Are you a disciple of his holiness, VR? If so then don’t worry, PlayStation will continue to support the technology with the PS5. In a blog post today from the official source itself, the PlayStation blog, Hideaki Nishino (Senior Vice President, Platform Planning & Management) announced that PSVR would be getting a new iteration for the PS5! The blog post points out that the next PSVR will be connected to the console through a single cable and that the old PS Move wands are being retired in favor of a new more ergonomic controller. Below is a snippet from the blog post:
“We’re continuing to innovate with our new VR system so that our fans can continue to enjoy the unique experiences that are synonymous with PlayStation. We’re taking what we’ve learned since launching PS VR on PS4 to develop a next-gen VR system that enhances everything from resolution and field of view to tracking and input. It will connect to PS5 with a single cord to simplify setup and improve ease-of-use, while enabling a high-fidelity visual experience.
One of the innovations we’re excited about is our new VR controller, which will incorporate some of the key features found in the DualSense wireless controller, along with a focus on great ergonomics. That’s just one of the examples of future-proof technology we’re developing to match our vision for a whole new generation of VR games and experiences.”
The great thing is that PlayStation will continue to support VR into this new generation. They were one of the first to pioneer the tech when the first iteration of PSVR debuted back in October of 2016. The original PSVR was a quick success in terms of surpassing internal expectations. Andrew House, global chief executive of Sony Interactive Entertainment back in 2017, expressed his surprise with the sales and how fast the VR unit was selling shortly after launch.
A PSVR bundle with the Iron Man VR game included, one of the best VR games! Image from BestBuy
Reaction
As an avid user of PSVR it is great to see that new VR games and advancements will be made. I do, however have mixed feelings on some aspects of the announcement. First and foremost I take issue with the fact that the new PSVR will still require a cable. In this day and age where the Oculus Quest is doing complete wireless VR there is very little reason for PlayStation to show us a VR unit that needs to be tethered to the System. wires/cables have always been an impediment to the VR experience. Not just because one has to be careful not to pull the system down when thrashing around in VR, but also for aesthetic reasons.
As of now setting up the PSVR for play is a hassle, one that deters people from playing it casually. One might want to play a quick match in Call of Duty or maybe a session of Tetris Effect, but to break out the PSVR, setup, then immerse yourself into a VR game, takes active effort. Not to mention having the PSVR always hooked up is just awful and looks messy. I understand why they can’t go with a complete wireless setup, it would be expensive and would undermine the PSVR’s greatest strength, it’s low barrier to entry for VR. Still, I wouldn’t mind the mark up if it meant no cables.
The outdated PS Move Wands, in dire need of an upgrade.
That said I am excited about the possibilities of the new ergonomic controller. The Move Wand’s design is over a decade old and it’s showing. Ideally I would want better tracking, and Sony is promising that, but the left move controller needs an analog stick sort of like the one on the PS Move navigation controller. Some games like Skyrim VR would greatly benefit from it for proper in-game navigation of menus and traversal. Waving in a particular direction to navigate inventory or tinkering with settings in the menu is less than ideal. The battery life is already amazing and the cord that tightens around the wrist is great. Probably a nit pick but I would like to have multiple colors available for the new controller. It would help with remembering which controller is which.
I’m excited for the new PSVR and controller! Are there any features you want or games to be made in VR? Comment your answer below. Follow GNN here on our website for more news, opinion pieces, articles, and more! Check out our Facebook page here, and out Twitter right over here.
