Is PlayStation VR 2 on the horizon? Not likely. If Sony were to follow up with a second iteration, we likely wouldn’t see it until 2018 at the earliest, and even then, perhaps it might not arrive until PS5. That of course doesn’t mean Sony isn’t hard at work on a followup, which their latest patent points to. Tom Regan from Engadget:

 Sony is experimenting with its own Vive-style VR tracking device, according to a patent filing from June. The document hints at a tracker working similarly to HTC’s current virtual reality tech. Functioning as an external projector, the device would use lights and mirrors to map the player’s real world movements straight into PSVR. While Sony’s VR offering currently uses a camera to detect light from the player’s headset, the existing tracking limits users to an incredibly small space. With light often interfering with the PS4’s camera, if this new tech makes it to production it could not only give gamers more mobility but also potentially provide a more accurate and immersive PSVR experience. 

But could we actually get this updated device prior to a new PlayStation? According to the patent, we just might.

 Interestingly, the patent states that the tracking device is wireless, suggesting it would connect to a PS4 through either Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. With the competition already announcing wireless peripherals of their own, it’s no surprise that Sony may be following in their footsteps.The patent gives no indication, however, whether the tracker would be an add-on for the existing headset or incorporated as a part of a PSVR successor. 

While 2016 was all about getting PSVR and PS4 Pro shipped, 2017 is when we’ll see the realization of both new hardwares with proper inventory on store shelves and more than a year of proper hands-on time from developers to see what’s working and what’s not. This leaves 2018 as a big unknown for Sony and a good time to update PSVR once again. By then, there will be countless more PS4 Pro units in the wild which drive a better VR experience. By then, developers will have also had a lot more time learning how to better master VR and what consumers like and dislike, making it a perfect time to release an updated headset at likely even a lower price.

When do you think we might see PlayStation VR 2?