Does PSVR 2 work with PS4? No, and here’s why

Sony elects to leave games for the original PSVR in the past.

Table of Contents Table of Contents

When the PSVR 2 was announced all those months ago the VR community was thrown into a flurry of speculation, with PSVR 2 backwards compatibility being one of the most common queries.

Sony PSVR 2

Weight

560g/19.8oz

Cameras

4 embedded cameras for headset and controller tracking​ IR camera for eye tracking per eye

Sensors

Six-axis motion sensing system (three-axis gyroscope, three-axis accelerometer)​ Attachment Sensor: IR Proximity sensor

Display resolution

2000 x 2040 per eye OLED panels

FOV (field of view)

Approx. 110 degrees

Refresh rate

90Hz, 120Hz

How We Review

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In the months since the announcement, we’ve received clarification on a lot of the previously unknown aspects of the PSVR, we know the price, release date, and pre order information. We’ve even managed to learn a lot about the PSVR 2 controllers.

NOW READ: PSVR 2 Review: Captivating, comfortable, costly.

We’ve already covered a lot of stuff about the PSVR 2, here’s a quick list if you’re eager to find out more:[

• Can you wear over ear headphones with the PSVR 2?
• Can you play normal PS5 games with PSVR 2? Cinematic mode explained
• Can you move while wearing the PSVR 2 headset?
• Does PSVR 2 track eye motion?
• What is PSVR 2 see through mode and how does it work?
• What size room do you need for PSVR 2?
• Can you wear glasses with PSVR 2?

So, let’s talk about the lack of backwards compatibility for the PSVR 2 and why we don’t think that it’s a bad thing.

NOW READ: PSVR 2 unboxing and first impressions

Does the PSVR 2 work on PS4?

Aside from issues of internal hardware incompatibilities, there is the issue of raw power. both the original PSVR and PSVR 2 are not standalone headsets, meaning that they need a PS4 or PS5 to power them, respectively.

So, even if the PSVR 2 worked with the PS4, it wouldn’t be able to perform nearly as well as it will be able to with the PS5, as the PS5 is nearly 8 times more powerful than the PS4.

Will the PSVR 2 be backwards compatible?

Short answer: No, the PSVR 2 is not backwards compatible as Sony’s approach to VR this time around is too different from the original PSVR for backwards compatibility to work.

The official announcement concerning PSVR 2 backward compatibility was made on September 16th during episode 439 of the Official PlayStation Podcast, by the Senior Vice-president of Platform Experience, Hideaki Nishino.

In an unsurprisingly media-trained statement, Nishino states that the “PSVR2 is designed to deliver a truly next-generation VR experience”.

This, therefore, disqualifies it from being backwards compatible, we don’t have a super concrete specific answer, but it’s likely something to do with inherent hardware differences between the PSVR and PSVR 2.

If this sounds like a familiar story, you’re right, Sony has had some ups and downs with regard to backwards compatibility. The original PS3 console could play PS2 games by virtue of including the literal guts of a PS2 inside, which was phased out in later revisions.

Then the PS4 was never backwards compatible with PS3 games as Sony made the wise decision to move away from Cell Architecture.

We think that the PSVR 2 lacks backward compatibility as a result of being too different from the original PSVR, Unfortunately, we aren’t privy to Sony’s design paperwork so we can’t say for sure, but it’s a fair bet nonetheless.

PSVR 2 backward compatibility: The controllers

Another reason why making the PSV2 backward compatible would be tricky is the difference between the old and new controllers. The previous PSVR controllers are so inherently different from the PSVR 2 controllers they wouldn’t work with the PSVR 2.

Remember that the previous PSVR worked via a camera mounted near the TV, like the Nintendo Wii sensor bar of old, whereas the PSVR 2 uses cameras integrated in the headset itself. This difference probably means that making it backward-compatible would be more work than it’s worth.

FAQs

Does the PSVR 2 work on PS4?

No, unfortunately the PSVR 2 is not backwards compatible with the PS4.

Can you use the original PSVR with the PS5?

Yes, Sony provides you with an adapter to use the camera on the PS5.

PSVR 2 FAQs!

If you’re eager to know everything about the PSVR 2, you’re in luck, as we’ve written a lot of pages about the PSVR 2. For your convenience, we’ve listed it all below!

• Best Games for PSVR 2: What to look forward to!
• Does PSVR 2 Support HDR?
• Are the PSVR 2 controllers compatible with PS4?
• Can I Use PSVR Controllers on PSVR 2?
• Do I need a TV to use PSVR 2?
• Is PSVR 2 Multiplayer?
• PSVR 2 head size – Everything you need to know
• Does PSVR 2 work with PS4? No, and here’s why
• How to connect PSVR 2 to PS5: Quick PSVR 2 setup guide
• How to change PSVR 2 viewing modes?
• Where to buy PSVR 2 & pre order details (All regions)
• How To Sync PSVR 2 Sense Controller?
• How to turn the PSVR2 Sense controller on and off?
• Is The PS Move Controller compatible with PSVR 2?
• Is the DualSense Edge controller compatible with PSVR 2?
• Can you play normal PS5 games with PSVR 2? Cinematic mode explained
• Can you wear over ear headphones with the PSVR 2?
• Can you move while wearing the PSVR 2 headset?
• Does PSVR 2 track eye motion? Yes, but not in the creepy way
• What is PSVR 2 see through mode and how does it work?
• What size room do you need for PSVR 2?
• Can you wear glasses with PSVR 2?
• Vive XR Elite vs PSVR 2: Can console VR compete in 2024?
• Meta Quest Pro vs PSVR 2: Which is the best next-gen VR headset?