PSVR 2: Everything We Know About Sony’s Unannounced Headset

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PSVR 2 – it’s the question on everyone’s minds. When will we see Sony’s next headset? What new features will it include? Will it ever actually release?

There’s still a lot to learn about Sony’s future plans for VR in a crucial year for PlayStation itself. As PS5 ramps up for release, we find ourselves endlessly speculating about what VR will look like on the new console. We do know a few things about the possibility of PSVR 2, though, all of which we’ve rounded up for you in one handy article below.

PSVR 2 Will Run On PS5, Which Is Out This Year

This one’s a bit of a no brainer but, just in case you didn’t know; PSVR 2 will be released for PS5. Sony’s next-generation console has now been officially revealed, and it’s coming out this holiday season. Provided it’s not delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re just waiting for Sony to tell us more about it; we still don’t know the price or an exact release date. Sony has an official page for the console with more details.

It goes without saying that, if a new PSVR headset is going to be released, it’ll come out on PS5. The headset would need to take advantage of the console’s improved horsepower. PS4 was able to deliver some amazing VR experiences, but it was no secret that it couldn’t measure up to games pushing the limits of the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Valve Index. The added processing power of the PS5 should go a long way to improving the PSVR experience. Luckily, it looks like that’s the case…

PS5 Specs Show Promise For PSVR 2

While it’s keeping quiet on many features, Sony did recently release specs for the PS5, promising high-end PC power for console VR. Here’s a chart outlining the specs for the console stacked up against the PS4 and enhanced PS4 Pro, whipped up by our own David Heaney.

Based on these specs, we’re expecting PS5 to be comparable to Nvidia’s RTX 2070 Super in terms of GPU power, and six times more powerful than the standard PS4. That will enable a huge leap forward for console VR games; hopefully no more blurry PSVR ports at the very least. Plus the console boasts an on-board solid-state drive (SSD) that Sony says reduces load times to near-instant. Again, that could have a big impact on crafting believable virtual worlds.

Sony Is Researching Next-Generation Headsets For PSVR 2

Perhaps the most important point to stress here; we know for fact Sony is researching the device that could become PSVR 2. In mid-2019, Sony’s Vice President of R&D, Dominic Mallinson gave a talk outlining what to expect from the next generation of VR headsets.

He outlined devices that boast ‘roughly double’ the pixel count of then-current headsets (PSVR, Rift, Vive) and support for high dynamic range, which brings a wider array of colors to the screen. Plus Mallinson pointed towards a wider, 120 degree field of view to see more of the virtual world, and optional wireless support. There might even be eye-tracking included.

Not to mention that there’s been a steady stream of revealing patents for a potential PSVR 2 over the past few years. We’ve seen fillings for new tracking tech, systems for local multiplayer VR and more. Beyond that, we don’t know exactly what stage Sony is at with developing PSVR 2.

…But PSVR 2 Probably Won’t Be Out This Year

Shortly after his talk, Mallinson stressed that any possible to successor to PSVR probably wouldn’t arrive alongside PS5. ” “There’s no reason for us to coincide it with a new console,” he explained. “From the point of view of the consumer, to be bombarded with many many things — oh, you have to buy this, you have to buy that — is a message that we don’t want to send.”

Given that PS5 is out at the end of the year, that likely means we won’t see PSVR 2 until 2021 at the very earliest. Better dig in; it’s going to be a long wait.

In The Meantime, PS5 Supports PSVR

Not only is PS5 backwards compatible, but we know the console will support the original PSVR, too. That means you’ll be able to play original PSVR games on the headset. We’re also hoping that PSVR developers will be able to update their titles with PS5-specific features, perhaps improving the visuals and performance of existing games, but such support hasn’t been confirmed. Sony says the ‘vast majority’ of PS4 games will work on PS5, so exactly how many PSVR games will work remains to be seen, though the console was revealed with a new HD camera.

DualSense Seems PSVR 2-Ready

In April, Sony gave us a first look at its brand new controller, DualSense. This gamepad iterates on the DualShock 4 with advanced haptic feedback technology and trigger resistance. More intriguing, though, is the moving of the light bar that tracks the controller’s position from the front of the pad to the top. Two thin strips now appear on the sides of the touchpad. This could be a hint that PSVR 2 will have inside-out tracking, with a camera mounted to the headset. That’s all speculation at this point, though.

Expect Some Motion Controller Updates Too

PlayStation Move troubles are one of PSVR’s biggest problems. They don’t have analog sticks and it’s easy to move your arms out of view of the camera unless you have a hugely optimized setup.

Thankfully, we’re expecting this situation to improve on PSVR 2. Lots of Sony patents have suggested the company might be looking into new Move controllers. One specifically mentions some interesting haptic technologies and trigger resistance, the same features being applied in DualSense. Plus a recently-released research video seen above pointed to the controllers having new finger-tracking tech.  We’re hopeful to see all these new features come together in the new motion controllers.

Some PS5 Games Seem Primed For PSVR 2

Last month’s gaming showcase for PS5 definitely featured some titles that look primed and ready for VR support. Gran Turismo 7 and Resident Evil Village are good bets considering their previous iterations supported PSVR,

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What’s your take on PSVR 2? Are you looking forward to the headset? Let us know in the comments below!

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PlayStation’s Dreams VR Expansion Allows Players To Create & Share PS VR Games

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The upcoming free update will allow anyone to create their own games and worlds, regardless of experience or skill.

Originally released this past February on the Playstation 4, Media Molecule’s (LittleBigPlanet, Tearaway) Dreams is a unique game creation system designed specifically for the PS4 which allows players to build and collaborate with others on their own interactive games and environments and then share them with the community at-large.

In the five months since launch, Dreams players have established an absolutely jaw-dropping catalog of user-created content, from carefully-crafted remakes of classic games such as Sonic the Hedgehog, Mario 64, and Deadspace to original experiences like Shifting Islands and The Eternity House; my personal favorite being a beautifully animated video game adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Earlier today during Sony’s DreamsCom showcase, an in-game expo dedicated to community-led projects, the company announced the games’ next big update which will introduce official support for PlayStation VR, allowing players to build and collaborate with others on interactive VR games and worlds.

Arriving July 22nd as a free update to all Dreams players, the “Dreams VR Expansion” will include new VR-specific tutorials, kits, and Media Molecule content in which to explore. Before you get started, however, the team recommends you take some time to familiarize yourself with Dreams VR. The “All Aboard VR” introduction will break down the controls of Dreams VR, explaining how to explore the Dreamiverse in VR as both a creator and a player. “DreamShaping” takes it a step further, exposing you to a variety of tutorials for creating in VR.

Once you’re comfortable with the controls, you can then begin creating your own VR games and environments. Though Sony recommends using the PlayStation Move Controllers to sculpt your virtual worlds, you’re also free to use your Sony Dualshock 4 controller; you do not have to be in VR to create Dreams VR content, though it certainly helps. While in Creator Mode you’ll have access to handful of new tools designed specifically for VR, including comfort mode, static sky, vignette strength control, and other useful modifiers.

Much like the original release of Dreams back in February, Media Molecule has included a selection of pre-built games and experiences showing the potential of Dreams VR.

The Dreams VR Expansion arrives July 22nd. In order to access the update players will need to own the base, available for $39.99 via the PlayStation Store.

Image Credit: Sony PlayStation

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Cutting Hair Using Quest Hand Tracking Looks Impressive With PC Power

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Developer Daniel Beauchamp (aka @Pushmatrix) continued his odyssey into hand tracking experiments with small scissors simulated between his fingers.

He used Unity on PC combined with Quest’s hand tracking for a test that might make Rift S owners out there shake their fists in rage. That’s because he was able to use the HairStudio Unity asset to simulate a full(ish) head of hair with the power of a PC and combine that with Oculus Quest’s hand tracking in the Unity editor.

You can see the results here:

Oculus Quest’s hand tracking is severely limited but it also points the way to Facebook’s future plans. To improve tracking, future headsets might sample their surroundings at faster rates, or carry on-board infrared illumination to better see your hands. A recent test conducted with one of Beauchamp’s experiments and three American Sign Language signers made clear how limited the current implementation is, but a Facebook representative nonetheless said the use case is an area “worth exploring.”

In the case of Beauchamp’s scissors test, the most intriguing bit is in the slight haptic feedback he receives from pressing his fingers against one another. This sensation is part of the reason Facebook uses a specific pinch gesture to universally access the menu with an Oculus Quest. A very similar gesture is used for the small simulated clippers he’s got in his fingers, so as he cuts the virtual hair, his fingers press against one another to provide their own subtle sense of resistance similar to what would be felt during real-life hair cutting.

“You know that feeling when you used a VR bow for the first time…like ‘wow, the haptics feel like I’m pulling back a string,’ ” Beauchamp wrote in a direct message. “The tactile feedback combined with audio makes for a really convincing effect.”

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AR 1.0 is dead: Here’s what it got wrong

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The first wave of AR startups offering smart glasses is now over, with a few exceptions.

Google acquired North this week for an undisclosed sum. The Canadian company had raised nearly $200 million, but the release of its Focals 2.0 smart glasses has been cancelled, a bittersweet end for its soft landing.

Many AR startups before North made huge promises and raised huge amounts of capital before flaring out in a similarly dramatic fashion.

The technology was almost there in a lot of cases, but the real issue was that the stakes to beat the major players to market were so high that many entrants pushed out boring, general consumer products. In a race to be everything for everybody, the industry relied on nascent developer platforms to do the dirty work of building their early use cases, which contributed heavily to nonexistent user adoption.

A key error of this batch was thinking that an AR glasses company was hardware-first, when the reality is that the missing value is almost entirely centered on missing first-party software experiences. To succeed, the next generation of consumer AR glasses will have to nail this.

Image Credits: ODG

App ecosystems alone don’t create product-market fit

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Hipster Bait Helps Musicians Reach New Fans Using A Pokémon GO-Like AR Experience

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Discover the latest underground music by exploring your local city in this location-based AR experience.

There was a time when discovering new music from lesser-known acts meant scouring local clubs or flipping through vinyl at the local record store. It required time, dedication, and even a bit of luck.

I’m talking about raw underground music that bands/artists recorded in their basements or bedrooms and then paid a record pressing company a few hundred bucks to have them pressed into a 7” vinyl single. Not the overproduced and over-hyped radio rock that gets jammed down everyone’s throat through commercialized heavy rotation. 

A new AR app called Hipster Bait aims to recreate this classic era of underground music while exposing you to new rock-and-roll acts via a location-based AR experience similar to that of Pokémon GO or Harry Potter: Wizards Unite.

How it works is simple: unreleased music from bands/artists are hidden as a digital files somewhere throughout the real-world. Using the Hipster Bait app, you get out and explore your city, town, or neighborhood to seek out these AR “Bait Cassettes”. Once you discover a cassette, you can then listen to the track and deliver a rating. When you’re finished, add it to your cassette box and listen to it anytime.

Sounds cool, right? 

Now you get to reset the music trap by taking the Bait Cassette you just found and hiding it in a brand new location for someone else to find and review. This helps the band/artist gain additional exposure while giving you the opportunity to listen to new music before anyone else. Who knows? You might even help a band get their big break!

Getting your music on Hipster Bait is as easy as submitting your songs to the official website; tthe company plans on accepting new song submissions beginning July 17th. Just keep in mind that Hipster Bait features a heavy focus on underground rock-and-roll, so don’t be surprised if your tropical house track doesn’t make the cut.

That isn’t too say other types of music won’t someday make their way to the unique AR platform. Here are some subgenres of rock that Hipster Bait is currently considering. 

If your music is accepted and added to the Hipster Bait catalog, there are a couple of things you should know about. 

• The song needs to be unreleased. Meaning, it can’t be available anywhere digitally or physically and it must remain unreleased for the first two weeks on Hipster Bait.
• For the first two weeks on Hipster Bait, the name of the artist will be kept anonymous. According to the folks at Hipster Bait, removing the name of the artist lets the song stand on its own without local, regional, or national buzz; or because the band once toured with Sebadoh.
• You can absolutely tell your friends and fans that you have a new track floating around on Hipster Bait, you just can’t’ tell them which Cassette it is. Make your fans work for it! 
• After two weeks as an anonymous Bait Cassette, Hipster Bait will lift the veil of secrecy and announce the name of the band through their website, social media, and the Bail Mail newsletter. Your band logo will also be added to the Hipster Bait artist’s page. At this point you can release your song on streaming sites such as Bandcamp, Soundcloud, and Spotify.
• You’ll also be able to download an email list of people who found your Bait Cassette.
• After four weeks, your song will be removed from Hipster Bait, but your profile page will remain on HipsterBait.com. At this point you can submit another unreleased track and start the whole thing all over again.

You can find more artist info and FAQs here along with the current list of artists on Hipster Bait.

To keep things fresh, Hipster Bait will release new Bait Cassettes every week and hide them throughout the U.S. for music fans to find.

“Great music tracks are getting laid down everyday but it’s harder than ever to get that music out to people and make a living while doing it,” said Michael Tension, Co-founder of Hipster Bait in an official press release. “As artists, we can’t rely solely on the algorithms of over-crowded streaming services. We need to find new ways for fans to experience music.”

During early beta testing 75% of artists on Hipster Bait reported an increase of traffic on streaming sites that hosted their music after someone found their AR Bait Cassette. Hipster Bait looks like a great way to get your music out there and into the fans of music lovers. So turn up the fuzz on the Big Muff, tighten up those drums, and get your music out there!

Hipster Bait is available free via iOS and Google Play.

Image Credit: Hipster Bait

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Iron Man VR Launch Trailer Reveals New Villain

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Here’s one final look at Iron Man VR before launch this week, and it holds a fairly significant reveal.

The new video for the PSVR exclusive reveals that classic Iron Man baddie, The Living Laser, will be appearing in the game. Laser first made his debut over 50 years ago in The Avengers comics but has since troubled Tony Stark countless times. The trailer reveals a brand new design for the character, too.

The Living Laser joins Ghost in trying to take down Iron Man in the new game. We only know a little about the game’s story thus far, but developer Camouflaj assures us that narrative is a huge focus for the adventure. Of course, the trailer shows us lots of the other side of the game; huge explosions, breakneck speeds and high-impact repulsor blasts. We wouldn’t have it any other way.

A series of other developer diaries over the past few weeks have also revealed new features for the game, including weapon crafting and more details on Iron Man VR’s unique flight mechanics. Earlier this week a trophy list also revealed that Iron Man VR is comprised of 12 missions, and Camouflaj says it will take a while for you to see through.

Iron Man VR touches down on July 3rd. If you haven’t picked up a PSVR of your own yet, make sure to check out some of the hardware bundles available for the game. And keep watch tomorrow as we’ll have our full review of the game at 5am PT. You won’t want to miss it!

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July VR Games 2020: HUGE Month For VR!

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