Stronger immersion with adaptive triggers, haptic feedback, finger-touch detection and more.
Following the recent reveal of our next-generation virtual reality system for PS5, I’m excited to unveil more details about the new controller that will play a critical role in providing gamers with the VR experience we’re working to deliver. Our new VR controller speaks to our mission of achieving a much deeper sense of presence and stronger feeling of immersion in VR experiences. It will build upon the innovation we introduced with the DualSense wireless controller, which changed how games “feel” on PS5 by unlocking a new way to tap into the sense of touch. Now we’re bringing that innovation to VR gaming.
Design
The first thing you’ll notice with our next-gen VR controller is the unique design, which takes on an “orb” shape that allows you to hold the controller naturally, while playing with a high degree of freedom. There are no constraints with how you’re moving your hands, providing developers with the ability to create unique gameplay experiences.
We also designed the new controller with great ergonomics in mind, so it’s well-balanced and comfortable to hold in each of your hands. We applied learnings from testing users with a range of hand sizes, as well as the decades of insights from controllers across all PlayStation platforms. The result is an iconic design that will change how VR games are played.
Features
The new VR controller enables players to feel and interact with games in a much more visceral way. There are several features, including key features from the DualSense controller, which match our vision for what next-generation VR games can be.
● Adaptive triggers: Each VR controller (Left and Right) includes an adaptive trigger button that adds palpable tension when pressed, similar to what’s found in the DualSense controller. If you’ve played a PS5 game, you’ll be familiar with the tension in the L2 or R2 buttons when you press them, such as when you’re drawing your bow to fire an arrow. When you take that kind of mechanic and apply it to VR, the experience is amplified to the next level.
● Haptic feedback: The new controller will have haptic feedback optimized for its form factor, making every sensation in the game world more impactful, textured and nuanced. When you’re traversing through rocky desert or trading blows in melee combat, you’ll feel the difference, magnifying the extraordinary visual and audio experience that’s so central to VR.
● Finger touch detection: The controller can detect your fingers without any pressing in the areas where you place your thumb, index, or middle fingers. This enables you to make more natural gestures with your hands during gameplay.
● Tracking: The VR controller is tracked by the new VR headset through a tracking ring across the bottom of the controller.
● Action buttons / analog sticks: The Left controller contains one analog stick, the triangle and square buttons, a “grip” button (L1), trigger button (L2) and Create button. The Right controller contains one analog stick, the cross and circle buttons, a “grip” button (R1), trigger button (R2) and Options button. The “grip” button can be used to pick up in-game objects, as one example.
SIE’s Product, Engineering, and Design teams have collaborated to build our new VR controller from the ground up with a goal of making a huge leap from current-gen VR gaming. We’re thrilled with the controller we developed, but what matters now is how game creators will take advantage of the features to design the next generation of VR experiences. Prototypes of our new VR controller will be in the hands of the development community soon, and we can’t wait to see what ideas they come up with and how the controller helps bring their imagination to life!
There’s still much more to share about the next-generation of VR on PS5. On behalf of all of us at SIE, I want to thank you for taking this journey with us!
Hey there, think I might buy a PS5 And the new call of duty game, can’t wait, hey does the PS5 have movement controls like the Nintendo switch, anyway, thanks for COD and all the work you guys put into the creation of these games.
There’s nothing nextgen about your system.
It costs a fortune. It’s unobtainable. It has a highly limited range of titles that take advantage of it. Your streaming option is STILL a hysterical joke compared to absolutely every other option. Your remote play is choppy and unreliable even on 5Ghz WiFi next to the device…
Its moved forward in literal powr and tech yet, somehow, you managed to put less storage on it (even when you made a diskless system)
Meanwhile everyone else is looking towards streaming from powerful, multi GPU, data centres to literally any screen… Even in a 4G phone!
You’re attracting people who don’t know any better… Eventually it will come bite you.
And when it does you’ll have nothing to compete but a bunch of very grumpy, broke, gamers.
Looks really interesting. I would have imagined that Sony would have added sweat detectors as well.
It made no sense in the Dual Sense 5.
I’m not entirely sure how it would work in VR games, maybe some horror based game where it summons a ghost or something.
However, someone could use paper towels to counter that.
In any case, I’m looking forward for the next VR after owning the first one.
Just make sure the VR Headset is absolutely 100% wireless, you have Wi-Fi 6 right?
You could use that to your advantage.
When will 1440p support be added? Sony said that 1440p will be added if enough people request the feature, but they didn’t provide any links to request features. Where are we supposed to request? In these comments? Every single time one of these blog posts are posted, there are comments asking for 1440p. Do they want us to start a Change.org petition or something?
It’s just such a happy balance where you can both have ray tracing enabled, and also still be able to run the games at 60fps. Why is it taking so long to implement?
I love the new design, and I’m glad the see the light tracking go away. On another note, I was just curious if vrchat will ever be a thing in the foreseeable future? I love the PS VR and I’m looking forward to the next blog posts; however, whenever my friends want to hangout in be chat, I’m always forced to fest off my oculus to play with them.
The PSVR looks like the PS5 design… is the PS6 going to look like the PSVR2? Asking for a friend.
Does this mean we’ll finally be able to use motion controls on minecraft
Awesome.I’ve got Ps5 and I would like to have my hands on this some day.
Awesome.I’ve got Ps5 but I never used VR. I would like to have my hands on this some day.
Lol I accedintally wrote 2 comments.