Sony's upcoming PSVR2 headset won't be compatible with games for the original PSVR. PlayStation's SVP of platform experience, Hideaki Nishino, appeared on the Official PlayStation Podcast this week to discuss PSVR2 and revealed the disappointing news (around the 29 minute mark). The original PSVR headset can be used on the PS5 with an adapter, which will be the only way PS4 VR games can be played on the new system. Of course, the old headset won't be compatible with PSVR2 games either.

Nishino claims that the reason the new headset isn't compatible with old games is that "developing games for PSVR2 requires a whole different approach than the original PSVR," due to a number of new hardware features, such as inside-out tracking and eye-tracking, 3D audio, a 4K HDR display, and a controller with adaptive triggers and haptic feedback.

No release date has been announced for the PSVR2, but it is expected to launch sometime next year.

 

[Jayro]

I hope at least some companies will do free patches for the VR2.

Yeah, I hope people put out free patches that will fix them so they'll work with the new hardware.

 

[HarveyHouston]

It's not impossible to make PSVR2 work with PSVR1 games; Sony just doesn't want to. They claim it's because the hardware is "different", and thus can't work, but in actuality, it's the same concepts plus so much more.

Probably, they are foregoing PSVR1 game support because they want to launch the device quickly; also, there is a chance that PSVR1 games will be rereleased later on with PSVR2 capabilities, very much like how some Nintendo GameCube games were rereleased on the Wii as part of Nintendo's "New Play Control!" series. Time will tell if the latter actually happens, though.

 

[Guacaholey]

I'm sure they could easily add backwards compatibility with a compatibility layer. I'm assuming they function similarly to Oculus Quest controllers. They could emulate the camera tracking by using the motion tracking inputs.

 

[tatumanu]

And the metaverse won't be compatible with the PSVR2. Take that Sony!!!

Thank God for that

 

[hippy dave]

I honestly thought this had already been announced like a year ago.

 

[yoyoyo69]

I recon they’ll bring out “nextgen upgrades” for the popular games.

I'm very sure when they announced PSVR 2, they actually confirmed it would be backwards compatible.

I'm not surprised, Sony are notorious for lying, really poor consumer practices (illegal even) and generally just ripping its customers off.

I wonder how long it takes them to announce you must pay for an"upgraded version" of the game you already paid for?

Despite what many of us may think of Microsoft, if it wasn't for them dragging Sony by the heels, all Sony customers would have it much, much worse.

 

[Purple_Shyguy]

Lmao

 

[Cyan]

I hope at least some companies will do free patches for the VR2.

Yes, I like the idea of porting games to PSVR2.
developers make ports for any other games, they can make a PS5 version of old PS4 versions. or like HarvHouHacker said, Wii version of GC games (not being emulated, but recompiled, using new hardware) or N64 games to PC/Switch/wiiu (ship of Harkinian).
If you can play the same game either on switch, PC, PS, Xbox, PSVR1, HTC vive, ... why not PSVR2 too ? it's just porting the sources to a new platform, make it work with that hardware. not different than making it work with different other hardware, and different PC VR headset, etc.
Just time, effort and money from developers.

 

[Retrojunkies]

Absolutely, I don’t see why you couldn’t use old move controllers with the new camera and new headset…. But what do I know…

Thats why you can claim your free psvr converter and play your psvr games with your ps4 vr headset.

People like to moan, new hardware wont support old games moan moan devs likely re release and re buy at full price.

Well bugger me, thats exactly what nintendo have done with the switch, yet no ones moaning lol, the fanboys rush to defend with their funny deluded fanboy logic.

Its excellent idea when it comes to nintendo:

what if gamers never had the chance to play these games first time round. - well if they haven't yet played it then there's a reason, and unlikely to do so now, but if they did, they could do so without having to pay full price and buy a new console.

The portible aspect makes it justified to port old games - I still fail to see anyone playing a switch on public transport ect, but again why not bring new games rather than port all the old crap they lacked.

 

[spotanjo3]

To be honest, I do not care about VR. And it is not good for your eyes.

 

[64bitmodels]

its a shame but i dont see why people are acting like this is some big deal or even downright newsworthy. PSVR2 is so radically different from PSVR1 that we shouldnt expect compatibility, its not like PS4 to PS5 where its the exact same architecture.