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Apple has yet to enjoy the field-shifting success it was hoping for with its Vision Pro headset. The $3,500 equivalent price tag was already a deterrent, but the gaming ecosystem, a key driver of the VR segment, was also lackluster. The company is now hoping to resolve the situation with help from Sony.
According to Bloomberg, the two companies have been working together to bring support for the PlayStation VR 2 controller to the pricey Apple headset. "Apple has discussed this plan with third-party developers and asked them if they would like to integrate support into their games," the report adds.
Interestingly, both parties were expected to officially confirm compatibility a few weeks ago, but it appears there were some technical issues that resulted in the announcement being pushed back even further. It is unclear when the partnership will materialize and could be scrapped, according to reports.
As part of the deal, Sony will sell the PlayStation VR 2 controller through Apple's online and physical stores. The Apple Store also already sells third-party accessories like the Belkin and Sony PlayStation DualSense wireless controllers.
So far, the Vision Pro lacks meaningful support for third-party VR controllers, despite supporting the usual gamepads from Sony, Microsoft, 8BitDo, and more. This current state of affairs is expected to hurt the headset's VR gaming ambitions.
Most VR games rely on specialized motion controllers, so moving to hand and eye tracking is a big technical hurdle. Apple, on the other hand, is bullish on hand-eye-based gesture controls for using Vision Pro.
However, the company did not completely negate the need for physical controllers for precise interactions and the added sense of intimacy that comes with haptic motion feedback in virtual reality applications, especially games. On the contrary, the company reportedly tried out a dedicated VR device for the Vision Pro, but ultimately canceled that plan.
"The company considered the idea of a finger-worn device that would act as a controller," a 2023 Bloomberg report said. He added that Apple considered using third-party VR controllers, such as those made by HTC, but ultimately prioritized hand control. Eye tracking on physical controllers.
However, the partnership with Sony could have important implications not only for VR gaming on the Vision Pro, but also for visionOS operations in general. The companies have reportedly been working to optimize the PlayStation VR 2 controller's D-Pad, trigger buttons, and thumbsticks for tasks like scrolling and clicking.
This is another functional benefit, especially for users who prefer a more controlled approach to interacting with the OS using physical devices instead of eye and movement gestures. Beyond corporate partnerships, we have initiatives like iVRy that aim to bring StramVR and accompanying controller support to the Vision Pro headset.
Will Apple and Sony's collaboration open the door to a new wave of MFi-certified VR controllers for the Vision Pro? Not likely. According to a report from Bloomberg, Apple has only sold around 500,000 units, and developers are not very enthusiastic about creating original games for the Vision Pro.
