Summary
PlayStation VR2games could be adding hand tracking capabilities in the future, courtesy of a new SDK update. The exciting news was announced rather quietly by Sony, but it could make a big difference in the experience somePlayStation VR2users have playing VR games.
The PSVR2 is a major competitor to the Meta Quest line of headsets, offering a fairlyaffordable entry point for virtual reality. Unlike the Quest headsets, PSVR 2 makes use of the hardware capabilities of the PlayStation 5, allowing for increased fidelity and processing power, with a downside of being physically tethered to the console. While there are ups and downs to nearly every virtual reality headset, the PSVR 2 is getting a new feature that could help it to be even more competitive with the Quest.
PerUploadVR, during the Siggraph 2024 Asia expo in Japan, Sony had a booth demonstrating the PlayStation VR2 with hand tracking. Unlike controller tracking, hand tracking lets users interact with what they see in front of them just using their hands, with no attachments necessary. This capability already exists on the Meta Quest and Apple Vision Pro, but is notably absent from the PlayStation VR2.
PlayStation VR2 Fans Will Have to Wait for Hand Tracking
While the hand-tracking capability isn’t yet implemented in anygames for the PlayStation VR2, that could change in the near future. The purpose of the PlayStation VR2 demo seems to have been intended for developers, as Sony announced that the hand tracking capabilities were now available in the PS5’s SDK. Since Sony hasn’t made any major announcements to consumers yet, it remains to be seen if Sony also adds the ability to control the interface with their hands and gestures outside of games.
Controllers are still ideal for many games and VR experiences, but using one’s hands is an intuitive thing that makes VR much more approachable for some gamers and non-gamers alike. PlayStation VR2 arguably has some catching up to do in this regard with its competitors, but to be fair, the PlayStation VR2 also isn’t amixed-reality headset like the Meta Questand Apple Vision Pro. Using one’s hands in VR is certainly a bonus and can make some games even better, but it makes the most sense to use one’s hands when they’re physically visible on a mixed-reality headset’s passthrough.
When this feature will start becoming available to gamers remains to be seen. It’s ultimately up to the individual developers to decide if they want to implement hand tracking, and doing so could require major game updates. However, it’s a great sign thatSony is pushing the VR envelopewith its existing hardware, giving fans more reason to be excited about virtual reality.
PlayStation VR2
The successor to the PS VR, the PlayStation VR2 is Sony’s virtual reality headset. Debuting in February 2023, the hardware is designed as a companion piece for the PlayStation 5 and requires the PS VR2 Sense controller.
