PlayStation VR 2 plans are likely tied to the PlayStation 5 release date, so what exactly can we expect?
With the PS4 and PS4 Pro life-cycles officially reaching their ends, and Sony president Kenichiro Yoshida revealing the company is working on a next-generation console, we can’t help but wonder what Sony has in store as a successor to PlayStation VR.
Sony did technically release a second PSVR headset back in 2017: the CUH-ZVR2 added HDR compatibility, integrated headphones and a smaller connective cord. But, the true PSVR 2.0 will feature a much greater jump in specs that will take advantage of next-gen hardware to up its resolution, pixel quality and refresh rate.
The main question is, will the PlayStation VR 2 simply improve on its predecessor’s visuals, or will it add features like 6DoF tracking or even go wireless to compete with Oculus Rift and HTC Vive?
We’ve got the latest rumors and industry insider info on what the PlayStation VR 2 could look like, its likely release date, potential backwards compatibility and much more.
It’s almost certain that PSVR 2 will work exclusively with the PlayStation 5, but we probably won’t be seeing the next-generation PlayStation until at least 2020.
With no official word yet on a PlayStation 5 release date, and Sony officially confirming it won’t be at E3 2019, it’s difficult to pin down exactly when we might get to see a PS5 console or the PSVR 2.
Some analysts are predicting the PlayStation 5 release date could be around 2020 or 2021, for example, while others say 2019.
If Sony mostly allocates its manpower to PS5 production, then the PSVR could launch much later than the console’s release date – perhaps a year or more. PlayStation VR launched three years after the PS4, after all.
However, Siliconera spotted two new filings relating to Sony’s virtual reality headset which could point to the sort of experiences the company is planning for the future. The pair were filed in 2017 and 2018 respectively, suggesting that (if they’ve been pursued by Sony) they could soon bear fruit.
The first relates to live events. Sony’s patent describes a scenario where a user is in attendance at a real world location, such as a sports stadium, with the headset „anchoring“ them „to a physical location in the venue“.
They’d be surrounded by real-world attendees, letting them watch the event as if they were actually there. It sounds similar to other live VR applications, like Next VR, Melody VR or Oculus Venues.
More interesting, then, is the second application. This one speaks of turning buddies from your PSN games list into spectators of your games as you play. So, rather than generic NPC crowds in the stands of a FIFA match or along the track of a Gran Turismo race, your friends could chose to have an avatar representation of themselves turn up in your game.
These avatars could be true to life, or any sort of stylized representation they choose to submit. They could either choose to spectate in real-time in virtual reality, or show their support through a „pre-programmed“ clip.
The fact Sony has already applied for these patents suggests PSVR 2 could be closer than we thought…
The current PlayStation VR starter bundle retails for $200 / £259 / AU$420, but this affordable cost came after several price drops.
