Apple and Sony Forge VR Gaming Revolution with Vision Pro and PlayStation VR2 Controller Partnership
Apple Inc. and Sony have joined forces to expand the functionality of the Vision Pro headset by integrating support for Sony's PlayStation VR2 controllers. This partnership, which has been under development for several months, aims to offer Sony’s VR controllers as optional accessories for Vision Pro users, thereby enhancing the device's virtual reality gaming experience.
Currently, Vision Pro supports controllers from PS5 and Xbox; however, they are not optimized for virtual reality environments, lacking the crucial six degrees of freedom (6DOF) tracking necessary for precise VR gaming control. Sony's VR2 controllers, possessing this capability, promise to provide a more immersive gaming experience.
In order to facilitate this collaboration, Sony plans to make the VR2 controllers available as standalone accessories, likely to be sold through Apple's retail outlets and online platforms. This expands beyond the usual bundled sale with PlayStation VR2 headsets and represents a strategic move to accommodate Vision Pro users.
Beyond gaming, these controllers have the potential to enhance productivity tasks and media editing within the VisionOS. Users will be able to navigate the operating system using the controller’s thumbsticks and direction buttons for scrolling, with trigger buttons serving as substitutes for pinch gestures for selections.
Nevertheless, the precise timetable for launching this functionality remains unspecified, as both companies have deferred their initial launch plans. The delay may be attributed to technical adjustments or strategic market considerations.