Apple will first mesure demand for third-party controllers with the upcoming visionOS 26 software before deciding to build its own Vision Pro hand controller.
The information comes from Mark Gurman, who reported on Bloomberg that there are currently no plans within Apple to enter the market for so-called “magic wand” accessories for the Vision Pro, which are various accessories gaming controllers and device remotes which detect hand movement in three-dimensional space.
“As far as I know, Apple hasn’t decided to launch its own hand controller or in-air stylus-like device for the Vision Pro,” Gurman wrote. “But it understands that the accessory category is important for gaming or drawing,” he clarified.
Rumor: Apple won’t build its own Vision Pro hand motion controller for the time being
Instead of entering this market, Apple has reportedly decided to employ wait-and-see tactics to see if there’s enough demand for third-party motion controllers on the Vision Pro headset before deciding to build its own offering.
That’s why Apple will begin supporting third-party controllers and “magic wand” accessories in visionOS 26, the Vision Pro’s next operating system. The company will then be able to tell how much demand there is, based on retail purchases and third-party app developer support. If Apple determines there is a real market where it could contribute, it wouldn’t shock me to see the company someday offer an in-house peripheral.
Apple will release visionOS alongside other “26” operating systems this fall, sometime ahead of new iPhones in September.
The operating system brings new features an and improvements like widgets that integrate into your space, visual improvement to the Persona feature, spatial scenes that use generative AI to add depth to photos (used for 3D moving wallpapers on the iPhone), shared spatial experiences for Vision Pro users in the same room, support 180-degree, 360-degree and wide field-of-view content from Insta360, GoPro and Canon, and much more.
visionOS 26 expands Vision Pro controller support to Sony’s PlayStation VR2 Sense
The new visionOS 26 operating system expands third-party controller support on the Vision Pro headset to Sony’s PlayStation VR2 Sense motion controller. Apple says motion controller support will enable Vision Pro owners to enjoy a whole new class of games. This isn’t a half-baked job; VR2 Sense support on visionOS 26 also includes vibration support, finger touch detection and more.
The PlayStation VR2 Sense comprises two separate controls for the left and right hands. The controllers detect motion in six degrees of freedom. Apple officially announced support for the controller at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June 2025. As a result, Sony will for the first time offer the VR2 Sense separately outside of the PS bundle.