Sony is hosting its traditional press conference from CES 2022 in Las Vegas, and revealed some big news about PlayStation and more.
At the beginning of the conference, we heard about the Uncharted movie, with Tom Holland mentioning on stage that he’s a huge fan of the games, which he has discovered during the filming of Spiderman: Homecoming.
He also added that the goal of the team was to bring the character to life in new and refreshing ways without losing what the fans love. According to him, they succeeded in creating a film that has a lot of heart, pays respect to the games, and gives the fans something new and refreshing to enjoy.
An action clip was showcased, showing an iconic scene that fans of the games will certainly recognize.
Next, Naughty Dog’s Co-President Neil Druckmann appeared and mentioned that the game is just the start of the collaboration with Sony Pictures, with more coming. Naughty Dog itself also has multiple game projects in the works.
Next was the turn of Sony Interactive Entertainment president Jim Ryan, who walked on stage to introduce the PlayStation Business, confirming that PS5 is getting a tournament feature this year.
He also confirmed the name and logo of the new PlayStation VR, which will be called… PlayStation VR2. The controllers will be called PlayStation VR2 Sense controllers.
It’ll include new sensory features like eye tracking, and it’ll support responsive feedback, 4K HDR, foveated rendering, and an expanded field of view. The Sense controllers promise to allow players to “feel and interact with games in a visceral way.”
Here are more details from an article on the PlayStation Blog:
- Visual Fidelity: For a high-fidelity visual experience, PS VR2 offers 4K HDR, 110-degree field of view, and foveated rendering. With an OLED display, players can expect a display resolution of 2000×2040 per eye and smooth frame rates of 90/120Hz.
- Headset-based Controller Tracking: With inside-out tracking, PS VR2 tracks you and your controller through integrated cameras embedded in the VR headset. Your movements and the direction you look at are reflected in-game without the need for an external camera.
- New Sensory Features: PS VR2 Sense Technology combines eye tracking, headset feedback, 3D Audio, and the innovative PS VR2 Sense controller to create an incredibly deep feeling of immersion. Headset feedback is a new sensory feature that amplifies the sensations of in-game actions from the player. It’s created by a single built-in motor with vibrations that add an intelligent tactile element, bringing players closer to the gameplay experience. For example, gamers can feel a character’s elevated pulse during tense moments, the rush of objects passing close to the character’s head, or the thrust of a vehicle as the character speeds forward. Additionally, PS5’s Tempest 3D AudioTech makes sounds in the player’s surroundings come alive, adding to this new level of immersion.
- Eye Tracking: With eye tracking, PS VR2 detects the motion of your eyes, so a simple look in a specific direction can create an additional input for the game character. This allows players to interact more intuitively in new and lifelike ways, allowing for a heightened emotional response and enhanced expression that provide a new level of realism in gaming.
PlayStation VR2 Specifications
| Display method | OLED |
| Panel resolution | 2000 x 2040 per eye |
| Panel refresh rate | 90Hz, 120Hz |
| Lens separation | Adjustable |
| Field of View | Approx. 110 degrees |
| Sensors | Motion Sensor: Six-axis motion sensing system (three-axis gyroscope, three-axis accelerometer) Attachment Sensor: IR Proximity sensor |
| Cameras | 4 cameras for headset and controller trackingIR camera for eye tracking per eye |
| Feedback | Vibration on headset |
| Communication with PS5 | USB Type-C® |
| Audio | Input: Built-in microphoneOutput: Stereo headphone jack |
PlayStation VR2 Sense Controllers Specifications
| Buttons | [Right] PS button, Options button, Action buttons (Circle / Cross), R1 button, R2 button, Right Stick / R3 button [Left] PS button, Create button, Action buttons (Triangle / Square), L1 button, L2 button, Left Stick / L3 button |
| Sensing/ Tracking | Motion Sensor: Six-axis motion sensing system (three-axis gyroscope + three-axis accelerometer) Capacitive Sensor: Finger Touch DetectionIR LED: Position Tracking |
| Feedback | Trigger Effect (on R2/L2 button), Haptic Feedback (by single actuator per unit) |
| Port | USB Type-C® Port |
| Communication | Bluetooth® Ver5.1 |
| Battery | Type: Built-in Lithium-ion Rechargeable Battery |
Horizon: Call of The Mountains by Guerrilla Games and Firesprite Games was also announced for PlayStation VR2. Below you can see a teaser video.
The company also showcased a video focusing on the collaboration with Epic Games on Virtual Production. While it mostly focuses on film production, it also includes a few comments about the application of the tech in gaming and VR toward the end.
If you’d like to learn more about Sony’s business on top of the latest official shipment numbers for PS5 and PS4, you can check out our dedicated article from October.
