Although it has gotten off to a slow start, VR gaming is steadily gaining a foothold in the games industry. This is, in part, thanks to several successful VR games that have been released in recent years. This includes Half-Life: Alyx by Valve, and Resident Evil 4 VR, which is a port of the popular horror game by Capcom. Sony has invested in VR gaming through the PSVR, along with the exclusive games that have been released for it. To play titles such as WipEout Omega Collection and Astro Bot Rescue Mission in VR is an experience capable of revolutionizing the way people experience gaming.
While the PSVR has introduced many gamers to the world of VR gaming, it also repelled some due to how unwieldy the entire system can be at times, requiring odd peripherals and plenty of wires. Fortunately, Sony is improving its VR hardware with the release of the PSVR2, which is scheduled to hit stores in 2022. Sony has been very hushed about details surrounding the PSVR2, which has given gamers plenty of opportunities to think about all the hopes and dreams they have for the upcoming VR peripheral.
Sony Should Fully Support PSVR2 For a Long Time
Not all good ideas get a fair shot to succeed. Within the gaming world, this was perhaps most painfully seen with the PS Vita. On paper, the device was the perfect handheld gaming console. It was a technical marvel for its time, plays graphically intense games on the go, and is a robust multimedia device. To top it off, it is an impressively elegant gadget that is as good to look at as it is to play.
Unfortunately, it did not live up to the expectations surrounding it, and Sony eventually cut the device's lifespan short before abandoning it. A lot of gaming potential was lost in the process and although the Vita has miraculously managed to maintain a small cult following through the constant release of JRPGs and visual novels from third-party studios, it never got to fully spread its wings. The story of the PS Vita is a sad one, and it illustrates how things can go awry if a gaming system does not have constant support.
The PSVR2 has the potential to find itself in the same position as the Vita if the same comes to pass. It is a niche device, and not everybody has been sold on the idea of VR gaming just yet. However, this does not mean that the PSVR2 should be treated as a side project.
With continuous support from Sony, including a steady stream of first-party releases that show off the power of the PSVR2, the device can be a great success that satisfies both Sony and gamers. Building a playerbase for the system will also require Sony to price the PSVR2 reasonably. If things go wrong, gamers could be left with a rather expensive blindfold with not many games to play on it.
Niche Titles Geared Towards PSVR2
In the world of gaming, players have gotten used to the concept of ports, remakes, and remasters. This can be good because it allows many games a second chance at life. However, the amount of these unoriginal games being released can cause fatigue at times.
The PSVR2 should not serve as a platform for porting existing games. Rather, it should be a catalyst for new and innovative games to be released. Mere ports will never be able to take advantage of VR gaming in the same way that a game built for the platform from the ground up can. Games like Astro Bot Rescue Mission have illustrated how impressive VR gaming can be when a studio gives the platform the attention it deserves and crafts something to take advantage of all the strengths and unique possibilities that VR gaming offers.
With Sony's recent acquisition of Firesprite, a studio with plenty of experience in VR gaming, PlayStation may be getting some well-crafted VR games soon. This bodes well for the PSVR2 and suggests that with the new device will come many genuinely new experiences.
The PSVR2 Should Have Solutions For Motion Sickness
There is no form of gaming as immersive as VR gaming. The kind of experience it offers simply cannot be recreated with traditional screen gaming. Playing WipEout 2048 on television may offer some high-speed fun, but only VR gaming can put players in the cockpit and have them, briefly, believing that they have well and truly been transported to a new world.
The downside to VR gaming is that it can occasionally result in motion sickness. Some players are more prone to it than others, but it affects enough people for it to be a problem worth considering. It is believed that motion sickness is caused by mixed signals received by the brain. The VR headset tells the brain that it is in motion, yet the muscles in the body signal to the brain that no motion is occurring. The result is a confused brain that produces motion sickness; a similar effect occurs to some people when sitting in the backseat of a car.
There are some homemade remedies for VR motion sickness such as aiming a fan on your face and taking anti-nausea medication beforehand, but ideally, there should be a solution from the hardware or games themselves. One of the solutions is to allow players to fine-tune their gaming experience until motion sickness is reduced or altogether eliminated. Being able to adjust FOV and blur can reduce motion sickness, and so can eliminating the head bobbing of playable characters. On the hardware level, motion sickness can be reduced by minimizing latency.
Already, Sony has demonstrated that the PSVR2 will be a good improvement from the PSVR. This has been seen with the reveal of the PSVR2 controllers which are orb-shaped and designed to allow players to move their hands freely. Much like the DualSense, the PSVR2 controllers will have adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. With the amount of innovation Sony is showing, it seems the company is aware of some of the shortcomings of the original PSVR, and it is working hard on producing a truly next-generation experience with the PSVR2.
The PSVR is currently available for the PS4 and PS5, while the PSVR2 is expected to release in 2022.