Tobii, the world's leading manufacturer of eye-tracking technology, has today put out a statement revealing it is holding talks with Sony to be the provider of PlayStation VR2's eye-tracking software. Talks are in the negotiation phase at the time of writing. As VGC shares, Tobii produces eye and head tracking cameras for use on PC. Lots of Ubisoft titles support the software, with prices sitting at £230/$230.
While Sony may find other uses for the technology, the Tobii Eye Tracker 5 enhances "your experience by extending your instincts into the game itself. All this made possible by illuminators and sensors that calculate your gaze point on your device's screen." Using the movement of your own eyes, you can aim guns and select items within games. This feature will be part of PSVR2 along with foveated rendering, which dynamically adjusts the resolution of a game in accordance with what you're looking at.
Recently, Sony requested Global Game Jam 2022 entrants to build eye-tracking features into their VR games. If the company is still in the negotiation stage of a pivotal piece of its hardware, however, it could suggest the next-gen headset is further out than we initially thought. After all, PSVR2 will have to be manufactured sooner or later if it's to release this year. Still, this has to do with software packed into the device also so whether it could delay a launch or not remains to be seen.
For much more information, check out our PSVR2 guide. Don't forget Sony set up an official PSVR2 website, which you can register your interest for news and pre-orders through. What sort of stuff do you hope Sony does with eye-tracking tech? Share some ideas in the comments below.
[source tobii.com, via videogameschronicle.com]
Comments 13
I wonder exactly what this means. I suppose it wouldn't mean that it's not possible to sign a contract in the next couple of months and start manufacture for an October launch, but they need to get a move on if it is to come out this year!
This gives me hope that it won't launch until 2023.
I'm super excited for this, but 2022 is already packed.
According to this article it is about the software not the hardware. I doubt that sony would be so bold to go to CES without having a finished product. Also, there was the statement that production will start soon. Maybe, it is about licensing because Sony took a lot of "inspiration" from Tobii, or there are some kind of patent "problems".
@Shepherd_Tallon @Apfelschteiner It's just software, so it could even come as an update after launch if they don't get the deal done in time. I don't expect this will cause any delay of the hardware.
I feel like this is a must for PSVR2.
Software support has less to do with manufacturing constraints than you're implying.
Yeah I imagine this will be related to software and APIs.
I can't see them launching without this feature, whoever they get to provide it, but as others have said, that wouldn't hold up production, just release.
I think they're going to want release titles to use this feature to help out stand out from devices from Meta, etc, but not having an agreement didn't stop them from experimenting with the API for various implementations - I can't see it being more than a couple of months' hold up if it drags on being their intended release window.
Part of me expects that PSVR 2 will release around November: 2 years after the PS5, and just in time to be this year's hot Christmas item.
PSVR2 confirmed to skip PS5 in favor of PS5-Pro in 2026. - /jk
Dang...that means the VR2 is still a long ways out.
I say get the hardware and firmware spot on and working perfectly before release so if that’s 2023 then that’s cool.
Could they be doing just what Apple does: having more than one supplier of the same technology at the same time?
@Shepherd_Tallon Do hope it comes sooner rather than later (as long as it's ready). Not like our backlogs or new releases will let off in 2023... unless of course society manages to collapse this year... let's see
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