Do you have a large library of PSVR games? Congratulations but the titles will be incompatible with the PSVR 2. Sony would nevertheless be working on an alternative.
It’s a blow for the more than 6 million owners of the first PSVR for whom the games accumulated for years will be unusable with the PSVR 2. But according to a leaker, all hope is not lost…
It’s official, no backwards compatibility for PSVR 2
When asked if the PSVR 2 will be backwards compatible, the answer is finally known: no! Hideaki Nishino, SVP of Platform Experience, was tasked with bringing the dreaded news during a PlayStation podcast (via VGC).
PSVR games are not compatible with PSVR 2 because PlayStation VR 2 is designed to deliver a true next-gen VR experience. PS VR 2 has much more advanced features such as Sense controllers with haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, inside-out tracking, eye tracking in the helmet as well as 3D audio. This therefore means that developing PSVR2 requires a totally different approach than the original PSVR.
As Nishino-san explains, one of the problematic factors for backwards compatibility is the difference in tracking technology. Both that of the headset and that of the controllers. How to compensate for this absence which already makes one cringe? Via updates… or ports (probably paying)!
Developers are on it
According PSVR Without Speechwhich had leaked the characteristics of the helmet, many developers are working on ports optimized for the PSVR 2. “Tons of developers are working on PSVR 2 versions of their PSVR games as we speak” he wrote in response to a user.
In another poll-like tweet, the YouTuber asks if gamers would feel better knowing that PSVR 1 game remasters/free updates are on the way. Given its previous sources, it is therefore possible that the solutions are free updates but also remasters… paying? This is unfortunately a possibility.
Even though PSVR 2 isn’t expected until early 2023, Sony still has things to clarify. The headset is in any case on track to be a pretty technological one with some nice surprises in terms of functionality, such as the presence of a single cable.