No PSVR Backwards Compatibility For PS VR2: What Will Be Missing?

Over on the PlayStation Blog, hosts of the PlayStation Podcast interviewed Hideaki Nishino, SVP of Platform Experience. This week they covered PS VR2 gameplay impressions. Notably, around the 29-minute mark of the Podcast, Nishino confirms PS VR2 will not support PSVR games in the form of backward compatibility. 

The news completely buried all goodwill generated this weekend at the Tokyo Game Show. Both members of the press and the general public got their hands on the hardware. Impressions from both sides have been illustrious. Of course, when word spread today it did not go over well with new users hoping to enter a brand new platform with years baked into the catalog.

The Challenges Of The Original PSVR

Unfortunately for Sony, the original PSVR headset uses technology that dates back to 2010. The light tracking method of input is an incredibly outdated way of mapping real-time movement in VR. Of course, Sony could open up the APIs to the current Move Controllers, yet how could they attach light tracking to the new PSVR headset that’s a completely different size? It is hard to imagine Sony making these accommodations for a player base that is smaller than 2 million active players.

With that in mind, what is it really that PS VR2 owners will be missing out on? What are the must-have games that should be ported over to the new HMD? We already know Firewall Ultra, and No Man’s Sky are coming, what else should be coming over with them?

Moss

With Moss: Book II coming to PS VR2 new players should be given the chance to play through the original title. Having both games included in the PS VR2 library will give the platform a solid day one collection of platformers.

The Walking Dead Saints & Sinners

Much like Moss, The sequel to The Walking Dead Saints & Sinners is one of the few confirmed titles coming to PS VR2. Giving owners a chance to play through the first game is a no-brainer where everyone wins. 

Beat Saber

Beat Saber is far and away the best-selling and most popular VR game across all platforms. Not excluded is PSVR where Beat Saber rests on top of the monthly sales charts nearly every month. Yet what remains to be seen is how welcoming Meta will be towards adding the game to another platform, now that they have acquired developer Beat Games.

Resident Evil 7 In PSVR

Resident Evil 7 is one of, if not the best game on PSVR. It is among the few AAA games on the platform you can play from start to finish. With Resident Evil Village and Resident Evil 4 coming to PS VR2, Capcom should add this to the list for day one. Capcom is not a small indie studio with limited resources like most VR teams. It would not take much for them to apply the technology from Village and use it with RE7, they are running on the same engine. Frankly, Sony should pay them to do it.

Superhot

Superhot is another best-selling VR title on PSVR that should be ported over to PS VR2. I believe Sony can get away with not having this game if a sequel is ready. Although if that is not in the cards, what a miss it would be for the platform. Superhot is a showcase to illustrate how a simple game can be intensified through the perspective of VR.

Trover Saves the Universe

Trover Saves the Universe sits among the few popular PSVR games to release near the consoles end. While many VR games have action, suspense, and puzzles, Trover is a casual, fun, and hilarious game. Besides with High On Life coming from Squance Games later this year, it would be a nice opportunity to flex their versatile muscles. 

Hitman 3

It will be a travesty if Hitman 3 can not be ported over to PS VR2. One of the best PS5 games from 2021 is already running on the modern APIs. Hitman 3 needs to be experienced with the highest visual settings, with analog sticks. Hiding this game behind the old HMD should be considered a crime. Please Sony give us a reason to go back to Hitman 3.

Sniper Elite VR

Sniper Elite VR is a fantastic complete all-new Sniper Elite game. It should not be stranded on the platform as it was one of the best games from PSVR’s concluding months. Having a standalone Sniper Elite game ready for launch would be a fantastic addition to the lineup.

Borderlands 2

Who is not ready to buy Borderlands 2 a third time? Any and all AAA games Sony can get ported over to PS VR2 they should. It is likely that Gearbox and Embracer may be looking for cost-effective ways to be present on the platform. Porting an already existing VR game would be a welcome addition that gives Sony a name in the library and new players a massive AAA RPG to play on day one. Of course, if Gearbox is willing to add Borderlands 3, all will be forgiven.

Astrobot Rescue Mission

The bot that started it all for Team Asobi, Astrobot has big shoes to fill on PS VR2 next year. There is no excuse for this Sony first-party title to not be on PS VR2 on day one when it launches. Astrobot has become a beloved PlayStation character following the launch of the PS5 with its pack-in game Astros Playroom. Regardless if a squeal or not is what is next for Team Asobi, Astrobot Rescue Mission needs to be on PS VR2.

Iron Man PSVR

Iron Man VR is currently exclusive to PSVR and as of 2020, comes included with nearly all PSVR units sold. Having a tentpole Marvel title release exclusive on the platform on day one would be a huge win. It would be insane not to have a game that is such an important part of the collection not on PS VR2. It would make for a fantastic addition to PS+.

Dreams In PSVR

If Dreams is not going to play a role in PlayStation’s future, that is understandable. Yet the game creator tool could and should be an important part of the PS VR2 library on day one. Given that it is a PlayStation first-party title, the team should be well versed in moving the game over to PS VR2 from the original PSVR