In an interview, Jim Ryan, the head of Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), spoke about the future of VR in gaming. For everyone waiting for a new PSVR headset for the PlayStation 5, it could mean: years of waiting.
Where exactly does this info come from? The CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment (and also head of PlayStation), Jim Ryan, spoke in an interview with the Washington Post. There, he talked about the future of virtual reality, among other things.
VR will not be a significant part of gaming in the coming years
This is what Ryan says about the future of VR in gaming: Even though immersion seems to be the focus for Sony with the new PS5 – for example, with 3D audio and haptic feedback from the DualSense controller – there will likely not be a significant new push into the arguably most immersive gaming experience, which is virtual reality (VR).
So Ryan told the Washington Post: “I think we are more than just a few minutes away from the future of VR. PlayStation believes in VR. Sony believes in VR. And we definitely believe that at some point in the future, virtual reality will become a significant part of interactive entertainment.”
But when will that be? Here, the PlayStation head was a bit more precise: “Will it be this year? No. Will it be next year? No. But will it come at some point? We believe so.”
In conclusion, Ryan added that PlayStation does not plan to give up on VR: “We are very happy with all the experiences we have gained with PlayStation VR and we look forward to seeing where that leads us in the future.”
What does this mean for PSVR and the PS5? Since its introduction in 2016, over 5 million PSVR headsets for the PS4 have been sold by January 2020; however, sales slowed down throughout 2020.
However, looking at Ryan’s statements, there currently seem to be no (at least no public) plans for a new PS5-specific VR headset – even though new VR controller patents have already been discovered. Instead, Sony is currently pointing out that they are offering a free adapter for the existing PSVR headset for the PS5.
Moreover, Ryan’s statements place the success of VR in the future and essentially exclude a significant VR market for the years 2020 and 2021. However, they do not want to give up on VR. And even though some are eagerly awaiting a new, more powerful PSVR2 headset, some are now concluding that this should be expected at the earliest in 2022 – if not even later.
In summary: Those who were looking forward to a new VR experience on the PlayStation 5 and are eagerly awaiting it will likely have to wait a few more years.
What do you think of VR in gaming? How important is VR to you on the PlayStation 5? By the way, some would be happy if they at least got a PS5 close to the launch. However, as it looks, that could happen at the earliest towards the end of the year: PlayStation Chief: Not everyone who wants one might get a PS5 at launch
