TL; PhD
- New details of Sony’s upcoming PlayStation 5 virtual reality headset have been leaked from the private developer conference.
- The headset is tentatively named PSVR 2, and it may be equipped with an upgraded display, a new controller, and polished headset hardware.
- VR headsets may also introduce new hybrid game modes, allowing gamers to choose to download and play traditional or VR versions of games.
A few months ago, Sony made fun of the details of the upcoming PSVR 2, but mainly focused on the controller specifications. Now, the so-called details from Sony’s private development conference have revealed new details of the entire system.
The conference was held on August 3 and was first reported by the YouTube channel PSVR without parole (pass Upload VR). You can watch the full video below.
PSVR 2: Hardware improvements
PSVR 2 may be equipped with an upgraded, denser OLED display, with a resolution of 2,000 x 2,040 per eye. Used in conjunction with HDR support, this should improve the visuals by leaps and bounds on the 1,920 x 1,080 display on the original PSVR. According to reports, the PSVR 2 display also has a 110-degree field of view, which is higher than the original model’s 100-degree field of view.
This new hardware also has software support. According to reports, PSVR 2 will use flexible zoom resolution, redistribute rendering capabilities, and improve details based on user attention. Foveated rendering, adjusts the rendering workload according to the position of the user’s eyes. According to reports, these two features will reduce the pressure on the PlayStation 5 and improve game performance when used at the same time.
As for the feedback, according to the leak, the headset itself uses a “rotating motor.” Thanks to Sony’s March presentation, we have already seen the controllers, but it is now clear that they will be equipped with capacitive sensors for the thumb, middle finger and index finger. This is very helpful for improving personal finger tracking and allowing users to control game characters more naturally. Adaptive triggers also have functions.
Interestingly, the new hardware may also change Sony’s game publishing philosophy. For PSVR without parole, Sony hopes that developers will give users the option to play traditionally displayed games or PSVR 2. Users do not have to submit the version of the game they want, because both formats can be downloaded. This is a big change for users, but also for developers, who must consider building games suitable for traditional and VR games. Either way, this “hybrid game” model is critical to the large-scale success of VR on game consoles in the future.
There is no word on whether PSVR 2 can play original PSVR games. Given the additional requirements for processing grunts, it seems unlikely that the system will be used with PS4.
PSVR 2: When will it launch?
So when will PSVR 2 be launched? At present, Sony itself still has no news. It is worth noting that the company still refers to the system as NGVR (Next Generation VR). However, the company plans to announce the details in the “early 2022”.
Given the success of the PS5 as a standalone unit, Sony does not need to rush to develop its system. It is still the only console player equipped with a powerful VR headset, especially because Microsoft said it has no plans to delve into this area.If you can’t wait, the original PSVR is compatible with PS5. Buy one for around US$560.
What do you think of the new PSVR 2 details? Let us know in the comments.