The headset will also come alongside the introduction of a new PSVR controller (apparently replacing the PS Move wands), “which will incorporate some of the key features found in the DualSense wireless controller, along with a focus on great ergonomics.”
However, the headset will not be available this year: “There is still a lot of development underway for our new virtual reality system, so it will not be released in 2021,” the blog post reads. “But we wanted to offer this initial update to our fans, as the development community has 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 headphones and that the dev kits are “about to come out”. Ryan also described it as a “completely new virtual reality format for PS5”. Ryan indicates that we will learn more about the new headphones later this year.
Working on a successor to PSVR has been an open secret thanks to reports and patents showing PlayStation investments in the field. Over the years, Sony has filed patents for VR-compatible prescription glasses, a potential new PSVR controller (which has included research for a Valve Index-style controller, a patent to allow viewers to play games with gamers in virtual reality). and much more – for the past year they have pointed out that PlayStation is working on a “next-gen head-mounted VR display.”
Jonathon Dornbush is IGN’s senior news editor, host of Podcast Beyond! And leader of PlayStation. Talk to him on Twitter @jmdornbush.