PlayStation Senior Vice President Hideaki Nishino has confirmed that the next generation virtual reality (VR) headset, the PlayStation VR2 (PS VR2), will not be compatible with Sony’s previous generation virtual reality games. According to his explanation in the latest episode of the official PlayStation podcast, this is due to the newer system’s design “to deliver a next-gen VR experience”.
“PS VR2 has much more advanced features, such as [an] brand new controller with haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, Inside-Out Tracking, eye tracking, 3D audio all come together, and of course 4K HDR,” Nishino said. “This means developing games for PS VR2 requires a very different approach than the original PS VR.”
As the brand’s senior vice president pointed out, Sony’s newer VR gaming system features a host of new technologies, including brand new controllers designed solely for the virtual reality experience. Unlike the original PS VR, the upcoming headset will use inside-out tracking (similar to the Meta Quest headsets), allowing for improved tracking for head movement, user positioning, and controllers. The older system, on the other hand, relies on the PlayStation Camera accessory for motion tracking. What’s more, unlike its predecessor’s more complicated setup, the PS VR2 system only requires a direct connection to the PS5 via a USB-C cable.
ADVERTISEMENT
One of the key highlights of Sony’s current generation video game console, the PlayStation 5 (PS5), is its backwards compatibility with games developed for its predecessor. This allows users to revisit previous games from their PS4 library while still enjoying additional benefits such as faster frame rates and high-resolution graphics, although these are only available on certain titles.
That being said, users are still able to enjoy their last generation VR games through the PlayStation 5 as it supports the older hardware. It also means you’ll need to keep the original headset, PS Camera accessories and 12-year-old PlayStation Move controllers if you want to experience PS VR exclusives like Astro Bot Rescue Mission, Blood & Truth and Farpoint.
The new PS VR2 is expected to arrive early next year, although no exact date has yet been confirmed. Games confirmed for the system include Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge Enhanced Edition, Demeo, Horizon: Call of the Mountain, Resident Evil Village VR, Resident Evil 4 Remake, No Man’s Sky PS VR2, and The Walking Dead: Saints and sinner chapter 2
(Source: Sony PlayStation [official blog])
follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or telegram for more updates and breaking news.
