When ILMxLAB learned about the PlayStation VR2, Director Jose Perez III thought it was a “no-brainer” for the studio to bring the Oculus Quest game Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge to the new headset. Perez III told Digital Trends in an interview, “We’re always looking at how we can push the fidelity of the work that we’re doing. PlayStation VR2 is ridiculously powerful; we got really excited about what we could bring to that.”
Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge Enhanced Edition is set to be one of the launch games for PlayStation VR2, a headset that could potentially help VR move into the mainstream. Digital Trends spoke to Director Jose Perez III and Producer Harvey Whitney from ILMxLAB to learn about the process of crafting a critical launch game and how PlayStation VR2 will impact the future of VR gaming.
Originally released for Meta Quest VR headsets in 2020, Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge takes place on the planet of Batuu and follows a Droid Technician who becomes entangled in a larger conflict. After getting the green light for an Enhanced Edition for PlayStation VR2, ILMxLAB had to make it happen. Producer Harvey Whitney commented, “We’re not redeveloping the story and coming up with all of that. We just had that opportunity to work as a team and ask, ‘What do we really push here?'”
The PlayStation VR2 boasts impressive specs, including a 4000×2030 HDR display at a 90Hz or 120Hz frame rate, and the power of the PS5. The system’s support for Roomscale, Sitting, and Standing play styles added complexity but ultimately made bringing Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge to PlayStation VR2 manageable, according to Perez III.
ILMxLAB was able to take full advantage of PlayStation VR2’s capabilities, pushing the graphics and audio to new levels. The Enhanced Edition of Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge will join the ranks of visually stunning games in the PlayStation VR2 lineup, signaling a future of better hardware and better games in the world of virtual reality.
