Is Sony saving VR?

[KBG29]

SvennoJ said:

DonFerrari said:

I agree with all your points. But I would say that 2 things are missing for they to really put AAA game exclusive on VR even considering they are willing to lose money. The display/processing needs to get much higher so they can have high level graphics plus they need a concept that would be "revolutionary" game so it become a system seller by itself.

That will probably be more likely to happen on start of next gen.

Display resolution and high level graphics are not the biggest problem. Switch is doing really well.

Convenience, comfort and price need to be solved first. Wireless if possible, lighter, inside out tracking all go before resolution. I would love PSVR2 to have a 4K panel, yet a 1440p panel will do fine as well and is probably more realistic. Perhaps Sony can improve their temporal reprojection to double frame rate to 120fps. Currently it only does that for head tracking, yet if it's build into the gpu it might be possible to double frame rate of the actual game, just as checkerboarding does it for resolution.

When the ps5 can run games in native 4K, then it should be less of a problem to run the same game in VR in 1440p when using hardware accelerated reprojection techniques. Add foveated rendering and results could even be better. However that will need accurate pupil tracking which can drive up the price.

I think it's still too early to hope for AAA exclusives for PSVR2. What we can hope for is more competent VR modes for other AAA games. Next gen racers should really include a fully fletched VR mode. Same for FPS and horror games.

I actually think Software is still the biggest problem. Even in its current form, if you give VR the next Call of Duty, Battlefield, Madden, Grand Theft Auto, Killzone, Gran Turismo, Forza, Halo, and Mario Kart exclusively, then it would become mainstream over night. VR is still lacking exclusive games that the mainstream audience plays. Once these mega franchises push VR, their userbases will jump all over it. 

Next gen at a minimum Sony has to offer the ability to play all of their 1st paty games in VR. I'm not talking full VR features, but at minimum the ability to put on your headset, and have the game rendered in VR, not just cinema mode. 

Next, they have to lead by example, and have some of their AAA franchises go VR exclusive. Horizon and Killzone would both be great options. Both games could have massive improvements to gameplay, that is just not possible on a TV/Gamepad. Gran Turismo should be fully playable 100% content for content betwee VR and TV, if not some exclusive VR only content to highlight the advantages of the tech. MLB The Show, Road to the Show, this is an absolutely perfect showcase of the tech. Then of course they have their dedicated VR studio in Manchester. London Studios is always pushing innovation, a return of the Getaway franchise in VR would be massive, though Blood and Truth means that would probably be a few years into the PS5/PSVR2. If they can get the ball rolling, that would give confidence to both players and publishers alike. 

Finally, they need to sign some deal with 3rd parties again. Both for full on exclusives, and VR Modes. Some of the obvious titles to me are, Call of Duty, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Grand Theft Auto 6.

Call of Duty has 3 different Studios working on (1) title each, over a (3) year period. Sony, along with HTC, Facebook, and the rest of the VR industry, should make a push for a VR COD from one of these teams. Together they could easily fund development, and with Call of Duty in VR, they would gain enough sales of each of their headsets to more than justify the investment. 

Red Dead Remeption 2, this should go down just like GTA5 on PS4/XBO. a full 4K/60fps remaster of RDR2 for PS5/XB4 with VR offered as a massive bonus. Hopefully, Mirosoft will have a VR option for XB4, giving this and the above COD even further reach. 

Grand Theft Auto 6, with their expereince of bringing RDR2 to PS5/PSVR2, GTA6 should be a full fledged VR title from the ground up. Gameplay that is only possible with Motion Controls, in VR. 

 

If Sony, Microsoft, Facebook, HTC, Rockstar, Activision, EA, Ubisoft, and the rest of the industry back VR with the software it needs, they will succeed on a major level. VR will outpace traditional video games many times over, because it is a much further reaching technology. 

I don't think anyone can argue, that Sony is taking charge in VR. They are doing the heavy lifting, with the most marketing, and the most direct to consumer approach. However, that has to go even further with PS5/PSVR2. They have to invest more, give VR more big name exclusives, and get 3rd parties on board to do the same. 

If Sony doubles down with PSVR2, and does the above, then I will say they are leading and continueing to lead the charge in VR.

Overall though, VR does not need saving. VR is the future. Once the right software is made available, and the intial bump in take off is over, VR will be the next boom in the electronics industry. No matter whether you like games, education, or anything in life for that matter. If you have a desire to live, VR is for you, because it can deliver any expereince you can dream of wanting to have, real of fantasy.