PlayStation VR: Release and specs for PS4 headset
PlayStation VR: Release and specs for PS4 headset
Sony has big plans for gamers, with the PlayStation VR set to release later this year alongside a handful of games and experiences.
A firm release date is now down in the calendar and with a potentially huge user base of tens of millions of console gamers, it could be the most popular standalone virtual reality headset on the market when it releases.
So, what can we expect?
Specs
The PlayStation VR comes in at a price bracket notably lower than rivals such as the PC-based HTC Vive and Oculus Rift, costing £689 and £499 respectively. But, as PC Advisor points out, Sony is confident it can deliver an experience on par with the most expensive devices on the market.
Inside the headset sits a 5.7ins OLED display running at full HD resolution, equating to 960x1080p per eye and coupled to a 100 degree field of view. This is behind the 2160x1200 resolution you'll find on the Vive and the Rift, which also boast a greater field of view at 110 degrees.
However, the PlayStation VR has the upper hand when it comes to frame rate – it gets a 120Hz refresh rate, so it can content at 120fps (frames per second).
Processing power isn't provided solely by the PS4 - there's an extra box users have to attach as a middle man between their consoles and headsets. Head and motion-tracking comes from a PlayStation Eye camera, which allows wearers to turn 360 degrees for a seamless and completely immersive setting.
The headset can also track your location in physical space, although only by a couple of steps compared to the larger digital sandbox you'll find on, for example, the HTC Vive. A standard picture broadcast on the television your PlayStation 4 is hooked up to lets friends see what's going on inside your headset.
So how does it compare to the most expensive VR experiences out there? In their review, TechRadar says the PlayStation VR is an "affordable introduction into quality VR" and that while it isn't quite as crisp as the experience with a Vive or Rift, the large selection of titles and experiences mean "there's something for everyone".
The site adds that motion sickness is an issue raised by many, but the headset has improved with each hands on and overall, the final consumer version puts to rest any fears that VR is something only to be experienced on a PC.
Alphr feels much the same, adding that while the more expensive headsets live up to their price tags, the PlayStation VR is "most likely to succeed in the world of consumer virtual reality devices". It's much lighter and easier to wear and comes with the "added clout of convenience", it adds, summing up by saying it's a "no brainer" for PlayStation 4 owners.
While the general consensus is that the PlayStation VR cannot match the experiences given by the Vive and Rift, the quality of the headset could be bumped up by new hardware introductions in the PS4 line-up. Sony has confirmed it is working on a new, more powerful games console, currently codenamed Neo. PlayStation VR will work on both sets, although the more powerful and immersive worlds you'll be able to access on the Neo could be used as a selling point for the headset and vice versa.
Accessories
Away from the base experience of using the headset in tandem with a PlayStation Eye camera and a standard DualShock controller, Sony will offer accessories you can used to heighten your experience.
PlayStation Move controllers – the move control wands introduced back in 2010 – will work with the device. They offer a more intense way to interact with the virtual environment by providing contact points for your hands rather than simply using the controller.
Alongside this, Sony has made an accessory that's bound to be popular with fans of first person shooters. The Aim VR controller morphs the standard Move controller into an accessory ideal for use in VR shooting games. It will launch as an accessory for VR title Farpoint, but should be compatible with other games.
Games
The PlayStation VR will launch with around 50 titles and experiences and Ars Technica points out a few to look out for.
Sony unveiled a handful of titles – among them a Star Wars: Battlefront VR experience in the form of an X-Wing fighter mission, plus VR experiences for Batman: Arkham and Final Fantasy - during its E3 press conference in Los Angeles. Ars Technica adds to that with the likes of Rez Infinite, a reboot of the original in 3D, plus puzzlers such Statik Institute of Retention and dedicated VR first-person shooters including Farpoint.
Wareable likes the look of Rigs Mechanised Combat League, a competitive single or multi-player game which sees players control large mechanical robots in an arena battle, as well as EVE: Valkyrie, another multi-player battle-based title, this time centred around spaceship dogfights.
The site also points out that many games coming to the system are VR modes of established titles, such as the upcoming Gran Turismo Sport, the next instalment in the legendary racing series.
Elsewhere, games like the VR Playroom – a virtual toybox which will be available to download from the PS Store – will act as a demo of the technology, alongside PlayStation VR Words, a collection of five minigames intended to get you up to speed.
For a full look, Alphr lists every game confirmed to be heading to the system.
Price and release
Sony has confirmed a release date of 13 October, so console gamers still have to wait a few months.
As for the price, it's tagged at £350 in the UK, the same as the PS4 console when it launched in 2013. But there's a catch. That price is for the headset, cables and processor unit only. The PlayStation Eye camera needed to get the system to work is sold separately, which is fine for those who already own one, but those who don't will have to fork out about £399.
PlayStation VR titles should work with the standard DualShock 4 controller. However, investing in a pair of PlayStation Move wands or breaking out older ones could prove a popular move, given that they can be tracked by the camera to add another dimension to the experience.
Potential for shortages?
Although Sony has announced a release date of 13 October, many customers could be waiting a little while longer, warns PlayStation boss Andrew House.
In an interview with CNBC, House told fans to expect shortages. "We have growing confidence that we'll be supply constrained with this product, but we'll do our very best to meet demand", he said.
He added that the box-fresh nature of consumer virtual reality headsets made it hard to predict user uptake: "The experiences we are delivering are truly transformative for gaming and that will inspire a certain audience. How large that audience is remains to be seen."
Sony won't be alone in experiencing trouble. Component shortages and delays blighted the release of the PC-based Oculus Rift headset earlier this year, says IT Pro, while HTC has also experienced problems with its Vive headset.
Consequently, it's not surprising Sony is predicting launch issues, Ubergizmosays. "If you do run into any delays, know that this was not completely unexpected," it adds.
Can I try one before I buy it?
Sony knows that some people may find it hard to part with £349 for a technology that's in its infancy and demos aren't provided, especially as it's an experience that needs to be seen rather than described.
The company has announced that it will provide demonstration units to shops. As PC Advisor points out, 500,000 shops in the US will get PlayStation VR demos this month. A similar programme for the UK looks set to follow soon afterwards, so watch this space.
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