We have known for some time that the PS5 will support the PSVR headset (as long as it applies for the free camera adapter), but there seems to be bad news accompanying this. Apparently PSVR will only be supported for backwards compatibility and not for the new PS5 experience.
Thanks to the DualShock 4 and PS Move controllers not being supported in PS5 games, we already had a hunch, but now we have further proof: neither the PS5 version of "Hitman 3" nor "No Man's Sky", unlike their PS4 counterparts, will will not be included.
A Sony spokesperson told Upload VR that in order to access VR in the PS5 version of "Hitman 3," one must play the PS4 version. The spokesperson added, "We have not announced any PS5 titles for PSVR." Meanwhile, PSVR support for "No Man's Sky" on PS5 is "due to the backwards compatibility feature," according to the developer.
This means that PS5 buyers who like VR will have the dilemma of buying a PS5-optimized version of the game or an inferior version to preserve virtual reality play. Neither seems particularly great, but fortunately there is a third way.
"Hitman 3" and "No Man's Sky" have free upgrades for PS4 owners (digital only in the case of the former), so in theory, you could install both the PS4 and PS5 versions on your console, and when you wanted to wear a PSVR headset, you could install the previous access to the previous generation version. This is not ideal, especially considering that the PS5 does not have a huge amount of SSD space available, but it could work in a pinch.
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Oddly enough, this is the first time developers Hello Games and Activision have introduced a downgrade option for PS5, allowing buyers can access the PS4 version for PSVR play, meaning that demand may actually exist. Sony has stated that this is up to the developers.
While it is unfortunate that this seems to almost confirm that there are no games specifically designed to take advantage of the PSVR hardware, existing VR titles may benefit from the extra performance of the PS5 hardware in the form of smoother gameplay and more detailed
As for future.
As for the future, Sony clearly has not given up on VR in the medium term. Just a few days ago, PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan told The Washington Post that VR will continue to be a "meaningful element" for gaming.
"PlayStation believes in VR. Sony believes in VR, and we believe that at some point in the future, VR will be a significant component of interactive entertainment." Will that be this year? No. Will it be next year? But it will happen someday. We believe so.
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