PlayStation VR2 – Page 7 – Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation

February 28, 2022

Report: PSVR 2 Rumored to Release in Early 2023, Missing Holiday Season

It’s widely thought that PSVR 2, Sony’s next-gen VR headset for PlayStation 5, is expected to release sometime the last half of 2022, which would position it as a pretty tempting gift for this holiday season. Now, a report from noted PSVR leaker ‘PSVR Without Parole‘ alleges the headset will launch instead in early 2023.

YouTuber ‘PSVR Without Parole’ is known for having accurately leaked some of PSVR 2’s specs ahead of the official announce by Sony.

Citing what the channel calls “credible sources,” PSVR Without Parole now maintains Sony may launch PSVR 2 sometime in Q1 2023, which is owed to the fact that PS5 is still (and will continue to be) very hard to come by.

We haven’t independently confirmed these claims, so we’re suggesting our readers to take it with a grain of salt.

As noted by PSVR Without Parole, if Sony wants to maximize its PSVR 2 install base it needs to get PS5 into more hands.

Earlier this month, Sony revealed that it had sold 17.3 million PS5 consoles up until the end of 2021. Despite high demand, the ongoing chip shortage caused by the recent global manufacturing slowdown has seen the company readjust its 2022 sales forecasts from 14.8m units down to 11.5m units.

Provided it hits the top end of that forecast, it would mean around 32 million PS5 consoles will be in the wild by the end of 2022.

To put that figure into perspective: when Sony launched PSVR in October 2016 it had already sold around 40 million PS4 consoles worldwide.

It’s interesting to see Sony adopt the slow-drip method of releasing info on PSVR 2. The company first revealed PSVR 2’s Sense controllers back in March 2021. Nearly a year later, at CES 2022 Sony finally tossed out specs for the headset, but no price or release date.

Just last week Sony revealed PSVR 2’s design, showing off updated Sense controllers and the headset itself, which physically tethers to PS5 via a cable.

Again, we’re still waiting on price, release, launch titles… a lot of room for more bit-by-bit info for Sony to cover if its hoping to build more hype proceeding a release date that would realistically only be delayed by a few months.

The post Report: PSVR 2 Rumored to Release in Early 2023, Missing Holiday Season appeared first on Road to VR.

February 23, 2022

Coatsink has 3 VR Projects in the Works, Including PlayStation VR2 Launch Title

British developer Coatsink has a long history in virtual reality (VR), from early titles such as Esper through to more recent offerings like Jurassic World Aftermath. And it seems as though the studio is continuing that trend, with parent company Thunderful Group’s 2021 year-end report revealing several VR projects are in the works including a PlayStation VR2 launch title.

Internet sleuths over on Reddit discovered the official confirmation that Coaksink is developing a videogame for the launch of PlayStation VR2, although it doesn’t state what it could be. Just as important is the fact that Sony Interactive Entertainment still hasn’t revealed when the headset is likely to arrive.

However, delve a little deeper into the report and you’ll see in the “Ongoing Development and Ongoing Releases” section Thunderful Group list 17 projects, three of which are VR titles all under Coatsink’s direction. Surprisingly, Oculus Quest launch exclusive Shadow Point is reappearing during the first half of 2022, likely a port coming to either PC VR or PlayStation VR.

Then there are two codenamed Salted Caramel and Date. Salted Caramel is listed as a “Sports Action” game that’s slated to arrive in the second half of the year. But Date is even more intriguing, a “VR Co-op Survival” title listed for 2023, could that be the PlayStation VR2 launch project previously mentioned? With SIE still struggling to build enough PlayStation 5’s to quench demand due to supply issues, this is the main reason gmw3 would expect PlayStation VR2 to arrive next year.

Thunderful Group also publishes games by third-party developers and there’s a final VR title in there too. Again, not many details to go on at present, the project is codenamed, Cinnamon, its an “Arcade style shooter” and its currently earmarked for a 2022 (2H) release. Plus there isn’t any mention of who’s developing the VR game.

Very few videogames have been revealed for PlayStation VR2 at this time, with Horizon Call of the Mountain the most well known currently. Others have been mentioned though, including Maze Theory’s Engram, Pavlov Shack by Vankrupt Games and the anime-inspired Runner. SIE has now finally revealed what the PlayStation VR2 looks like.

For continued updates on Coatsink’s VR projects, keep reading gmw3.

February 22, 2022

PlayStation VR 2 Finally Revealed in First Images

Sony finally lifted the veil on PlayStation VR2 along with the final design image of the PlayStation VR2 Sense controllers.

Note: This news is breaking. We’re updating this piece as new information comes in.

We’ve been waiting for nearly a year now since Sony first revealed images of its PSVR 2 Sense controllers to see PSVR 2, or what will become PS5’s official VR headset.

The headset itself takes on a very PS5 aesthetic—which is no wonder, since it’s the official VR headset for PS5. The company also says the orb-like matching headset and controllers are supposed to represent “the 360-degree view that players feel when they enter the virtual reality world.”

Sony says it’s paid “very close attention to the ergonomics of the headset and conducted extensive testing to ensure a comfortable feel for a variety of head sizes.”

The company says it’s balanced the headset weight and included an adjustable headband that can be tweaked to fit the headset closer or further away from the face. So much is pretty standard on the original PSVR, however Sony says new features include an interpupillary lens adjustment dial.

“We also created a slimmer design with a slight weight reduction – even with the new added features such as the new built-in motor for the headset feedback,” says Hideaki Nishino, Sony Vice President of Platform Experience. “It was quite a challenge to create a slimmer design with new features added to improve upon our first headset, but our design and engineering teams proved this could be possible when we saw the final design!”

The headset is also said to include a new vent design for better air flow. And just like the PS5 and Dual Sense controller, the new PSVR 2 Sense controller features tiny PS symbols all throughout its design.

Sony shared a PSVR 2’s specs back in January. As you can see below, it’s set to be a substantial upgrade over the original PSVR, which was first unveiled in 2014 as Project Morpheus and later released as PSVR in 2016.

Yes, it has tethered design, although it features inside-out optical tracking that will do away with the positively ancient PlayStation Camera, as well as PS Move controllers. If you’re looking for a bigger breakdown than the chart below, check out our PSVR 2 spec comparison article for more.

PSVR vs. PSVR 2 Specs
	PSVR 2	PSVR
Resolution	2,000 × 2,040 (4.1MP) per-eye, OLED, HDR	960 × 1,080 (1.0MP) per-eye, RGB OLED
Refresh Rate	90Hz, 120Hz	90Hz, 120Hz
Lenses	unknown	Single element non-Fresnel
Field-of-view (claimed)	110° (diagonal presumed)	100° (diagonal presumed)
Optical Adjustments	IPD	Eye-relief
Connectors	USB-C (no breakout box)	USB, HDMI (breakout box)
Cable Length	unknown	4.4m
Tracking	Inside-out (no external beacons)	Outside-in (external camera)
On-board cameras	4x IR (external), 2x IR (internal)	None
Input	PSVR 2 Sense controllers (rechargable), eye-tracking	DualShock 4 (rechargeable), PS Move (rechargeable), PS Aim (rechargeable), voice
Audio	3.5mm aux output	3.5mm aux output
Microphone	Yes	Yes
Haptics	Controllers, headset	Controllers
Weight	unknown	600g
Release Date	Expected Q3/Q4 2022	2016
Console Compatibility	PS5 (backwards compatibility not expected)	PS4, PS4 Pro, PS5

There’s still no telling when PSVR 2 will release. We’ll be following this story in the coming days, so check back soon.

The post PlayStation VR 2 Finally Revealed in First Images appeared first on Road to VR.

February 22, 2022

Sony Offers First Glimpse of PlayStation VR2

Been eager to see what PlayStation VR2 looks like ever since Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) confirmed the device last year (of course you have)? Well, today’s the day as we get a first peek at the headset and the controllers in a very fetching two-tone design.

Instantly noticeable is the fact that PlayStation VR2’s design has been kept in keeping with PlayStation 5, with a striking white and black aesthetic – there are even the tiny PlayStation symbols on the front and back bands. SIE has kept a similar feel to the original PlayStation VR, with those holders for the earphones and the halo band that should ensure a comfortable experience for players.

In fact, when it comes to comfort there’s a lens adjustment dial to fine-tune the lenses to their eyes and a new vent design that should keep you cool during longer gameplay sessions.

On the PlayStation Blog, Yujin Morisawa, Senior Art Director, SIE, goes into further depth regarding the vent system: “When I started to work on the design for the PlayStation VR2 headset, one of the areas I wanted to focus on first was the idea of creating a vent in the headset to let air out, similar to the vents on the PS5 console that allows airflow. Our engineers came up with this idea as a good way to allow ventilation and avoid having the lens fog up while players are immersed in their VR games. I worked on many design concepts to achieve this, and in the final design, you can see there is a little space in between the top and front surface of the scope that contains the integrated ventilation. I am really proud of how this turned out and the positive feedback I have gotten so far. I hope our PlayStation fans will also agree, and I can’t wait for them to try it out.”

SIE revealed the specifications ( and official name) of PlayStation VR2 back in January during CES. The headset features a 4k resolution, a 110-degree field of view (FoV), headset haptics, eye tracking and inside-out tracking. And those tracking cameras can be seen for the first time, slightly angled outwards to provide a wide tracking area.

While it’s great to see the headset for the first time, SIE hasn’t confirmed if PlayStation VR2 will arrive later this year or be pushed into 2023. Recently, eye-tracking specialist Tobii said it was still negotiating with Sony regarding the supply of its tech, indicating the launch may still be a way away. Today’s reveal hints that might not be the case. For continued updates keep reading gmw3.

February 7, 2022

Tobii Negotiating With Sony to Supply PlayStation VR2’s Eye Tracking

In a rather surprising statement today, eye-tracking specialist Tobii has revealed that it is currently talking to Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) in regards to supplying its tech for PlayStation VR2.

It was certainly a very short but sweet statement, saying: “Tobii AB, the global leader in eye tracking and pioneer of attention computing, announces it is currently in negotiation with Sony Interactive Entertainment (“SIE”) be the eye tracking technology provider in SIE’s new VR headset, PlayStation VR2 (PS VR2).”

Tobii added that the negotiations are “are ongoing” with no details to share regarding how a deal would financially impact the company. The only reason the details have been shared is due to EU Market Abuse Regulations.

PlayStation VR2 was initially teased in early 2021, with eye-tracking confirmed by Sony during its CES 2022 presentation. What makes the reveal so surprising is the timing. Whilst SIE hasn’t yet confirmed a launch date, there have been suggestions it could be this year. If the eye tracking component is still being negotiated then that could mean waiting even longer for PlayStation VR2. Key features like this are usually settled upon well in advance so videogame companies know what they’re working with.

Even so, having Tobii on board would mean the eye tracking is in very good hands. Tobii already supplies the likes of the HP Reverb G2 Omnicept Edition and the Pico Neo 2 Eye, both of which are enterprise-level VR headsets.

Eye-tracking is commonly used to enhance VR experiences, allowing avatars to be more expressive or thanks to foveated rendering reduce the processing workload for improved visuals. PlayStation VR2 will utilise all of these features, SIE recently launched a new landing page for the headset where you can delve into its capabilities and sign-up for more info. Unfortunately, there’s no picture of the headset just yet.

As further details of this announcement come to light, gmw3 will keep you updated.

February 7, 2022July 1, 2022

Update: PSVR 2 to Include Tech from the Biggest Name in Eye Tracking

Tobii, a global leader in eye-tracking, announced earlier this year that it was in talks with Sony to include its tech in the upcoming PlayStation VR2. Now the company has confirmed its eye-tracking is integrated in PSVR 2.

Update (July 1st, 2022): Tobii has officially announced it is a key manufacturer of PSVR 2’s eye-tracking tech. The company says in a press statement that it will receive upfront revenue as a part of this deal starting in 2022 and revenue from this deal is expected to represent more than 10% of Tobii’s revenue in 2022.

“PlayStation VR2 establishes a new baseline for immersive virtual reality (VR) entertainment and will enable millions of users across the world to experience the power of eye tracking,” said Anand Srivatsa, Tobii CEO. “Our partnership with Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) is continued validation of Tobii’s world-leading technology capabilities to deliver cutting-edge solutions at mass-market scale.”

The original article follows below:

Original Article (February 7th, 2022): Tobii released a short press statement today confirming that negotiations are ongoing, additionally noting that it’s “not commenting on the financial impact of the deal at this time.”

It was first revealed that Sony would include eye-tracking in PSVR 2 back in May 2021, with the mention that it will provide foveated rendering for the next-gen VR headset. Foveated rendering allows the headset to render scenes in high detail exactly where you’re looking and not in your peripheral. That essentially lets PSVR 2 save precious compute power for more and better things.

Founded in 2001, Tobii has become well known in the industry for its eye-tracking hardware and software stacks. The Sweden-based firm has partnered with VR headset makers over the years and can be found in a number of devices, such as HTC Vive Pro Eye, HP Reverb G2 Omnicept Edition, Pico Neo 2 Eye, Pico Neo 3 Pro Eye, and a number of Qualcomm VRDK reference designs.

It’s still unclear when PSVR 2 is slated to arrive, although it may be positioned to become the first true commercial VR headset to feature eye-tracking—that’s if PSVR 2 isn’t beaten out by Project Cambria, the rumored ‘Quest Pro’ headset from Meta which is also said to include face and eye-tracking.

January 26, 2022

Dev’s Remain Skeptical of Web3 in GDC’s 2022 Survey

The Game Developer’s Conference (GDC) will be returning in a couple of months offering both a virtual and in-person event for videogame creators around the world. As the event does every year it conducts an annual State of the Game Industry Survey to find out what dev’s think of the industry, where it’s going and what they like/don’t like about current trends. As ever, there are some interesting takeaways from the results.

GDC Survey NFT 2022 — Image credit: GDC State of the Game Industry Survey

As you may have noticed VRFocus is now gmw3 as we expand our coverage towards Web3 and everything that entails. Blockchain games, crypto and NFTs are part of that but what do videogame developers actually think of these topics? NFTs are probably the most divisive and that shows with 70% of the 2,700 respondents not interested. While most aren’t at the moment, a small contingent still is with 27% and 28% interested in crypto and NFTs respectively.

When it comes to user-generated content (UGC) platforms most developers were, of course, not involved coming in at 83% of respondents. Out of the remaining 17% these were split between Roblox (5%), Minecraft (4%), Fortnite (3%), Dreams (3%), and
Core (2%). Platforms like The Sandbox and VRChat, did appear in the “Other” category.

But what about virtual reality (VR) and the XR industry as a whole you ask? 42% of respondents said they were or had been involved in VR/AR videogame development which is actually up by 38% over last year’s survey. Unfortunately, out of the 42%, 56% said they weren’t working on anything for a VR platform.

GDC Survey VR 2022 — Image credit: GDC State of the Game Industry Survey

Out of those that are, it’s no surprise that the Oculus (Meta) Quest platform came out on top with 27% of VR developers working on titles for the standalone platform. As for their interest going forward, it’s still Quest with 41% whilst in second place with 25% is the upcoming PlayStation VR2.

Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) has been drip-feeding information regarding the new headset, most recently during CES with the official name and specifications. We still don’t know what it looks like yet but there’s plenty of excitement regarding the new hardware, especially with games like Horizon Call of the Mountain.

Whether you’re interested in XR or Web3, these industries are rapidly changing and growing so keep reading gmw3 for continual updates.

January 5, 2022

Horizon Call of the Mountain Coming Exclusively to PlayStation VR2

CES 2022 was feeling a bit muted when it came to virtual reality (VR) announcements. That was until Sony held its press event which quickly drew a lot of interest thanks to its mention of PlayStation VR2. Alongside the official name reveal as well as the specs, one videogame was also mentioned, Horizon Call of the Mountain.

The announcement finally confirms a rumour that surfaced last year when the Xbox Era podcast suggested that Firesprite Games is “working on a Horizon VR game.” That was very much on point, as Firesprite and Guerilla are both working on the project, an entirely new adventure set within the Horizon universe. Horizon Call of the Mountain is being made specifically for PlayStation VR2, with Guerilla’s Studio Director and Studio Art & Animation Director Jan-Bart van Beek saying in a blog post that: “this unique experience has been designed to push hardware technology, innovation, and gameplay.”

To go along with the confirmation the teams released the first teasing footage of Horizon Call of the Mountain, showcasing a lush forest and one of the giant mechanical animals the Horizon franchise is known for. While no gameplay has been shown just yet, van Beek has said the narrative: “will be told through the eyes of an entirely new character.” There will be other new characters of course, but for fans of Horizon, some familiar faces are set to return.

Not much else is known at the moment with Guerilla currently focused on the upcoming launch of Horizon Forbidden West which is due out on 18th February.

Most of the excitement though is firmly focused on PlayStation VR2, the long-awaited successor to the 2016 headset that’s managed to hold up quite well alongside modern VR advancements. But PlayStation VR2 not only has big shoes to fill it also needs to excel in a far more competitive market, one that’s dominated by Meta Quest 2.

While the Quest 2 is standalone, PlayStation VR2 will be tethered to the PlayStation 5, which could work in its favour when it comes to visuals but not when it comes to flexibility due to the cable. On the other hand, PlayStation VR2 will sport in-built haptics, eye tracking, and those nifty looking Sense controllers.

As more details on Horizon Call of the Mountain come to light, VRFocus will keep you updated.

January 5, 2022

Sony Officially Confirms PlayStation VR2 Name at CES 2022

Sony’s CES 2022 press conference today has finally delivered a few more teasing details regarding its next virtual reality (VR) headset, crucially, what it’s actually called. It comes as no surprise that the follow-up to PlayStation VR will be called PlayStation VR2, much in the same way the company brands its consoles.

Making the announcement was PlayStation President and CEO Jim Ryan who didn’t simply step onstage to reveal the headset’s name, he also confirmed a few more exciting details. Rumours have persisted regarding some of the tech PlayStation VR2 will contain, this will include responsive feedback so you’ll actually get tactile haptic sensations. So hit your head on a virtual branch or get shot in the head and you’ll know about it by the sounds of it.

Ryan continued with a few more details, most interestingly of which was eye tracking. The tech has come to more high-end, enterprise-focused VR devices with PlayStation VR2 becoming the first – depending on when it arrives – consumer headset to actually feature eye tracking. This will offer a range of benefits for both gamers and developers, one of which will be foveated rendering ensuring the image where you’re actually looking offers the best visuals, with the quality reducing towards your peripheral vision.

When it comes to those visuals, the PlayStation VR2 will provide 4K, HDR gaming with 2000×2040 per eye resolution at 90/120Hz and a 110-degree field of view (FoV). It’ll also include inside-out tracking, 3D audio and a simplified single-cord setup.

PlayStation VR2 Specifications

Display method	OLED
Panel resolution	2000 x 2040 per eye
Panel refresh rate	90Hz, 120Hz
Lens separation	Adjustable
Field of View	Approx. 110 degrees
Sensors	Motion Sensor: Six-axis motion sensing system (three-axis gyroscope, three-axis accelerometer) Attachment Sensor: IR Proximity sensor
Cameras	4 cameras for headset and controller trackingIR camera for eye tracking per eye
Feedback	Vibration on headset
Communication with PS5	USB Type-C®
Audio	Input: Built-in microphoneOutput: Stereo headphone jack

Alas, the press conference didn’t reveal what PlayStation VR2 will actually look like, when it’ll launch or how much it’ll cost, so there’s still plenty of info to come. At least Sony did mention something, making it one of the early VR highlights of CES 2022.

All that’s been shown so far are the controllers which Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) is now calling PlayStation VR2 Sense Controllers, with a lot of the tech including the adaptive triggered coming from the PlayStation 5 controllers. For further updates on PlayStation VR2, keep reading VRFocus.

PSVR vs. PSVR 2 Specs

PlayStation VR2 Specifications