Right now, the kings of high-end VR remain Oculus and HTC, but things are getting ready to heat up as Sony’s Playstation VR prepares for its big commercial debut this fall. While the Vive and Rift have made some pretty impressive moves so far, the Playstation VR represents the first time a big console manufacturer has stepped its foot into the game of modern VR.
So what can we expect from the Sony Playstation VR, what are the requirements, and should you be excited? Let’s jump in and take a closer look.
What are the requirements to use it?
Most high-end VR headsets utilize an equally high-end PC in order to render VR, with the only other option being headsets that tether to a mobile phone, providing a much less impressive VR experience. The Sony Playstation VR takes a different approach from either of these methods, utilizing a Playstation 4 or the new Playstation 4 Pro as the brains. In addition to the PS4, you’ll also need the Playstation VR headset, a PS4 controller, and the Playstation Camera. Several games also utilize the Playstation Move controllers for a more immersive experience.
Considering more than 36 million PS4 units have been sold around the world, the Playstation VR is an accessory with an large and very immediate user base, making it an instantly more accessible VR choice than either the HTC Vive or Oculus Rift.
What are its standout features?
- 5.7-inch OLED
- 100° field of view
- 3D audio
- 1080p RGB graphics
- 90-120Hz refresh rate
- 6DOF head-tracking
Much like the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, the Playstation VR uses a variety of sensors to tell which way your head is pointing in order to ensure that your physical position is mapped correctly in the virtual world. The PSVR is much more ergonomic than its VR rivals and seems that it was made with the entire family in mind, rather than hardcore gamers with its simple headband and rubber eyepieces that can fit over existing glasses. It has comfortable padding and can be secured and tightened using a dial on the back of the band.
Collaborative Gameplay
In addition to great specs, the Playstation VR also has the ability to render two different images simultaneously for cooperative gameplay. This allows for one display to be shown on the headset and for a completely different image to be shown on the television. The aim of this, according to Sony, is to prevent the virtual reality experience from being a solitary experience and is they way of trying to introduce a social aspect.
Japan Studio has created a new demo game called Monster Escape to demonstrate this feature. In the game, five-players participate in a one versus four scenario. The player on their own wears the Playstation VR and becomes a Monster in the game; the other four people hold the DualShock Playstation 4 controllers and using the TV play the game as if you were playing on the console directly against the Monster. Another game with similar functionality from a third-party developer is “Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes”.
In addition to the collaborative play, you can also use the Playstation VR as a second screen for what is playing on the Playstation 4, just like the remote-play functionality Sony have with their Android app on Xperia devices. What this means is that the PlaystationVR can run any Playstation 4 game on its screen and the controller can be used to play the game as you would normally, even if the game isn’t optimized for virtual reality.
What are the most anticipated games?
Some of the games that are being launched with the Playstation VR are:
- RIGS Mechanized Combat League
- VR Worlds
- Tumble VR
- EVE: Valkyrie
- Until Dawn: Rush of Blood
- Battlezone
- Headmaster
- Robinson: The journey
- Wayward sky
Sony have already confirmed 50 games will be launched with the Playstation VR at release date. We’ve already seen some VR demos of the titles launching with the Playstation VR and had the chance to try them for ourselves. Gaming is certainly an area where the PSVR stands above the competition, with more AAA titles coming out of the gate.
What can I do beyond gaming?
Admittedly the Sony Playstation VR is much more limited when it comes to its non-gaming functionality, after all — this is an accessory for a game console. That said, there is till support for 360-degree video from a number of sources. You can also expect social networking experiences and much more.
What are the controllers like?
The Playstation VR fully supports the Playstation 4 controller and is a requirement to play most games. In addition, the Playstation Move wands can be used in conjunction with the PSVR, as the camera is capable of tracking the blue light emitted from the headset and the wands through the Playstation Camera. The wands can act as virtual hands in-game, giving you the ability to pick up and drop objects as well as fire virtual guns and manipulate various tools around the virtual world.
There’s also some pretty cool accessories, like the gun control seen above.
How much is it?
Sony confirmed the price of the Playstation VR on March 15, 2016, of $399 in the US, €399 in Europe, £349 in the UK, and 44,980 yen in Japan. This is a lot cheaper than the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, but it’s worth highlighting that PS4 requirement and the controllers, camera, and wands that are needed for the full experience with the Playstation VR making the price creep back up towards a price tag of $500. Of course you’ll also need a Playstation 4, which brings the total investment price closer to $850 – $950. Still, that’s a lot cheaper than its PC-powered competitors.
When will it be released?
The Playstation VR is scheduled for release in October 13th, 2016 in Europe, the UK, the US, and Japan. We’ll have more details, and a full review, once that happens.
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