Virtual reality gaming has become the next great frontier, and multiple companies have hopped onto the trend. Sony has its own PlayStation VR headset for its PlayStation consoles, which first launched in 2016. As Sony heads into the next generation of VR gaming, new technology could even allow the PlayStation VR headsets to predict a player's eye movements.
Fairly recently, Sony announced the development of a PS5 VR headset that would work natively with its newest console. Unlike the complicated setup required for the PS5 and PS4 with the current headsets, the next-gen VR headset will connect to the PS5 with a single cord. A new VR controller is also being developed, which will use some of the same technology in the new DualSense controller. While PS5 VR isn't launching in 2021, the plan is to enhance everything from the resolution to the field of view to tracking and input.
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A newly approved patent for Sony goes to show how the company is planning to implement several advancements with the next-gen PlayStation VR. In essence, the patent outline a processing plan that will track a user's eye movements in order to improve how graphics are rendered on a VR headset.
A tracking system will monitor the movement of a person's eye, focusing on the velocity at which a user's change of fixation occurs when focused on a general area. Due to how the system will monitor the eye movements, it will be able to predict the next location the user will be looking, and render that location quicker as a result.
When it comes to virtual reality, the entire scene may not be rendered at the same level at all times. Especially for the more complex scenes, trying to render max resolution for the entire scene would consume too much power to stay stable. Certain areas are often rendered at a lower resolution until a player focuses on it, and if a player suddenly looks to a different area, it may take a few moments for it to render at the proper resolution. If Sony's patent works, it could provide a more smooth viewing experience with the VR headset. Sony seems happy with the reactions to PS5 VR so far, so fans should be able to look forward to numerous improvements like this.
While many PlayStation players were disappointed when the PS5 launched without a new version of VR, it seems that Sony wants to take some more time developing VR that can truly feel next-gen. Between predicting eye movements, and registering alternate controllers for PlayStation VR like bananas, it will be interesting to see what else is in store. Since PS5 VR is probably releasing next year, fans could expect to hear more details later this yar.
PlayStation 5 VR is in development.
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Source: US Patent Office