Hot off the heels of sharing some details on the upcoming PSVR 2 for PS5. Sony Interactive Entertainment has decided to show us what the new PSVR 2 controller will look like. And it looks pretty nifty indeed.
Sony has posted some photos and provided some details on what to expect with the next-generation VR controller.
The Next-Generation PSVR Controller
In the blog post detailing the new controller, Hideo Nishino, Senior VP of Platform Planning & Management at SIE explains that the new PSVR 2 controller speaks to Sony’s mission “of achieving a much deeper sense of presence and a stronger feeling of immersion in VR experiences.”
The PSVR 2 controller will build upon the innovation that Sony introduced with the PS5 DualSense controller. The DualSense controller fro PlayStation 5 changed the games feel by including new haptic feedback and adaptive trigger technology tot he controller. These new immersion increasing features will also be present in the new PSVR 2 controller.
PSVR 2 Controller ‘Orb’ Design
The new next-generation PSVR 2 controller has a completely different design and is a million miles away from the Move controllers on the original PSVR system. The Orb shape allows the player to hold the controller more naturally while having a higher degree of freedom. This means there are no constraints on how yo u can move your hands. This should provide developers with the ability to create unique gameplay experiences explains Nishino.
The new PSVR 2 controller has also been designed with ergonomics and comfort in mind says Nishino. So the new next-gen VR controller will be comfortable in each of your hands. To develop the new PSVR 2 controller, testing was done with users with different size hands as well as years of insight from controllers across all of PlayStation’s platforms.
PSVR 2 Controller Features
As previously mentioned, the new PSVR 2 controller will employ haptic feedback and adaptive triggers just like the PS5 DualSense.
Adaptive Triggers and Haptic Feedback
Each of the new controllers will have an adaptive trigger on the left and right controller. Similar to what is found not he DualSense. The adaptive triggers will add a palpable tension when pressed. If you have played something like Astro’s Playroom on PS5 you will know that the adaptive triggers are pretty amazing.
As well as adaptive triggers, the PSVR 2 controller will also have Haptic Feedback which is optimised for the controllers form factor. Like the DualSense this will each sensation in the gam “more impactful, textured and nuanced.”
You’ll be able to feel the differences in terrain and this will magnify the visual and audio experiences that are central to VR Nishino states.
Natural Gestures
A new feature of the PSVR 2 controller is finger touch detection. This is where the controller can detect your fingers without having to actually press down on the areas where you would place your thumb, middle finger or index fingers. This will enable next-gen VR players to make more natural hand gestures during gameplay.
Better Tracking?
The original PSVR system could have some dodgy tracking issues sometimes. With the PS4 camera, a rather outdated tracking technology by today’s standards, your in-game hands could move about on their own and the was often other tracking issues.
The new PSVR 2 controller is tracked by the headset using a tracking ring across the bottom of the controller. There is no mention of any camera used to track the controllers, so hopefully, this will mean much more accurate tracking.
Action Buttons & Analogue Sticks
As you would expect from a PlayStation controller, the new PSVR 2 controller will have the sacred button symbols and analogue sticks.
The left controller will have an analogue stick, the triangle and square buttons a “grip” button (L1), a trigger button (L2) and the create button. The right controller will have an analogue stick, the cross and circle buttons, a “grip” button (R1), a trigger button (R2) and the options button.
The “grip” buttons can be used to pick up in-game objects.
The new next-generation of PlayStation VR controllers has been built from the ground up with the goal of making a huge leap from what is seen in the current PSVR system. Prototypes are expected to be sent out to developers soon, so they can start making the next-generation fo PlayStation VR games.
Source: PlayStation Blog
