Sony Announces Plans to Test PS VR2 with PC VR Games
In a recent blog post, Sony revealed that they are testing the use of PS VR2 head-mounted displays to play PC VR games, aiming to provide users with additional gaming options beyond the PS5. The company’s Interactive Content Communications Manager, Gillen McAllister, expressed hopes to launch PC support by 2024.
The announcement comes one year after the launch of PS VR2 on February 22, 2023. The latest generation of PS VR boasts significant improvements over its predecessor, including a resolution of 2,000 x 2,040 per eye, a 110-degree field of view, a screen refresh rate of 120Hz, support for HDR, and advanced features such as inside-out tracking, eye tracking, and 3D sound effects. Additionally, the PSVR2 Sense controller offers DualSense game controller vibration feedback and adaptive trigger functions, positioning the device at the forefront of gaming VR devices.
iVRy, a company specializing in PS VR2 modifications, speculates that Sony’s PC support will likely involve a streaming solution akin to Meta’s AirLink for the Quest platform. Under this solution, PS VR2 would remain tethered to the PS5, which would act as a relay for streaming PC VR images, tracking data, and input. There are even speculations about Sony collaborating with Valve to launch a PS5 version of Steam Link.
While past development reports have indicated that PS VR2 uses Sony’s proprietary encoding method and only supports AMD GPUs, this could pose compatibility challenges, especially since AMD GPUs only account for 16.46% of the Steam platform as of January 2024. Nonetheless, the streaming method is expected to address these issues, and utilizing the PS5 as a relay aligns with Sony’s intention for PS VR2 to remain a key PS5 accessory.
The move to test PS VR2 with PC VR games suggests Sony’s commitment to expanding the device’s capabilities and offering users a diverse range of gaming experiences. As the company continues to explore the integration of PC support, VR enthusiasts can look forward to a promising future for the PS VR2 platform.