Sony Patented an Outside Screen for VR Possible Use on the PSVR2

by
Cody Perez
in General | Aug, 12th 2021

The PSVR2 is coming sometime soon, but Sony is still planning on making more patents for the VR Device. Although rumors about the HMD’s specs have been floating about, the only information about the HMD that’s coming out is the controllers, which have been publicly revealed. However, Rumors have also spread about the Headset, but now, some concrete information about where Sony’s Headspace is for their VR Devices has been shown. Through a patent for the PSVR2 headset that includes an outward-facing screen, which would be used by people viewing the HMD from the outside. 

The Patent in question shows a screen that would sit on the outside of the HMD and people watching the person using the HMD would be able to see what the player is seeing by looking at their face, the screen would also Provide facial expressions or other data on the front of the headset for non-HMD users to look at. The patent also mentions the introduction of a two-way camera system, with eye-tracking on the inside of the headset, and cameras on the outside of the headset. 

This would provide multiple options for the VR user if this patent were to be used on the PSVR2. The eye-tracking cameras would provide a better option for Foveated rendering making the PS5 able to run games easier, while still keeping the fidelity of the titles at a high enough standard to warrant the upgrade for the console, the outside cameras would provide a pass through option for the user to be able to see where they are in the real world while playing the game, making it easier for them to readjust themselves if they get too close to a wall or any obstacles. 

However, the PSVR2 outside screen could be something used for fun, but it wouldn’t be all that practical, as putting a screen with the view of the game on it wouldn’t be easy to see for spectators. The previous PSVR had a social screen mode which put the VR View on the TV in front of the camera, making it easier for players to sit on the couch and watch the VR game being played by the person with the headset. The social screen was also used for Asymmetrical multiplayer, letting people with controllers play the game on the screen, while the VR user was able to interact with the world and play a secondary role with the other players. PlayStation’s VR Playroom had multiple gamers where players would play on the screen, while the VR user played inside the game world. Oculus Quest also has a similar feature that lets players put their VR view on a mobile device, which could be streamed to TVs in the same household. Having a screen on the front of the headset that showed what the VR Player saw would be hard to keep track of, especially with the VR user looking around constantly, meaning the screen Is shifting around, making it even more difficult to see. However, the second option mentioned in the Patent was that the outside screen would show expressions, whether these expressions are made by the game or they’re a live feed from the internal cameras isn’t said. However, the expression screen on the front of the Device would be a novel idea at the best.

Although this is all speculation, the patent filed by sony was made this month, and with the rumors stating that the PSVR2 is coming out in 2022, there’s a high likelihood that the outside screen for the next generation VR device isn’t going to be added to the Headset, as production would have to be started on the headset before the patent’s filing if Playstation aims to meet the demand for the headset. However, it is interesting to think about when discussing next-generation VR tech. As Facebook is working on something similar to show the eyes of the VR user on the front of the headset, as uncanny as it would be. If PlayStation were to do something similar on their VR Device, the idea of cartoony expressions on the front of the headset, the same way that the robots in the Playroom games express their emotions, would be novel at best.  

Source: https://www.esportstalk.com/news/sony-patented-an-outside-screen-for-vr-possible-use-on-the-psvr2/