The headset will also see the introduction of a new VR controller, replacing the PS Move wands, “which will incorporate some of the key features found in the DualSense wireless controller, along with a focus on excellent ergonomics.”
However, the headset will not be available this year: “There is still a lot of development underway for our new VR system, so it will not be released in 2021”, says the blog post. “But we wanted to provide this early update to our fans, as the development community started working on creating new worlds for you to explore in virtual reality.”
In an interview with GQ, SIE CEO Jim Ryan confirmed that there is no official title for the headset and that the development kits are “about to come out”. Ryan also described it as a “completely new VR format for PS5”. Ryan indicates that we will learn more about the new headset later this year.
Working on a successor to PSVR has been an open secret thanks to reports and patents showing PlayStation’s investments in the field. Over the years, Sony has registered patents for VR-compatible prescription glasses, a potential new PSVR controller (which included research on a Valve Index-style controller, a patent to allow viewers to move VR players and more. And job listings over the past year have pointed to the PlayStation working on a “next-generation VR head-mounted display.”
Jonathon Dornbush is Senior News Editor at IGN, host of the Beyond! And PlayStation leader. Talk to him on Twitter @jmdornbush.