If you’re a fan of Sony’s PlayStation VR2 hand controllers, you’re going to like this.
Per Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple and Sony have begun collaborating to bring support for the controllers to Apple’s Visio Pro headset.
Gurman has stated that the partnership has been in development for several months and would introduce Sony’s VR controllers as an optional accessory for Vision Pro users. Gurman notes that PS5 and Xbox controllers are already supported by Vision Pro, but they aren’t optimized for virtual reality experiences, lacking the six degrees of freedom (6DOF) needed for precise VR gaming controls.
Given that the controllers are currently bundled with the PlayStation VR2 headset, Sony would need to begin selling them as their own standalone accessories, which would likely happen through Apple’s retail and online storefronts.
In addition to gaming, the controllers could help enhance productivity tasks and media editing in visionOS. Users could navigate the operating system using the controller’s thumb stick and directional pad for scrolling, while the trigger button could replace the finger pinch gesture for selection.
The timing of the announcement presently remained uncertain, as the two companies seem to have postponed their initially planned reveal. The partnership comes as Apple faces challenges with Vision Pro adoption, with Gurman reporting that fewer than 500,000 units have been sold since its February launch, according to his sources.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.