Many people want to know if they can play Rec Room on PSVR2. It’s a popular social VR game, and the original PlayStation VR had support. So, can you play Rec Room on PSVR2? Unfortunately, the developers have stated there are no current plans to bring the game to Sony’s latest headset. This decision seems to be based on a few factors, including the effort involved in porting the game and the current market for the PSVR2.
Key Takeaways
- Rec Room currently has no plans to support the PlayStation VR2 headset.
- Developers cited the difficulty of porting and economic reasons for not supporting PSVR2.
- The PSVR2 has limited native content and lower sales compared to other VR platforms.
- Rec Room is available on many other VR headsets, mobile devices, and PCs.
- The game previously supported the original PSVR, but PSVR2 lacks backward compatibility.
Rec Room’s Stance on PlayStation VR2 Support
So, the big question on many PlayStation VR2 owners’ minds is whether Rec Room, that super popular social VR hangout, will ever make its way to Sony’s latest headset. Unfortunately, the answer from the developers isn’t what most people were hoping for.
No Current Plans for PSVR2
Rec Room’s co-founder, Cameron Brown, was pretty direct when asked about PSVR2 support in a recent Reddit AMA. He stated plainly that there are "no current plans" to bring the game to the platform. This isn’t just a casual brush-off; the team has apparently looked into it, but the reality of porting it is more complicated than it might seem.
Economic Viability Concerns
Brown elaborated that bringing Rec Room to PSVR2 is a "non-trivial port." This means it’s not a simple copy-and-paste job. The development team hasn’t found a way to make the project financially sensible. Essentially, the cost of developing and maintaining a PSVR2 version just doesn’t add up based on the projected player numbers. While they’d "love to bring RR to PSVR2," they can’t justify the expense if the return isn’t there. It’s a tough pill to swallow for fans who see Rec Room on other platforms.
Comparison to Other Platforms
It’s a bit of a head-scratcher for some, especially when you consider Rec Room’s widespread availability. It’s already on pretty much every other major VR headset out there, including Quest, SteamVR compatible devices, and even has upcoming support for Apple Vision Pro. It’s also available on mobile and PC. This broad reach makes the absence on PSVR2 even more noticeable. The fact that Rec Room has been a staple on the original PlayStation VR since 2017 only adds to the confusion for some users, especially given the PSVR2’s lack of backwards compatibility, which puts the onus on developers to create new versions.
Understanding the PSVR2 Landscape
So, let’s talk about the PlayStation VR2. It’s a pretty neat piece of hardware, no doubt about it. The visuals are sharp, and the tracking feels solid. But when you look at the actual library of games made specifically for it, things get a little… sparse. Sony hasn’t exactly flooded the market with new, VR-only titles since its launch. We saw a few big names at the start, like Horizon Call of the Mountain, and some VR modes for existing games such as Resident Evil Village and Gran Turismo 7. Since then, it’s been a bit of a trickle, with many new VR games also showing up on other platforms like the Meta Quest.
This lack of native content is probably a big reason why sales figures for the PSVR2 haven’t exactly set the world on fire. Reports suggest that headsets like the Meta Quest 2 and 3 have significantly outsold the PSVR2, especially during peak shopping times. When a major player like Sony, with all its resources, seems hesitant to heavily invest in new content for its own VR headset, it sends a pretty clear message to developers about where the market might be heading. It makes you wonder what Sony’s long-term strategy is here. Are they going to step up and fund more games like Meta does, or will the PSVR2 continue to struggle for third-party support?
It’s also worth noting that the PSVR2 isn’t backward compatible with the original PSVR games. This means if you were an early adopter of Sony’s VR technology, you can’t just bring your old library over to the new headset. That’s a bit of a bummer and likely another factor that might have slowed down adoption for some potential buyers. The whole situation feels a bit like the PlayStation Vita all over again – great hardware, but a library that never quite reached its full potential due to a lack of consistent, strong support.
Rec Room’s Cross-Platform Availability
Rec Room has made a big effort to be available on as many devices as possible. It’s a social game, after all, so the more people who can play, the better, right? You can find Rec Room on a bunch of different platforms, which is pretty cool.
Supported VR Headsets
When it comes to VR, Rec Room supports a pretty wide range of headsets. This includes most Meta Quest devices (Quest 2, Quest 3, Quest Pro) and also PC VR headsets like the Valve Index, HTC Vive, and others that work with SteamVR. It’s also available on Pico headsets. The original PlayStation VR (PSVR) is supported too, though it requires specific controllers and a bit of a workaround for PS5 users. However, direct support for the PlayStation VR2 on a PlayStation console is currently absent. You can use the PSVR2 with a PC via the PlayStation VR2 PC Adapter to play the SteamVR version, though.
Mobile and PC Accessibility
Beyond VR, Rec Room is also accessible in a non-VR, or "screen mode." This means you can play it on your phone (iOS and Android) and on PC (Windows). This really opens up the player base, letting friends who might not have VR headsets still join in on the fun. It’s a smart move for a social platform. Just be careful on Android to make sure you’re downloading the official version from "Rec Room" to avoid fake apps.
Future Platform Expansion
Rec Room has shown a willingness to expand to new platforms. They’ve mentioned plans or have already released on devices like the Apple Vision Pro, albeit in a screen mode for now. The developers have also indicated a desire to support devices released more recently, provided they meet certain hardware requirements like RAM and operating system versions. While they haven’t committed to PSVR2 yet, their history suggests they do consider new hardware when it makes sense for them. It’s always possible future updates could change the landscape for new VR hardware.
Technical Considerations for Porting
The Challenge of Non-Trivial Ports
Bringing a game like Rec Room to a new platform isn’t just a simple copy-paste job. It involves a lot of work to make sure it runs well and feels right for the players on that system. Think about it like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole – sometimes it needs a bit of sanding and shaping. Developers have to consider the specific hardware, how the controllers work, and even the operating system. It’s a big undertaking, especially for a game that’s already available on so many different devices.
OpenXR Runtime Requirements
For VR games, a standard called OpenXR is becoming pretty important. It’s basically a way for developers to make their games work with different VR headsets without having to write separate code for each one. However, getting it set up correctly can sometimes be a hurdle. For instance, if you’re using a Meta headset, you need to make sure the Oculus software is set to use OpenXR as its main runtime. If that setting isn’t right, the game might not even start properly. It’s a small detail, but it can stop everything from working.
PC Adapter Workaround
There’s a bit of a workaround for using the PlayStation VR2 headset with a PC. You can get a special adapter that lets you connect the PSVR2 to a computer. This means you can play PC versions of games, like the one on Steam, using the PSVR2 headset. It’s not an official way to play Rec Room on the PSVR2 directly through the PlayStation console, but it shows that there are ways to get the hardware working with PC software. This kind of adapter solution is common when companies don’t directly support a new piece of hardware, and it’s how many people get access to games like Resident Evil 4 on different VR setups.
Developer Insights and Statements
The folks at Rec Room have been pretty open about their thoughts on bringing the game to new platforms, including the PlayStation VR2. It’s not a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ situation, and they’ve explained some of the thinking behind their decisions.
Co-founder’s AMA Explanation
During a past Ask Me Anything (AMA) session, Rec Room’s co-founder, Cameron Brown (also known as ‘gribbly’), touched on the complexities of porting games. He mentioned that while they want to support as many players as possible, the reality of development costs is a major factor. The team has to carefully consider if the potential player base on a new platform justifies the investment needed to make the game run well there. It’s a balancing act between wanting to be everywhere and needing to be smart about where resources are allocated.
Justifying Development Costs
When it comes to a platform like PSVR2, the cost of developing and maintaining a high-quality port is significant. This includes not just the initial work to get the game running, but also ongoing updates, bug fixes, and ensuring it feels native to the new hardware. The developers have pointed out that they need to see a clear path to recouping these costs. This often comes down to the projected sales volume and the overall market size for that specific VR headset. It’s a business decision as much as a technical one.
Desire to Support PSVR2
Despite the financial considerations, the Rec Room team has expressed a genuine interest in supporting the PSVR2. They understand that PlayStation players are a large and enthusiastic group. The challenge lies in making the numbers work. They’ve previously stated that they "can’t just justify" the cost of a PSVR2 port without a clearer picture of its economic viability. It’s a situation where the desire to be on the platform is there, but the business case needs to be solid before they can commit the resources. This is a common hurdle for many VR developers, especially when dealing with newer hardware where the user base is still growing. The advancements in VR technology, like those from companies such as AMD, are exciting, but translating that into a successful game port requires careful planning and market analysis.
Rec Room’s History with PlayStation
Rec Room has been around for a while, and it’s got a history with PlayStation. Back when the original PlayStation VR (PSVR) was the big thing, Rec Room was actually available on it. It launched on PSVR in late 2017, bringing its creative tools and games to Sony’s first VR headset. This was a pretty big deal, as it meant a lot of PlayStation users could jump into the social VR world that Rec Room offered.
However, things changed with the PSVR 2. Unlike some other platforms, the PSVR 2 doesn’t automatically play games made for the older PSVR. This means developers have to put in extra work to get their games running on the new hardware. For Rec Room, this has been a sticking point.
It’s interesting to look at how well Rec Room has done on PlayStation in the past. Reports from October 2021 showed that Rec Room was among the most played games on the original PSVR. It was right up there with titles like Beat Saber and Skyrim VR, which is pretty good company to be in. This success on the older platform makes the current lack of PSVR 2 support even more noticeable for fans. It really highlights the difference in how developers approach new hardware, especially when it comes to the effort and cost involved in porting games. The developers have mentioned that bringing Rec Room to PSVR2 is a "non-trivial port," meaning it’s not a simple task. They’ve also pointed out that they haven’t found a way to make it economically viable, which is a big hurdle. It’s a shame because, as we saw with the original PSVR, there’s clearly an audience for Rec Room on PlayStation consoles. We’ll have to see if that changes in the future, but for now, it seems like the PSVR 2 is being left out. You can check out the Rec Room official gear if you’re a fan.
So, What’s the Verdict?
It looks like Rec Room isn’t planning to come to the PlayStation VR2 anytime soon. The developers mentioned that making it work for the PSVR2 is a pretty big job, and right now, they can’t see how it would be worth the cost based on the numbers. While they’d love to bring it to the platform, it just doesn’t make financial sense for them at this moment. This is a bummer for PSVR2 owners who were hoping to jump into Rec Room, but it seems like the current market just isn’t there for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Rec Room ever be available on PlayStation VR 2?
Right now, the creators of Rec Room have said they have no plans to bring the game to PSVR 2. They mentioned that making it work for the system is a big job, and they haven’t found a good reason, like making enough money, to do it. It’s a shame, but that’s the situation.
Why doesn’t Rec Room support PSVR 2?
The main reason is that the developers feel it wouldn’t be worth the effort and cost. They looked into it and decided that the number of people who would play Rec Room on PSVR 2 isn’t high enough to justify the work involved in making it compatible. It’s a business decision based on expected player numbers.
What VR headsets does Rec Room work with?
Rec Room is available on a lot of different VR systems! This includes headsets like the Meta Quest 2, 3, and Pro, as well as systems that work with SteamVR like the Valve Index and HTC Vive. It used to be on the original PlayStation VR, but not the PSVR 2.
Can I play Rec Room on a PC with PSVR 2?
Yes, you can! While Rec Room doesn’t work directly with the PSVR 2 on a PlayStation console, you can connect your PSVR 2 to a PC using a special adapter. This lets you play the PC version of Rec Room.
Is Rec Room available on other devices besides VR?
Absolutely! Rec Room isn’t just for VR. You can play it on phones and tablets (iOS and Android), as well as on computers (PCs). This makes it accessible to a lot more people who might not have VR headsets.
Why are there fewer games for PSVR 2?
It seems like Sony hasn’t put as much money into creating new games specifically for the PSVR 2 compared to other VR platforms. Also, the sales numbers for PSVR 2 haven’t been as high as some other headsets, which makes developers less likely to spend money and time making new games for it.
