Apple working to support Sony’s VR controllers on Vision Pro

Apple might have more in store for gaming on the Vision Pro than we initially thought. A new Bloomberg report says that Apple and Sony are working together to get the gaming giant’s VR controllers supported on Apple’s headset.

When Apple launched the Vision Pro earlier this year, it did feature some games, but nothing that would traditionally be considered a VR title. Instead, Apple focused on porting over existing iOS games to be played with standard video game controllers or unique hand motions. These are fun, but if Apple wants to line up as many selling features as possible for the headset, I think bringing over traditional VR titles to compete with the Meta Quest and Steam-enabled headsets would be a big help in convincing early adopters to pick up the Vision Pro.

Mark Gurman’s Bloomberg report mentions that while the PSVR controllers are at the top of Apple’s list to port over, there is a chance that other VR controllers will be added in the future as well. This is big news, but it’s a big undertaking since Vision Pro currently doesn’t support VR controllers, has no VR games, and PlayStation VR2 controllers are not currently sold on their own. However, this report mentions that Apple will sell the controllers in the Apple Store.

Apple also spent time prototyping some kind of VR wand tool to help users of the headset exhibit more fine-tuned control over their work. This would be helpful for professional apps like Photoshop and Final Cut Pro, but it seems like that project has been shelved for the time being. VR game controllers, with their enhanced motion tracking, might also be an easier way to allow users finer controls within apps.

Gurman suspects that Apple will need to bankroll games on the platform if it is to succeed since Vision Pro hasn’t been a hit seller. Reports suggest that it only sold half a million units, and the people who have them are using them less than the Cupertino company predicted. That said, some worthwhile games might change things and, at the very least, give existing owners a reason to wear the headset a little more.

Source: Bloomberg