high-end PC power for console VR. Here’s a chart outlining the specs for the console stacked up against the PS4 and enhanced PS4 Pro, whipped up by our own David Heaney.
Based on these specs, PS5 is comparable to Nvidia’s RTX 2070 Super in terms of GPU power, and six times more powerful than the standard PS4. That will enable a huge leap forward for console VR games; hopefully no more blurry PSVR ports at the very least. In fact we’ve already seen as much; No Man’s Sky’s PS4 version is able to tell it’s running on PS5 and deliver much clearer visuals than on PS4 (see below).
Plus the console boasts an on-board solid-state drive (SSD) that Sony says reduces load times to near-instant. Again, that could have a big impact on crafting believable virtual worlds.
It Has New Controllers Inspired By DualSense
Another piece of official information Sony has revealed about PSVR 2 so far is for the controllers. Earlier in 2021, it revealed these orb-shaped devices, which look like a huge step up from the now decade-old PS Move controllers used with the first PSVR.
At a glance, you can see these controllers feature analog sticks, two face buttons per device and trigger and grip buttons as well as the usual share and options buttons. These are much more in-line with modern VR controllers like the Oculus Touch, and PSVR Without Parole also reports they’ll have capacitive touch sensors for your thumb, index and middle fingers too.
Sony confirmed the controllers will even implement features seen in the new DualSense PS5 gamepad. This device iterates on the DualShock 4 with advanced haptic feedback technology and trigger resistance, two features that seem ideal for future VR support. If you haven’t, give Astro’s Playroom a try and marvel at the feel of Astro’s footsteps across different surfaces, or the push-back you can when controlling him in spring mode. They give you plenty of hints about what to expect from the VR controller.
Finally, no more Move controllers.
Wireless, Resolution And More: Sony Research Gives Us Hints At What To Expect In The Future
Sony’s research into a successor headset for PSVR 2 dates back years. In mid-2019, Sony’s Vice President of R&D, Dominic Mallinson gave a talk outlining what to expect from the next generation of VR headsets.
He outlined devices that boast ‘roughly double’ the pixel count of then-current headsets (PSVR, Rift, Vive) and support for high dynamic range, which brings a wider array of colors to the screen. Plus Mallinson pointed towards a wider field of view to see more of the virtual world, and optional wireless support.
Granted, Ryan’s blog post said the new VR headset connected to PS5 via a single cord, but that might not be the whole story. Mallinson’s quotes pointed towards the possibility of two models, or maybe that wire being an option. This was just a prototyping phase, of course, and all that could change, but the hope for wireless isn’t completely dead yet.
Not to mention that there’s been a steady stream of revealing patents for a potential PSVR 2 over the past few years. We’ve seen fillings for new tracking tech, systems for local multiplayer VR and more.
Sony Could Be Seeking ‘Hybrid’ AAA VR Games For PSVR 2
Okay, onto the games. So far the only officially confirmed PSVR 2 game is Horizon Call of the Mountain. But, at its August developer conference, Sony reportedly said it was appealing to bigger, AAA game developers to implement VR support into their titles as an option. PSVR 2 will of course support native VR titles too, but this could be a path to seeing other, bigger games in VR, much like PSVR 1 enjoyed Resident Evil 7, No Man’s Sky and Hitman 3.
We’re already seeing titles that look primed for PSVR 2. Resident Evil 8 returns to the first-person format from the VR-supported Resident Evil 7 and, although it’s already out, PSVR 2 support later down the line seems like a possibility. Gran Turismo 7 is also an obvious choice, while Sony has teams with great VR experience like Blood & Truth developer Sony London and Stormland studio Insomniac working away too. Combine that with support for third parties and PSVR 2’s potential line-up already sounds promising.
It remains to be seen, however, if the headset can play old VR games.
While You Wait, PS5 Supports PSVR For Backwards Compatibility
Not only is PS5 backwards compatible, but the console also supports the original PSVR, too. That means you can play original PSVR games on the headset, but you’ll need a special adapter to attach the PS4 Camera to your PS5. You can’t use the new HD Camera for PS5 with the headset, but Sony is sending out the adapter for free and bundling it in with new units. You’ll need to use all of your existing controllers for PSVR on PS5, though gamepad-supported games that don’t use tracking like Resident Evil 7 can use the next DualSense controller.
We also know that PSVR developers can update their titles with PS5-specific features, perhaps improving the visuals and performance of existing games. Along with the No Man’s Sky visuals upgrades, Blood & Truth has improvements as does Firewall: Zero Hour. Also bear in mind that not every PSVR game is compatible with PS5. Sony says the ‘vast majority’ of PS4 games will work on PS5, but we do know Robinson: The Journey isn’t compatible with the new console.
…But PSVR Can’t Be Used With New PS5 Games
While backwards compatibility support for PSVR seems robust, one thing you can’t do is use the headset with new PS5 games. That means cross-generation games with PSVR support on PS4 like Hitman 3 and No Man’s Sky don’t support PSVR on PS5. You need to run the old versions via backwards compatibility for it to work.
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What’s your take on PSVR 2? Are you looking forward to the headset? Let us know in the comments below!
Patents offer an enticing look at what a company is experimenting with and possibly planning for future products, even if many never make it past the idea phase. VRFocus has seen recent patents appear for a virtual reality (VR) floor mat by Microsoft and a new headset design for Nintendo Switch. Now it’s the turn of Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) with possible new designs for PlayStation VR which include possible improved tracking and wireless options.
Spotted by the eagle eyes over at Let’s Go Digital, there’s no question the headset design mirrors that of PlayStation VR, which could indicate ideas for PlayStation VR 2.
In comparison to rival headsets like Oculus Rift/Quest, HTC Vive or Valve Index, for example, the PlayStation VR falls way behind when it comes to tracking the device. The single point PlayStation Camera system SIE uses means the headset can’t offer true roomscale experiences as it would lose the controllers when a player turns around. So the patent addresses this particular problem with what appears to be inside-out tracking, placing two cameras on the front and one on the back (1410) of the head-mounted display (HMD).
Additionally, the PlayStation Move controller also gets an upgrade, with a camera (1730) built-in for tracking purposes. There’s another function for the headset mounted cameras and that’s seeing the world around you. Sounding very similar to Oculus’ Passthrough tech, it would allow users to see their surroundings without removing the headset, plus there are the possible augmented reality (AR) applications.
When it comes to connections the patent mentions both wireless and wired options in various arrays. It discusses a headset which could be fully wireless, with its own power source built-in. There’s also mention of a design with a power supply built-in but a cable connection for video and audio. Or the opposite way around with video and audio sent wirelessly with the HMD still mains connected. Finally, there are the full wired options, either all down one cable or multiple.
These are all feature SIE needs to address in its next VR headset to stay relevant within the field, but there’s no telling what route the company will take.
This week did see the PlayStation 5 name become official alongside a 2020 launch window. The current PlayStation VR will support the new console, so a VR upgrade might be a long way off. For further updates keep reading VRFocus.
