Sony sold over 400 XR patents to Meta, which is bad news for the future of VR gaming on PlayStation. It will become a problem for Apple Vision Pro gamers.
The sale of patents between companies isn’t a new phenomenon, but sometimes they have unintended side effects. In the case of patent transfers from Sony to Meta, it’s a move that will impact Apple down the road.
In early <a href="https://comicvibe.com/cameraman-tower-defense-codes-october-2026/” title=”Cameraman Tower Defense codes (October 2026)”>October, as first Sony sold a collection of 419 XR-related patents to Meta. After signing a Confirmatory Assignment agreement in December 2025, batches of patents were transferred from Sony to Meta
The portfolio consisted of 180 U.S. patents and 239 patent-family filings, the latter being filed in other regions. Those patents covered a variety of topics, including processing for XR applications, head-mounted display designs, and other related hardware.
Neither Sony nor Meta has officially announced anything about the deal or transfers, nor has Sony discussed future VR hardware ambitions.
That said, supplies of the PlayStation VR 2 have been tight for months. Production of the headset and controllers has reportedly ended.
A small problem for Apple VR gaming
Patent transfers are sometimes a worry for companies that have to regularly deal with infringement lawsuits. For once, the problem here isn’t as severe as that where Apple is concerned.
More, it’s one about game controls on the Apple Vision Pro, and the company’s future plans in that area.
In June 2025, reports revealed that PlayStation VR2 controller support was coming to the Apple Vision Pro as part of visionOS 26. By November 2025, you can also buy the controllers from Apple directly for $249.95.
PS VR2 controllers used with an Apple Vision Pro – Image Credit: Apple
Adding support for the PS VR2 controllers solved a small problem for Apple. It made the Apple Vision Pro more capable of gaming.
Apple designed the Apple Vision Pro to be primarily controlled by your voice and hand gestures. However, the vast majority of games in the VR space rely on some form of handheld controller, not a hand-tracking system.
The PS VR2 controllers were also stylish and mainly white, which also fit Apple’s preferred color scheme.
The controllers are not a completely dead product yet, but the warning signs are there. Retail stock is dwindling.
Future fallout
The patent trade doesn’t mean anything in a legal sense for the Apple Vision Pro just now. Supply will be an issue soon.
It means Apple has to think twice about any future decisions regarding VR controllers. Especially when Sony eventually decides to stop supplying them because its exhausted its stockpile.
The obvious way forward is for Apple to make it easier for third-party game controller manufacturers to support the Apple Vision Pro. It already supports practically any standard game controller on the market, so doing the same for VR isn’t a massive stretch of the imagination
If there’s another pair of suitable controllers being sold in the future by a major gaming company, Apple will seek to work with it instead.
A third way is for Apple to go it alone with its own VR game controllers. Code references in September revealed that there are two game controllers in development within Apple, though the more traditional type and not VR.
It’s already doing the development work for a product that gets Apple halfway there. Going all the way is always an option, if it can stomach the increase in research and development costs.
