A newly-discovered patent suggests that Sony may have an exciting trick up its sleeve for its next-generation PlayStation 5 VR system. While the addition would not necessarily revolutionize gameplay, it could mean a huge quality-of-life improvement for almost any VR game.

While the PlayStation VR has turned out to be a modest but steady success for Sony, the system's control system could be seen as a weak point. The system's reliance on PlayStation Move controllers allowed Sony to leverage pre-existing hardware, but the Move controllers simply weren't designed with VR in mind. It's no surprise, then, that Sony has already announced a revised controller as part of its plans for next-generation VR.

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The patent features a new design for a controller that looks different from what has been publicly revealed for the PS5's VR system. Unlike that controller, this one features magnetic sensors that allow for finger tracking. This would allow players to make their hands into specific poses, which the game console could then recognize and reflect in-game. This would enable substantially more immersive controls in VR games, as button presses could be replaced with hand movements, making it much more natural to pick up and use items, for example.

Possible PS VR Controller

It's worth noting that the patent also shows what appears to be an alternate, glove-based controller. This would use flex sensors to determine the individual articulation of each finger. This would probably be more advanced technology than the ring-shaped controller; while gloves like this do exist for commercial use, they are normally employed for enterprise VR training programs and professional motion capture, rather than oriented towards consumers. An exception is the Kickstarter-funded and consumer-oriented CaptoGlove. Although the company behind CaptoGlove appears to be on hiatus, Kickstarter backers could obtain one glove for about 200 dollars during the campaign.

Possible PSVR Glove

This finger-tracking functionality would help the second-generation PSVR be competitive against higher-end VR headsets. In particular, finger tracking would allow Sony to position its technology against the Valve Index, which offers similar functionality in its controllers. This might mean that Sony would use the already-revealed "PSVR 2" controller as an entry-level peripheral, and then offer the more elaborate controller and glove shown in the patent for hardcore VR enthusiasts.

Whether or not these peripherals do become part of the PSVR ecosystem, Sony has already set up the foundation for a successful generation of VR gaming. In addition to well-received exclusive VR games like Astro Bot Rescue Mission and Iron Man VR, Sony has found ways to integrate VR into major first-party projects like game-creator Dreams. Given Sony has demonstrated that VR systems can be commercially viable as add-ons to popular consoles, it's likely Sony will continue investing in the technology and pleasing VR fans.

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Source: USPTO