Sony planning PSVR 2 and PS5 VR headset patent surfaces

Patent documents and illustrations uncovered by Dutch outlet LetsGoDigital indicate that Sony could be working on a new PlayStation VR headset, contrary to its earlier claims. A patent application filed by Sony in 2016 investigates "pressure sensing to identify fitness and comfort of virtual reality headset," and was granted recently. 

The illustrations accompanying the patent appear to show an HMD device with a much slimmer profile than the PSVR. The pressure sensor device might be intended to help players find a proper fit, minimizing discomfort while using the HMD. 

On the surface, this is the strongest evidence we have yet that Sony is working on a PSVR successor. However, the information here comes with some major caveats. For starters, the patent was filed in 2016, the same year that the PSVR, Oculus Rift, and HTC Vive were released. This was the honeymoon period for modern VR, well before stagnation set in. Sony may well have been working on a PSVR successor earlier and later discontinued the project, considering the current of the VR industry. 

At this point, we can't tell for sure whether the patent represents a future PSVR successor for the PlayStation 5 or a Sony pipedream that was never meant to be.