Sony has officially unveiled the PSVR 2 controllers that will accompany its next-gen PSVR for the PS5 – and we can’t wait to literally get our hands on them.
While Sony has confirmed that PSVR 2 (or whatever the name of its next-gen VR might be) is officially in the works, the only piece of this new hardware we’ve seen so far is gamepads, and we are already impressed. The PSVR 2 controllers seek to enhance VR immersion with built-in haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and tactile sensing, while sporting a more orb-like design that should make them more comfortable to hold.
In other words, it’s time for the PlayStation Move controller movement more; there’s a new controller coming to town. Want to know more? Read on for everything we know about PSVR 2 controllers.
PSVR 2 controllers: get straight to the point
- What is that ? The next version of PlayStation VR entry-level accessories
- When did he come out? Potentially 2022 or later, Sony has yet to confirm a date
- How much will it cost? TBC – but a set will be provided with PSVR2
PSVR 2 controller release date and price
Sony revealed the PSVR 2 controllers in a blog post in March 2021, just a month after the company published another surprise blog post confirming that the next generation of PSVR is in the works – which is expected to work exclusively with PS5 hardware. .
PSVR 2 controllers will likely launch with PSVR 2 hardware, but Sony has confirmed that we won’t see PSVR 2 in 2021.
If Sony primarily allocates its workforce to producing the PS5 (which seems likely given the demand), then the PSVR 2 could launch much later than the console’s release date – perhaps. even years later. After all, PlayStation VR launched three years after the PS4. But the relative success of PSVR means Sony is likely to speed up the process this time around.
According to a Bloomberg report, sources suggest Sony is aiming for a Christmas 2022 release date for PSVR 2. However, Sony has not confirmed when exactly we will get our hands on its PSVR successor and controllers.
So how much do we expect the PSVR 2 controllers to cost? We expect at least one pair to be bundled with the hardware, but Sony will likely offer, just like with the PS Move controllers, standalone pairs for purchase as well. The PlayStation Move controllers were initially available to purchase alone for £ 35 / $ 35, or with the PlayStation Eye camera for £ 50 / $ 50. The navigation controller attachment (the equivalent of the Wii’s nunchuck) was an extra £ 25 / $ 25. Since VR controllers share a lot of tech stuff with the PS5 Dualsense pads, which cost $ 69.99 / £ 59.99 / AU $ 109 each, these VR gamepads could get expensive.
It’s unclear if the PSVR 2 controllers will come with additional attachments, but we expect the price of the single controllers to be just over $ 35, with a pair costing even more, given the technology built in. . It is not known if you will need to buy these controllers in pairs or if they work individually, but from the buttons we see in the pictures it looks like they will have to be bought in pairs which could cost them at least £ 60 / $ 60. Sony hasn’t confirmed pricing yet, so it’s still speculation at this point.
Design of PSVR 2 controllers
PSVR 2 controllers are very different from PlayStation Move controllers. The controllers are black and have an orb-shaped shape which Sony says makes them more natural to hold while still providing a “high degree of freedom.” Sony also claims that this design means there is no constraint on the way players move their hands, allowing developers to create “unique gaming experiences”.
Additionally, Sony said the controllers are designed with ergonomics in mind, taking into account different hand sizes and information from previous PlayStation controllers, which means the controllers should be well balanced and comfortable to hold.
From the pictures we have seen, each PSVR 2 controller has two buttons (the left has Triangle and Square and the right has Circle and X), an analog stick, a “grip” button (L1 or R1, can be used to choose objects in the game) and either an Options button (right controller) or a Share button (left controller). Each controller also comes with an adaptive trigger and touch sensor (more details below) and what appears to be a charging port at the bottom. A wrist strap may also be seen in some images.
Features of PSVR 2 controllers
The PSVR 2 controllers seek to enhance immersion with a lot of new features, some of which we saw in the DualSense PS5 controller, which were missing from the PS Move controllers.
The PSVR 2 controllers have adaptive triggers, similar to DualSense, which add flavorful tension when squeezed. So, for example, when shooting a bow in a game, you should feel the tension of the string in the trigger, making it more realistic.
Another feature that PSVR 2 controllers get from DualSense is haptic feedback. Haptic feedback uses touch to communicate with players, allowing you to experience the sensations of a game through the controller itself. So, for example, in Astro’s Playroom for PS5, when you walk in the sand, you can feel the difference in texture reverberate through the DualSense controller.
PSVR 2 controllers also have touch sensing, allowing controllers to detect where your fingers are without having to press a button. “This allows you to make more natural gestures with your hands while playing the game,” says Hideaki Nishino, head of planning and platform management at PlayStation.
Controllers will be tracked by the new PSVR 2 headset via a tracking ring located on the bottom of the controller.
PSVR 2 controllers: what we want to see
Correct autonomy
Despite upgrading to a Micro USB connection in 2017, the batteries inside the PS Move controllers are still dismal, so this time around we would like to be able to use the PSVR 2 controllers for an extended period of time before we need to recharge them. . Whether this will happen is still uncertain as the DualSense controller does not exactly hold its charge and we often find ourselves having to have at least one on constant charge standby.
Developers using the features
The PSVR 2 controller delivers awesome sound and we’re excited to have an even more immersive VR experience thanks to haptic feedback and adaptive controllers. However, it is up to the developers to actually use these features. While we were impressed with how Astro’s Playroom, Returnal, and Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart use these features on the DualSense, we want to see more developers using them. Hopefully they will do this with the PSVR 2 controllers.
Better precision and reliability
PlayStation Move controllers weren’t always the most reliable or accurate controllers, sometimes giving up in the middle of the game or not doing exactly what you wanted. Hope the PSVR 2 controllers improve this.
Not too much Dear
VR is a lot of fun with friends, so we hope Sony is price conscious with the cost of buying additional pairs of PSVR 2 controllers, especially if they have to buy in pairs (which seems to be the case). While we didn’t expect the additional controllers to be cheap, we hope Sony doesn’t stray too far from the $ 70 mark (after all, the DualSense costs $ 70).
