PlayStation senior vice-president Hideaki Nishino has confirmed that the brand’s next generation virtual reality (VR) headset, the PlayStation VR2 (PS VR2) will not be compatible with Sony’s virtual reality games from the previous generation. According to his explanation via the latest episode of the Official PlayStation Podcast, this is due to the newer system’s design “to deliver a truly next-generation VR experience.”
“PS VR2 has much more advanced features, like [an] all-new controller with haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, inside-out tracking, eye tracking, 3D audio is coming together and 4K HDR, of course,” Nishino said. “This means developing games for PS VR2 requires a whole different approach than the original PS VR.”
As highlighted by the brand’s senior vice-president, the newer VR gaming system from Sony features plenty of new technology, including brand new controllers that are designed exclusively for the virtual reality experience. Unlike the original PS VR, the upcoming headset uses inside-out tracking (much like the Meta Quest headsets) which allows for improved tracking for head movement, user positioning, and controllers. The older system, on the other hand, relies on the PlayStation Camera accessory for movement tracking. In addition, the PS VR2 system only requires a direct connection to the PS5 via a USB-C cable, as opposed to its predecessor’s more complicated setup.
One of main highlights of Sony’s current generation video game console, the PlayStation 5 (PS5), is its backwards compatibility with games made for its predecessor. This way, users will be able to revisit past games from their PS4 library, while at the same time enjoy added benefits such as faster frame rates and high definition graphics, though these are only available for certain titles.
That being said, it still is possible for users to enjoy their past-generation VR games through the PlayStation 5, as it does support the older hardware. This also means that you have to keep the original headset, the PS Camera accessory, and the 12-year-old PlayStation move controllers around if you wish to experience PS VR exclusives such as Astro Bot Rescue Mission, Blood & Truth, and Farpoint.
The new PS VR2 is set to arrive by early next year, though no exact date has been confirmed just yet. Games that have been confirmed for the system includes 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 & Sinners Chapter 2.
(Source: Sony PlayStation [official blog])
