This is a weird approach: Sony announced the new PlayStation VR, but then, they revealed its new controllers before the hardware got unveiled…

Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) announced the new controller (pair), which will be used by the PlayStation VR 2 (this is an unofficial name, as there’s no official name yet!) via the PlayStation 5 on the PlayStation Blog. „Our new virtual reality controller speaks to our mission of achieving a much deeper sense of presence and a stronger feeling of immersion in virtual reality experiences. It will build upon the innovation we introduced with the DualSense wireless controller, which changed how games ‘feel’ on PS5 by unlocking a new way to tap into the sense of touch. Now we’re bringing that innovation to virtual reality gaming,” Hideaki Nishino, SIE’s senior vice president of Platform Planning & Management said.

Sony touts the design as such: „The first thing you’ll notice with our next-gen virtual reality controller is the unique design, which takes on an “orb” shape that allows you to hold the controller naturally while playing with a high degree of freedom. There are no constraints with how you’re moving your hands, providing developers with the ability to create unique gameplay experiences. We also designed the new controller with great ergonomics in mind, so it’s well-balanced and comfortable to hold in each of your hands. We applied learnings from testing users with a range of hand sizes, as well as the decades of insights from controllers across all PlayStation platforms. The result is an iconic design that will change how virtual reality games are played.”

What about the features? „The new virtual reality controller enables players to feel and interact with games in a much more visceral way. There are several features, including key features from the DualSense controller, which match our vision for what next-generation virtual reality games can be. Each virtual reality controller (Left and Right) includes an adaptive trigger button that adds palpable tension when pressed […].The new controller will have haptic feedback optimized for its form factor […]. When you’re traversing through a rocky desert or trading blows in melee combat, you’ll feel the difference […].

The controller can detect your fingers without any pressing in the areas where you place your thumb, index, or middle fingers. This enables you to make more natural gestures with your hands during gameplay. The virtual reality controller is tracked by the new virtual reality headset through a tracking ring across the bottom of the controller. The Left controller contains one analogue stick, the triangle and square buttons, a “grip” button (L1), a trigger button (L2) and Create button. The Right controller contains one analogue stick, the cross and circle buttons, a “grip” button (R1), trigger button (R2) and Options button. The “grip” button can be used to pick up in-game objects, as one example,” Sony wrote.

The new PlayStation VR will not launch this year, but if Sony already showcased the controllers this early, we can expect a 2022 launch.

Source Gematsu