Apple is making significant progress in its effort to introduce controllers for the Vision Pro by partnering with Sony, according to renowned tech journalist Mark Gurman from Bloomberg. This collaboration aims to integrate support for the PSVR 2 controllers into Apple’s headset, and it seems everything is still on course.
Gurman revealed last year that Apple had engaged with Sony in early 2024, as part of a drawn-out initiative to provide PSVR 2 controller functionality for Apple’s $3,500 XR device. During the same period, Apple was also reported to be in talks with third-party developers to implement controller support into their games.
According to Gurman’s recent insights in his ‘Power On’ newsletter, all indications suggest that this project remains active. He believes we might see this feature introduced through a software update, possibly with the release of visionOS 3 later this year.
Intriguingly, when Apple unleashed the Vision Pro in February 2024, it did so without traditional controllers, instead banking on advanced hand and eye-tracking features. This approach aligns with Apple’s vision of the device as a versatile computing platform, rather than a dedicated gaming console like the Meta Quest.
Choosing Sony for this partnership seems like a logical step, given Sony’s move to decouple PSVR 2 from its PlayStation 5 ecosystem, making it compatible with PC VR games through a special adapter. This strategic move has been interpreted as Sony’s hesitation to fully commit to its latest VR headset. For Apple, this partnership provides a standardized controller option for developers, all while avoiding direct competition with Sony.
If these reports hold true, the introduction of motion controller support would symbolize a significant pivot for Apple, potentially attracting a broader audience of VR gamers—essentially what you’d anticipate from a state-of-the-art XR headset. Before Vision Pro made its debut, there was speculation that Apple was neither interested in producing its own controllers nor in supporting third-party ones.
However, this hasn’t deterred third-party innovators from stepping in. A standout example is the Surreal Touch controllers, which successfully raised $127,000 via Kickstarter. Unlike others, these controllers don’t rely on Vision Pro’s tracking system. Instead, they feature onboard cameras to track motion, similar to Meta’s Touch Pro controllers. For more insights, you can explore XR industry expert Nima Zeighami’s early impressions on the Surreal Touch experience.
