PSVR 2 could get a big controller upgrade for PS5 virtual reality

(Image credit: Sony Interactive Entertainment)

Part of the PS5'due south follow-upwardly to PlayStation VR may have been revealed in a newly discovered patent.

The Sony patent, filed with WIPO and first spotted by LetsGoDigital, shows a whole new kind of controller that would bring the side by side-gen version of PSVR in line with competitors like the Oculus Quest 2 and Valve Index.

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While they're used as controllers for PSVR today, the PlayStation Move controllers are over a decade sometime, and were originally made for the PS3. Therefore new controllers are definitely in order, and could be made to the specifications of this new pattern.

The but named "Input Device" patent is written in Japanese, but we were able to take a better look at the details thanks to Google'southward translation magic.

The design looks like a pair of big plastic knuckle dusters, with a cardinal grip featuring an analog stick, a trigger and a few buttons surrounded by a semi-circular loop. The controllers emit light (probable infra-red) which is then picked up by a camera, either mounted on a VR headset or a split peripheral, and turned into in-game inputs.

Sony recognizes that a problem with this method is that sometimes lights can overlap from the camera's perspective when the controller is held in a certain orientation, causing potential inaccuracies for game input. Its solution to this is to have two sets of lights that indicate in different directions with a calorie-free-shielding element dividing them, therefore reducing the chance of this happening.

Yous can encounter this in the following diagram, where the black dots marked "H" stand for light emitters. One ready is on the main loop facing out away from the user'south manus, while the other is mounted around the bottom, facing the opposite direction.

Motion sensors such as accelerometers and gyroscopes are also mentioned in the article. These would also help determine how a controller is beingness held and moved, without the overlap problem that low-cal would use.

Since these controllers have fewer buttons on them than the PlayStation Move controllers currently do, it'south worth because how older button-driven PSVR titles would work with these new controllers. Fortunately, the text mentions that a smaller or greater number of buttons could be used on the controllers, and besides, patents don't force companies to use but a unmarried design, if they even become real products at all.

We know that Sony is at least working on a new VR headset based on a task posting from the company final month. It doesn't specify which arm of the visitor the job would be under, but it'southward a reasonable idea that it would exist with PlayStation making the PSVR's successor.

Since the PS5 is weeks away from hitting store shelves, it'due south the perfect time for Sony to be readying its next big follow-up gaming product. VR is something Xbox has non been experimenting with, and there's been no leaks or rumors of upcoming VR projects for the Xbox Serial X. Therefore nosotros may see Sony capitalize on this in the almost time to come.

Richard is a Tom'due south Guide staff author based in London, covering news, reviews and how-tos for phones, gaming, sound and whatever else people need communication on. Following on from his MA in Magazine Journalism at the University of Sheffield, he's also written for WIRED U.K., The Register and Creative Bloq. When non at work, he'southward likely thinking nigh how to brew the perfect cup of specialty coffee.