Sony unveils PS5 VR controllers
Separate left- and right-hand controllers will have adaptive triggers, finger sensors, and inside-out tracking
Sony today offered a first look at the new controllers for its upcoming PS5 VR headset, and while the form factor is very different from what it had shown in patent applications on the technology, much of the function is the same.
The new interface consists of distinct left-hand and right-hand controllers, each with an adaptative trigger button that can offer additional resistance, like those on the PS5 DualSense controller.
The controllers will also feature finger sensors to detect where players are placing their thumb, index, and middle fingers to replicate real-world gestures in the game.
The glowing orbs of the PlayStation Move controllers are also gone, with inside-out controller tracking now achieved by the headset following a ring at the bottom of each controller. (The original PSVR required an external camera to track controller movements.)
The rest of the inputs largely mirror standard controllers. Each controller also has an analog stick, the adaptive triggers are the L2 and R2 buttons, and additional "grip" buttons serve to replace the L1 and R1 and can be used for holding in-game items.
The left controller gets the triangle, square, and create buttons, while the right one takes the square, circle, and options buttons.
"Prototypes of our new VR controller will be in the hands of the development community soon," said SVP of platform planning and management Hideaki Nishino, "and we can't wait to see what ideas they come up with and how the controller helps bring their imagination to life!"
As for when players will be able to get their hands on these controllers, Sony has only said its VR headset would not be launching this year.
