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PSVR2 controllers work with Apple Vision Pro
Apple Vision Pro gains PlayStation VR2 Sense controller support with visionOS 26, and it will open up a wide array of possibilities when developers get on board.
Rumors have been floating around for a while that Apple would allow third-party VR controllers to connect to Apple Vision Pro. That feature was finally announced as a part of visionOS 26, and it’s working in the first developer beta.
However, the way Apple has everything built into the OS, there’s not much to do with the controllers just yet. They work similarly to regular game controllers for now.
The PlayStation VR2 (PSVR2) Sense controllers replace the functionality of your hand entirely. Hand tracking is turned off, and you won’t accidentally click or tap with your hands.
The triggers replace the pinch function, and either joystick can scroll. Pressing the PS button opens the Home View.
When pairing a regular controller, like the DualSense, your hands are still being tracked. However, the controller can perform the tap function with “X,” scroll with the joysticks, and open Home View with the PS button.
System support is only half the battle
It’s clear that games and apps will need to update to support the controllers. Outside of potential TestFlights, there’s likely no way to actually test the feature until the official visionOS 26 release.
‘Synth Riders’ won’t recognize the PSVR2 controllers yet
There’s another small problem — you can’t buy the PSVR2 controllers separately. Sony has been having a rough time selling the headset, which still needs a PlayStation 5 and games to use it, so there’s likely plenty of controllers sitting in warehouses.
One controller is going for about $75 on eBay currently, and an entire PSVR2 unit is $400 new. Expect PSVR2 controllers to be sold separately by the fall, probably in Apple Stores, and likely for a high price.
Developers need convincing
Games will need to explicitly support the feature. Apple briefly showed a pickleball game during WWDC, but made no official title announcements during the keynote.
Spatial controller support will mean more kinds of games that just wouldn’t work with hand gestures.
Apple seems to be leveraging its relationship with Capcom whenever it can, so expect the VR Resident Evil titles to be among the first to arrive on Apple Vision Pro. Existing games like Synth Riders will benefit from controller support thanks to haptic feedback.
The elephant in the room continues to be Meta’s stranglehold on popular VR titles via its Reality Labs. It owns the development studios behind popular games Beat Saber and there hasn’t been any word of it or any other Meta-owned games coming to Apple Vision Pro.
There’s also the problem with the size of the Apple Vision Pro install base. It’s difficult for studios to even bother with bringing games to Apple Vision Pro with so few paying customers.
Apple Arcade might help bring controller-supported spatial games to visionOS
Hopefully, Apple didn’t bring about spatial controller support for no reason. The company seems interested in delving into more gaming fronts, what with its acquisition of the Sneaky Sasquatch studio and new Games app.
At a minimum, Apple needs to solve this with some of its cash hoard. If developers are worried about selling a game on Apple Vision Pro, buy them out and distribute the game via Apple Arcade.
WWDC 2025 is still underway, and the beta cycle goes for the entire summer. Expect some announcements around Apple’s gaming efforts in the coming months, especially around the iPhone 17 reveal in September.
