Sony‘s official unveiling of the PlayStation VR2 (PSVR2) headset at CES 2022 came with both groundbreaking next-gen specs and one major catch—the latest virtual reality hardware from PlayStation won‘t be backwards compatible with original PSVR games.
This shock revelation has left many of the over 5 million existing PSVR owner wondering what this means for their libraries of VR games and hoping they won‘t be left in the lurch with obsolete hardware.
In this in-depth guide, we‘ll break down everything PlayStation VR gamers need to know about this big PSVR2 announcement, including:
- The background on the news
- Just how advanced the new hardware really is
- An analysis of Sony‘s potential reasoning behind the decision
- What it means for different groups of gamers
- Predictions for the PSVR2 launch and platform future
After reviewing all the details and expert perspectives, PSVR fans can determine for themselves if it‘s worth upgrading to the next-gen headset.
Why No Backwards Compatibility for PSVR2 is a Tough Pill to Swallow
Before diving into the specifics, it‘s worth understanding why this news hit the PlayStation VR community so hard. Sony even acknowledging a new headset was in development had many early adopters excited at the prospect of seeing their existing libraries with even more immersive next-gen graphics, gameplay and features.
The PSVR built up an impressive portfolio including headline games like Astro Bot Rescue Mission, Beat Saber, Resident Evil 7, Skyrim VR and Tetris Effect. Not only are these titles that fans have invested countless hours into, some also represent killer apps that helped sell headsets in the first place.
The assumption that at least a portion of these games could carry over gave many owners incentive to upgrade. But Sony expressly shot down that notion citing the differences in technology betweengenerations.
While the rationale makes sense from a hardware perspective, it risks alienating supporters who helped prove a console-powered VR platform was viable. Let‘s look at just how sizable the gap is between old and new.
PSVR 2 – Cutting Edge Virtual Reality Powered by PS5
To leave no doubt this is a next-generation leap, Sony boasted some extremely impressive credentials for its new headset. Powered by the processing speed of the PlayStation 5, the PSVR 2 headset itself includes a range of integrated sensors to enable 360 tracking without external cameras along with 4K HDR video output.
Key PSVR 2 Specs:
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 2000×2040 pixels per eye (4K HDR) |
| Lenses | Custom Fresnel lenses |
| Field of View | 110 degrees |
| Tracking | Inside-out tracking (onboard cameras + sensors) |
| Feedback | Motor for headset feedback; PS5 controller haptics |
| Audio | Tempest 3D positional audio |
With an OLED panel nearly matching the highest end consumer VR headsets on resolution and field of view, the clarity of worlds rendered by the PS5 promise to set a new bar in fidelity.
The onboard cameras and sensors enable seamless movement through virtual spaces without external accessories. And the PSVR 2 Sense controllers adopting many features of the acclaimed PS5 DualSense wireless controller give developers an advanced new input device to leverage.
All said, it‘s a custom integrated solution expertly optimized to unlock the sensory potential of the PS5 for VR gaming. And it leaves the original PSVR hardware in the dust on paper.
Side-By-Side: How PSVR 2 Improvements Shape Incompatibility
To clearly illustrate the factors that may prevent backwards compatibility, it‘s instructive to compare the base PlayStation VR headset and controllers to the pending upgrades:
| Specification | PlayStation VR | PlayStation VR 2 |
| Resolution (per eye) | 960 x 1080 pixels | 2000 x 2040 pixels |
| Field of view | Approx. 100 degrees | 110 degrees |
| Tracking cameras | External Camera | Onboard cameras + sensors |
| Controllers | PlayStation Move | PSVR 2 Sense |
| Haptics | Basic rumble | PS5 controller haptics |
| Tracking type | 3DOF (rotation only) | 6DOF (room scale) |
With substantial increases in display clarity, field of view, and tracking capabilities paired with all-new controllers and feedback systems, this represents a dramatic shift in technological capabilities. It substantiates why Sony maintains that PSVR experiences couldn‘t just be ported to the new kit.
At the same time, it highlights why PSVR owners hungered for backwards compatibility. The PS5 seemingly offers enough horsepower to up-render existing content to take advantage of PSVR 2 display specs. And while there would undoubtedly have been some development costs involved, it’s hard to see it being insurmountable, especially for first-party titles.
So that begs the question—is Sony simply being intentionally difficult to spur headset sales?
Why Sony May Have Valid Reasons Beyond Hardware Limitations
Given the public backlash from PSVR early adopters, it’s fair to ask if Sony strictly made this call due to technical constraints or if strategic factors also influenced their decision-making.
In fairness to Sony, designing cutting-edge futuristic technology inherently means leaving the past behind at some point. And they likely want to incentivize developers to build ground-up experiences that aren‘t limited by outdated hardware.
PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan told CNET in an interview following the PSVR 2 announcement:
“We’re more than five years on from the original PSVR launch, and with new headset technology comes the opportunity to develop new experiences that tap into the new more advanced hardware," Ryan said. This seems to hint their motivation is spurring innovation over accommodating existing software.
Additionally, Sony is battling challenging market conditions, from parts shortages to intense competition in the console space. Streamlining production likely makes better business sense than engineering solutions to bridge old and new platforms. DFC Intelligence games analyst David Cole noted to TechRadar:
“Sony is maybe only selling the [PS5] hardware at cost or even at a loss. I am sure they want to fully monetize software sales without the prospect of having people play older titles.”
This suggests the boatloads of cash Sony invested into R&D for a bespoke PS5 VR solution need to translate into new revenue streams, not simply refreshing old games.
However, others contend Sony likely could get legacy experiences up and running on PS5 + PSVR 2 without monumental effort:
“There’s no good reason for this decision except Sony compartmentalizing things with the hopes that you’ll keep your old VR headset around for old games and buy the new one to play new games,” said Sebastian Monì of VRScout.
With conflicting expert opinions on Sony‘s true motivations, the ultimate reasons may be part strategic and part practical. But that brings little solace to existing owners facing abandoning their PSVR investments.
What PlayStation VR Fans Should Consider Going Forward
With the reality of no backwards compatibility set in, PSVR gamers essentially have three paths to consider:
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Stick with PSVR 1 long-term and pass on PSVR 2 until there‘s a very compelling lineup of exclusives. Milk what you can from the remaining years of PS4 support and make peace that those experiences won‘t get visual/feature upgrades.
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Sell or shelve PSVR 1 to fund the PSVR 2 purchase and embrace the next generation now with its superior fidelity, tech and likely strong first-party showings at launch. Accept that your old favorites remain locked in the past generation.
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Keep and maintain both headsets if you have the funds and hardware real estate. Use PSVR 1 to enjoy the back catalog and archives while toggling to PSVR 2 for the latest and greatest PlayStation VR releases taking advantage of next-gen capabilities.
For existing library size, budgets, and practical considerations will determine which direction suits you best. But with PSVR 2 poised to raise the ceiling substantially on what‘s possible in console VR gaming, it may warrant upgrading even accepting the lack of backwards compatibility.
Especially if PlayStation Studios heavy hitters like Naughty Dog and Insomniac Games have new VR experiences in the works, it could prove too tantalizing to pass up despite losing access to all-time favorites from the original PSVR run.
What The PSVR 2 Future Could Hold for PlayStation VR Gaming
Barring any additional pandemic-related supply chain issues, external forecasts predict PSVR 2 could launch as early as late 2022, meaning this next generation of VR on PlayStation arrives sooner than later.
And while the headset itself will dictate baseline capabilities, the experiences showcasing its potential promise to astonish based on Sony‘s VR pedigree and developer relationships. Analyst company IHS Markit (via GamesIndustry.biz) predicts:
“PSVR2 will likely sell at least 750,000 units by the end of 2022 if supply issues are minimal,” suggesting strong initial adoption by the PlayStation installed base.
First-party studios like London Studios, FireSprite, and Firesprite (now formally part of PlayStation Studios) cut their VR development teeth on killer apps like Blood and Truth, The Persistence and The Playroom VR. Their next projects built natively for PSVR 2 hardware could set benchmarks for the medium.
And external partners look keen to push Sony‘s new platform forward as well. Schell Games CEO Jesse Schell told UploadVR:
“We’re most excited about new controllers and inside-out tracking to help tackle locomotion hurdles in VR gaming.”
With industry enthusiasm high and the technical ceiling raised, PSVR 2 could kickstart a new golden age for console VR. Just don‘t expect to dive back into your classic PSVR era favorites along the way once you upgrade. For better or worse, Sony is refusing to look backwards as it aims to propel PlayStation VR into a transcendent future.
