PSVR 2 Not Being Backward Compatible with PSVR is a Disservice

Sony has revealed that the PSVR 2 will not be backwards compatible with the PSVR, and that does a huge disservice to people who bought into VR.

[Knushwood Butt]

I'd rather they make advances with the technology and experience.

I have PSVR. I can play it right now if I want to,

[SullysCigar]

This.

Some devs are already confirming patches for PSVR2.

PSVR 1 games won't work without them because the technology is too different in too many regards. It's that simple and it's been discussed to death on N4G already.

It's why PSVR1 and Quest versions usually release at different times. There's work to be done to port one to the other.

The good news is PSVR2 levels the playing field, at least from a tracking standpoint, so multiplatform games should release closer together on PSVR2, PC and Quest.

[Eonjay]

If we are being realistic there are maybe a couple dozen really good PSVR games. Of course they are gonna be patched. I don't see them being able to get every game patched before. But a fair bit of the good one will be. They will probablly base their priority on popularity. But at least it show good will to the majority that invested. I wish all of the patches were are intense at the No Man's Sky one though. Anti consumer would be them not offering the patch tool to devs at all. They are at lease giving them the choice.

[JackBNimble]

So should we assume psvr3 isn't going to work with this generation of VR games?
Do we need to keep all our old devices so we can play all our old games that we "own" ? Or has sony decided to future proof VR so it will be BC next gen?

I doubt it because then sony can't remake or remaster those games and resell them to all the defenders of this anti-consumerism practice.

[derek]

@Jackbnimble you can rant and rave all you want about evil Sony but it is a matter of fact that the tech doesn't match up. Get informed before you post.

[sparky77]

The same was said about this Switch and all you got were full price re-releases of old games at full-price.

The same thing will occur with PSVR 2 you can guarantee it.

[Silly gameAr]

One thing that never changes on N4G. People that don't own or plan on owning playstation consoles, act like they're the most affected/outraged by peripherals/games coming to PS consoles. Damn, I feel like I'm home again.

[Petebloodyonion]

You have a point there
can't say the same thing will happen there since VR is pretty niche but again you have a point there with Switch.

[S2Killinit]

Im just glad we are getting the second generation of VR on Playstation. Im sure all the must have games will be ported over to PSVR2. Cant wait!

[NotoriousWhiz]

I don't have PS VR. That's on purpose. I do plan on getting PSVR2 with or without backwards compatibility. BC would have been nice but I'm interested in the PSVR2 for the new advancements it had made on the original. If I wanted the original, I would have bought the original.

[InUrFoxHole]

@Silly gamer
Put aside whether you think they're gonna support the system or not. Do you think the price point is ok? We have to stop getting butt hurt just because you like a brand. Call out the bs practices and demand better as a consumer

[SurgicalMenace]

Why can't companies ever just move forward? Even if they charge full price you don't have to buy it, can wait for a sale, or play it on the old one.

[banger88]

"I have PSVR. I can play it right now if I want to"

Well I DON'T have PSVR, and here in NZ I can't even find ANY retailer that is selling it. I'm not buying used because people want too much for it. I'm keen on PSVR2, and I want to be able to play the current back catalogue of PSVR1 titles. That's not too much to ask for, and Sony could have gone out of their way to make them work for it.

[ApocalypseShadow]

Should have bought one while it was on the market. It's been out for 6 years. And, I seem to be able to buy products from Japan, China and Europe, etc. Sony's systems aren't region locked. And the headset is plug and play.

Expecting something not promised is an entitlement.

[Knushwood Butt]

You can get them for 10,000 Yen second hand in Japan. Saw a set in Geo last week.

[shinoff2183]

Do you know sony could have went out of their way to make it work. Would you like sony to port each game YOU wanna play to psvr2. Maybe send them an email. Your not entitled to it no matter what you actually believe. Psvr 1 and 2 are different period

[MrNinosan]

I guess you can put your Wii-discs in a Switch aswell.

[DMgHalt]

There's always the possibility that developers of PSVR1 games will port them to PSVR2 and sell them for a price. It's not like it's out of the question. It seems that the only thing that's out of the question is the PSVR2 having backwards compatibility right out of the box.

[Bathyj]

So you have made no effort to ply all those games in 6 years, but now you want to because you found out you can't.

Forgive my bluntness but that's the behaviour of a spoilt child. Don't take it personal. Millions of entitled gamers are the same.

[InUrFoxHole]

I don't think you're missing out. Not yet any way. Hold out for psvr2. I can guarantee sony is really gonna knock this out of the park.

[Abracadabra]

For Sony it makes little sense PSVR2 backward compatible. Sony loves selling the same game several times to their costumers, and, their costumers don't mind purchasing the same game over and over again...
Expect PSVR remasters and remakes in the future.

[Knushwood Butt]

I wish Sony wasn't the only company doing that.

I'll go back to playing Far Cry 3 Classic now.

[RauLeCreuset]

Interesting take coming from the person who said this about Bethesda 23 days ago:

"With the quality of Bethesda's past single-player games, this is one of my most expected games. Very hyped.

"The amount of hate this game gets simply because it's not on their favorite plastic box, is amazing. A lot of people will be eating crow..."

https://n4g.com/comments/re...

Bit of advice while you're still under 100 comments. There are and have been accounts playing at the same thing a lot longer, and to date they have had no impact on the market.

[Abracadabra]

@RauLeCreuset

WOW... you went through my comment history. THAT'S COMMITMENT!
Congrats.

[RauLeCreuset]

"WOW... you went through my comment history. THAT'S COMMITMENT!"

Better to take a few seconds to confirm the lay of the land than to waste more time assuming a good faith argument is going to come from someone who actually only wants to hate on something "simply because it's not on their favorite plastic box."

[Petebloodyonion]

And how does having the ability to play your old games on new hardware prevent devs and Sony from making advances with the technology and experience?

[Christopher]

Regardless of advances, it would be nice to see Sony, at the least, update what games they can for PSVR to work with PSVR2. Taking the time and effort only shows that you want people to invest in new things, not feel like they shouldn't.

[Knushwood Butt]

Sony isn't the only company that publishes games for PSVR.

[Christopher]

@Knushwood Butt: "... to see Sony, at the least,..."

Pretty sure it's clear I know that.

[neutralgamer1992]

To be honest with you I don't understand this craziness we have one article saying it's a disservice and the other article saying is a necessary

Same arguments all the damn time man just enjoy gaming have a great weekend

[SullysCigar]

Same people hurrying to approve the articles too. This is a dead horse topic.

Sony may well port a bunch of games and all this fuss (by the guys who wouldn't touch a Sony product anyway) would have been for nothing.

[AshleeEmerson]

You are Exactly right!

I don't have enough bucket for the wasted tears over this backwards compatible crap.

For the person reading this who is crying about backwards compatibility, simply hook up your psvr1 and play it...

A bit of sad news in case people didn't know this, you cannot play your cassette tapes on your Blu-ray players. Please do not try to put your old Jordans on with your new Jordans. Just use your new Jordans and when you want to use your old Jordans, simply put them on because your new Jordans will not be modified to allow you to wear them at the same time.

As gamers, we know darn well the highest quality games on the psvr1 will get some type of release or free upgrade. We've been gaming for quite some time now to understand the dynamic of how this happens from generation to generation.

The past is behind us, I'm very happy they didn't put tech inside the psvr 2 as a ladder for those who get amnesia on how to use the psvr1 once the psvr2 is released.

Anywho...

[ApocalypseShadow]

Gone over this.

Sony promised BC with PS4. And they did that when gamers thought otherwise. PS5 plays almost all PSVR and PS4 games. Over 4,000 games. Mark Cerny and his tech team made that possible. They never promised a new peripheral would play the old one being that they're not the same in tracking and controls.

But it seems BC with the console isn't good enough for today's gamers. Now, past games have to play fully with new add ons. Current games have to play fully with old controllers when features and layout aren't the same. And, gamers want that functionality for free even if more work is involved. But gamers call Sony greedy. Lol.

I'm content with playing PSVR on PS5 because I have the headset. I'm content with developers updating their games with full 360, more textures, higher resolution, better AI, better controllers, etc. If they offer that for free? Great. If they want $5- $10 for an improved game because they spent time and money doing so, I'm fine with that too.

But you can't have everything you want. That becomes entitlement.

[crazyCoconuts]

Expectations for a product you have a choice to buy or not buy isn't really an entitlement. I feel you're conflating this specific decision to purchase this specific product on the merits of it's functionality with some broader social issue

[shinoff2183]

No not really some are crying and demanding psvr1 be bc with psvr2. Thats an entitlement some feel they are owed. When you feel your owed and your not you feel entitled. With this psvr situation your not entitled they are completely different. Aside from sony porting each game bc is not possible.

[crazyCoconuts]

I guess you're ENTITLED to your opinion.

[ApocalypseShadow]

Is your expectation that they make PS Move, Aim, PS Camera, DS4 work too? They are part of PSVR as well.

Do you expect them to go back into a game and put more time and money into it and do all that for free?

[crazyCoconuts]

@apoc no, I don't expect or require any of that

[NotoriousWhiz]

Let the people who won't buy a device because it can't play 5 year old games, because they didn't buy a device that has been on the market for 6 years not buy it. Less competition for the rest of us to get one.

[Crows90]

Was thinking the same. I'm bummed about the news but I understand it. I'd rather go forward with psvr2 then go with psvr1 first.

Devs can patch their old games if they wish..chances are that the successful psvr1 games will get patched

[GamingSinceForever]

Sony never truly supported PSVR in the way they made it seem they would. RE7 is the only main stream game that released in full VR which is ideal. Not one of their main exclusives had a complete VR mode. Everything else was pretty much short experiences with some being great and some shovel ware. By the way they never did release that Star Child game.

So yeah it is a disservice that they are making the original owners start all over again buying new games for the PSVR2.

[crazyCoconuts]

I think they did a great job supporting PSVR, sure it waned as the product aged the last year or so. But there were a fair number of exclusives, I'd say the best in the VR industry. They were a leader in this space.
I agree with the second part of your statement, but totally give them props for what they did with the first one. Still frickin amazed they got it to work with the OG PlayStation... amazing

[GamingSinceForever]

Yes they supported it just not in the way they made it seem like they would. Hence, most PSVR owners have theirs collecting dust. I’ve been meaning to go back to play Rogue Squadron and Moss 2 but I have no desire to hook it up to the PS5 because it is such a hassle. I ordered the adapter and never used it.

It would have been nice to continue Moss 2 and Rogue Squadron on PSVR2 if you get my point.

[crazyCoconuts]

I don't know man... I'd hook a few cables up to play rogue squadron, that's a good game (and they gave it to us for free). I'd run a 5K to play a good game in VR lol. But I get the dust part. Fwiw, beat Sabre and pistol whip keep updating and adding stuff so if you're into those kinda games it's worth revisiting from time to time

[darthv72]

@forever... I keep a ps4 pro hooked up for just such occasions as hooking and unhooking to my 5 was just not ideal. And i get what you are saying about support. Sony only published 30 games for the VR1 out of a possible 660+. I expect them to put more effort into this one with more 1st party titles. Horizon is a nice first start but I really want to see ND and insomniac release some stuff specific to it. Not games where there is a VR mode tacked on.

[RauLeCreuset]

"I’ve been meaning to go back to play Rogue Squadron and Moss 2 but I have no desire to hook it up to the PS5 because it is such a hassle. I ordered the adapter and never used it."

You're PSVR isn't collecting dust because it wasn't supported. Your PSVR is collecting dust because you think it's too much of a hassle to plug your camera into a USB dongle that plugs into a USB port on your PS5. The only difference in setup is that the camera plugged directly into a port on the PS4.

[shinoff2183]

Wasnt skyrim.

[GamingSinceForever]

I forgot about that. I bought it too but it wasn’t done as well as RE7.

[shinoff2183]

I also think psvr1 was hampered a little after some time which didnt help get bigger type games on it. Psvr2 specs seem pretty great so far and i think sony will put some stuff out.

[Petebloodyonion]

I think you're selling Sony a bit short here
Sure they never pulled a AAA VR game like Uncharted but they did create some of the best VR game titles around
- Astrobot VR is an incredible platformer
- Blood & Truth is an incredible storytelling time crisis game
- Firewall is still going strong
- Dreams is fully playable in VR and again offers a healthy community
- Wipeout Omega (nuff said)

Again I believe they could have done more by bringing key franchises to draw ppl in but we can't say they did nothing or barely anything.

And yeah Resident Evil 7 is the best VR game ever that is why I'm so psyched for Resident Evil 8 and REsident evil 4 Re.

[S2Killinit]

@gamingsinceforever
PSVR had more exclusives than all of Xbox last generation. Look it up.

[GamingSinceForever]

ffs please keep things relevant to the discussion.

[S2Killinit]

Pretty relevant wouldnt you say? Unless you mean MS didnt support xbox One in the way they made it seem they would? In which case it would make my comment irrelevant otherwise my comment was very on point.

[HICK]

I agree with crazyCoconuts. Seems like you don't really know about the PSVR2 library....

[northpaws]

Here we go again...

And then what happened when there is BC? Developers continue to make VR games that work on PSVR1 and PSVR2, then people cry about no true next gen experiences.

This generation of gamers, cry cry cry cry cry.

[ApocalypseShadow]

Pretty much. Agreed. When given something, they cry more they are not getting more or something else.

These new consoles have everything and the kitchen sink from browsers, resume functions, Blu-ray playback, games, etc. But complain they don't do more or what a competitor is doing.

Sony give away games on PSN for paying for online. And that's cool. Pretty much $5 a month. But not all monthly games are appreciated. They demand more of the top games to be given. Or complain they already have them and can they choose something else instead.

Sony gives away a pack in game on PS5 and gives you a PS Collection for buying the system. And they complain they have those games or want something else.

Sony gives BC on PS5 and gamers complain that not all PS4 games are brute forced to be 4K and 60-120fps.

Sony gives the ability to play PSVR on PS5 and they complain the new headset with different tracking doesn't play the old games with different tracking.

Sony does state of plays and tell gamers to keep their expectations in check. But we are gamers disappointing themselves because they expected more than what is being given.

Time and time again, they find new ways to complain. I can understand broken games or excessive micro transactions or online required for single player games. Those are worth complaining. These other things are just needless nitpicking and entitlement. They can't even see how they themselves have become spoiled with the constant demanding. You handle individuals like this by putting your hands up and saying no. You can't have everything you want.

[shinoff2183]

Idk maybe its not as easy as saying i want psvr 1 ro be bc with psvr 2. Yall tripping and alot act like little kids. I just dont get where you feel its entitled to it to begin with.

Now i feel like a dirty repub

[Petebloodyonion]

So now we already have the counterargument to this
https://n4g.com/news/250902...

There are many reasons why it's a disappointment for #1 Sony isn't saying it was hard, problematic, or can't be done but it's because, and I quote “PSVR games are not compatible with PSVR 2 because PSVR 2 is designed to deliver a truly next-generation VR experience.”
https://blog.playstation.co...
Feel to me like it's the same kind of response as to why Sony won't allow DS4 controllers to work on PS5 games
https://blog.playstation.co...

2) it gives uncertainty to some of the most popular VR games like Beat Sabers or games now owned by Microsoft
Are we to expect that META and Microsoft will suddenly redo a complete PS5 version of their game?

3) this will slow down the adoption rate of the PSvr2 headset. As an example what incentive does someone who plays Beats Sabers, Dreams, Starwars Squadron, etc have into buying a PSVR2?

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

PSVR2 isn't the first platform to not be backwards compatible and won't be the last.

People need to put their money where their mouth is and not buy PSVR2(not that most had any intention of getting it anyways). Otherwise continue to cry about not being able to play games many dubbed as "glorified demos" anyway from a platform that wasn't successful due to "low adoption and attach rate".

[Petebloodyonion]

Why should ppl not buy the PSVR2 if they see value in it?
I for one will buy mine just to play Resident Evil 8 VR (I have yet to play the 8) and 4 Remake, just as I bought the PSVR on day 1 for Resident Evil7 VR.
My reasoning is quite simple for my purchase if I'm willing to spend 600$ for a single arcade cabinet I can sure spend the same amount for having the best Resident evil experience (And I'm pretty sure they will have a resident evil 7 Vr option).

[ApocalypseShadow]

We don't know if adoption will be slowed because there are gamers who didn't want to buy PSVR, but definitely want to play new games on the new headset. Those who play beat saber, dreams, etc can still play those with PSVR on PS5. Or PS4 Pro or PS4.

For every person you think won't get it because PS VR 2 doesn't play PSVR directly, I say there are those that waited for a better headset to come along. There are those on PC that want the device too. There are those that don't care it doesn't play PSVR. There are those that want better playing and looking games. There are those that thought PSVR games were blurry and lacked analog sticks in the controls.

I don't expect Facebook or Microsoft to do anything. That's why PS5 already ***plays*** their games through PSVR. If anything, Microsoft has taken away these developers from doing VR. After purchase, every developer that made a VR game on Quest, PC or PSVR, no longer make VR games. From Ninja Theory to Double Fine to Bethesda, etc. Microsoft are a detriment to VR. Nevermind an update of their games.

Even if Sony gave a direct reason why, there would still be complainers. Because that's what they do.

[blackblades]

Rant

[Binarycode]

It's not the future and I doubt it'll ever be. It's a niche product. All VR is.

[isarai]

Makes sense seeing as how the tracking method is COMPLETELY different. Probably not much to patch compatibility in, but makes sense.

[Orchard]

It sucks for sure - but it's also not a huge deal, not that many PSVR's were sold - it would be a much bigger deal if this was like PS5 not supporting PS4 games all-up or something like that.

[Knushwood Butt]

So it sucks and 'not that many PSVRs were sold'. Got it.

[Orchard]

You nailed it! 💯

[BABY-JEDI]

PSVR1 has some excellent VR game’s that newcomers buying into VR should play. PSVR2 needs to build on the existing foundations of Sony VR. PSVR2 should be compatible with noteworthy VR games

[Bathyj]

ATTENTION !
PSVR3 games on PS6 will NOT work on PSVR2 because it doesn't have a nerolink spike that goes into a bottle cap on the back of your neck.
Please don't cry about that fact in 10 years
You have been warned.

[ApocalypseShadow]

Next thing they'll complain about, is the lack of support for the Nintendo Super Scope, The Sony Sharp Shooter, the Sega Menacer and the games. I was so looking forward to playing with Nintendo's Bongos on the Switch or at least Wii Fit. Nintendo is so greedy.

Why are these companies being so anti consumer? They should make everything compatible. We demand it. They should go out of their way and make it happen. Lol

These guys are so silly.

[jznrpg]

Not really

[frostypants]

If it's between holding the tech back for BC vs. having the best new tech possible I choose the latter every time. If they could have offered BC without holding back the overall product AND without running up the price, they would have.

Devs can patch for PSVR2 if they want to.

[HeliosHex]

I see there's multiple articles of people for and against this decision sony has made.
Polarized debates incoming.

[Pedrof]

I can understand that from a technological standpoint it was too hard/complicated/impossible to make PSVR2 compatible with PSVR games. I get that. But it's always sad to see games no longer supported by future hardware, even more so that PSVR games can run fine on PS5. Plus, PSVR2 would have had a huge library of games right at launch... I feel like VR is still too niche to afford to not rely on already existing games.

[Exvalos]

Let it sink in psvr uses ps3 controllers so yeah I understand

[Dixiedevil]

Everyone I know that has a PSVR and was going to preorder a 2 isn’t going to get it after this news was announced but not me though. Sony could charge $100 for games and I’d still buy them because they’re my favorite corporation.

[Crows90]

It's a matter of tech. The tech is different. The games were not developed for the psvr2...this has nothing to do with Sony. Game devs will likely re-release their psvr1 games.

[MADGameR]

I like technology, but it will get to the point to where one day it will definitely be used against us in malicious ways. I'm all for technology advancing, but not at the expense of controlling human beings.

[kingPoS]

Let's not forget about the move controllers, the devices used to interact in vr. While the layout was effective on the PS3 with games like house of the dead. The lack of a dedicated analog stick made it difficult to implement in traditional games without the seperate navi controller, the one with the actual analog stick. Killzone 3 players know what I'm talking about.

When the move controllers were announced they'd be adopted for psvr, I had always thought sony would simply come out a revised version with an analog stick. And now that they finally have, people are complaining that vr games designed from the ground up to track light balls with zero input from any kind of analog stick, should be updated free of charge.

Geez!

Gateway MT6706 2008