Over the course of this generation, a prevalent trend on PlayStation has been the remastering of PS4 games for PS5. Despite the console’s full backward compatibility, dedicated PS5 versions of both The Last of Us games have been released, with upcoming versions of Until Dawn and Horizon Zero Dawn in the works. While I understand the rationale behind these remasters, I can’t help but feel frustrated that Sony is overlooking games that truly need this treatment.
It’s no secret that PlayStation VR2 lacks substantial first-party support. After a year and a half since the headset’s launch, Sony seems to be moving on to new hardware, especially with the availability of a PC adapter. However, I can’t help but wonder if the perception of PSVR2 would have been different had Sony chosen to remaster titles like Astro Bot Rescue Mission and Blood & Truth in the same vein as Horizon Zero Dawn.
A recent highlight from the State of Play event was the announcement of Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, featuring enhanced visuals and re-recorded dialogue. Contrast this with the lack of first-party showcases for PSVR2, as third-party titles took center stage. The upcoming release of Hitman — World of Assassination for PSVR2 drew attention, underscoring Sony’s missed opportunity to uplift its original VR games.
As a PSVR2 owner who did not own the original headset, I missed out on acclaimed titles like Astro Bot Rescue Mission, Until Dawn: Rush of Blood, and more. The absence of backward compatibility between PSVR1 and PSVR2 has further restricted access to these games, which now remain exclusive to the older hardware.
The absence of remasters for games like Astro Bot Rescue Mission and Blood & Truth is disappointing, as these titles could benefit from visual enhancements and compatibility with modern VR hardware. While Sony prioritizes new releases, neglecting these beloved titles restricts their accessibility and diversity within the PSVR2 library.
Ultimately, the lack of attention to essential remasters reveals a discrepancy in Sony’s strategy. While prioritizing commercially successful titles like Horizon Zero Dawn for remasters is understandable, the oversight of enhancing VR games for a niche audience raises questions about Sony’s commitment to the PSVR2 platform.
As a PSVR2 owner, the absence of PSVR1 game remasters signifies a missed opportunity to diversify the platform’s offerings. Sony’s decision to focus on new releases over remasters undermines the potential for broader engagement and adoption of the PSVR2. Moving forward, bridging this gap between old and new VR titles could enrich the overall gaming experience on the PSVR2.
