The new PlayStation VR Aim Controller was recently unveiled, garnering mixed reactions from players. The device has a rather cartoonish appearance, although it is reportedly more capable of handling realism compared to standard VR controllers.
Sony announced that the PlayStation VR Aim Controller features 1:1 direct tracking and aiming, which means that players can control it as they normally would in real life. The way the controller is held will correspond to the location of the controller as it appears within the game.
According to Kotaku, the new PlayStation VR Aim Controller will reportedly be used concurrently with “Farpoint,” a VR title currently in development. The space adventure game is exclusive to PS VR and made by Impulse Gear. The game involves the player crashing on a dangerous alien world. They have to battle various entities to survive and explore the mysterious planet, hoping to find a way to escape and find other members of the team.
Eurogamer reported that the PlayStation VR Aim Controller has a white and tubular look. There is a Move tracking bobble on the nozzle that glows with several buttons and a thumbstick around the frame. The frame has an irregular rectangular form, making the gun look like a state-of-the-art weapon with a black trigger and pink bubble in front. The device seems to be an improved model of the PlayStation Move Sharpshooter peripheral.
PlayStationBlog cited that the PlayStation VR Aim Controller provides the most realistic and accurate way to control games like “Farpoint.” The direct 1:1 tracking allows players to aim as they would in real life. The way that players hold and point the controller are directly matched in the game, providing more opportunities to act which are not normally allowed in a standard first-person shooter game. The controller allegedly gives a great sense of presence in the virtual world.
Based on the reviews, the PlayStation VR Aim Controller’s peculiar appearance is actually contrary to how serious it is in providing precision and realism in VR games.
The PlayStation VR is set to launch on Oct. 13, 2016. The release date and price of the PlayStation VR Aim Controller have not been announced yet. During Sony’s E3 2016 press conference, several PS VR versions of hit titles were introduced, such as “Resident Evil 7 VR,” “Batman Arkham VR,” “Final Fantasy XV VR” and “Star Wars Battlefront X-Wing Missions VR.” More updates and details are expected soon.
