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Sony have just announced the long awaited launch details for PlayStation VR at a dedicated press event at GDC 2016.

The headset will go on sale in October 2016 in a standalone package for a RRP of...

• $399 USD
• €399 EUR
• $549 CAD
• £349 GBP

The package will not include the PlayStation 4 Camera or Move controllers which may be required for certain experiences such as head-tracking and motion controls.

The final technical specifications of the consumer version of the PSVR have also been confirmed and are as follows.

• OLED 5.7" screen
• 1920 x RGB x 1080 (960 x RGB x 1080 per eye)
• 120hz, 90hz refresh rates
• 360 degrees of tracking via 9 LEDs with the PlayStation 4 Camera (sold separately)
• FOV of 100 degrees
• 18ms latency

Although the launch of the virtual reality headset has been delayed until October 2016 (previously slated for Q1) the price is much lower than that of its closest competitors - the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.

Will you be betting on the future of VR and picking up a PlayStation VR come October? Let us know in the thread below.

Discuss

 

[vayanui8]

I really don't see the hype for VR. Its really not anything hugely different, its just a different position for the screen with some additional control features. It seems more like a gimmick than anything.

 

[endoverend]

While I won't buy it it's definitely a great step toward making VR more practical and affordable. I'm glad someone is leading the way on that front.

 

[Originality]

I can't use Vive in my room, and so far I haven't had the best experiences with Oculus Rift. Maybe if I see a demo for the PSVR, it will help me make a decision.

I should also get round to trying the Samsung Gear VR. There's a big demo event for it in the local shopping mall.

 

[grossaffe]

Remember that time when the PS4 could handle the processing necessary for good VR? Because I don't. This gen's consoles are not VR ready.

 

[lexluth0r]

I wish it would work with my cfw PS3 :/

 

[DiscostewSM]

It requires the Playstation 4 camera though, right? That just adds to the price (if you don't already have one).

Heh, PS4 gonna take pictures of you with your PSVR set on, and humiliate you all over the world.

 

[w!!]

I'm all for VR Tech taking off. I'm an old schooler who remembers the push in the 90's for VR Tech. Bought a VictorMAXX for the Genesis... it wasn't true VR and didn't have 3-d games, but did "track" your head movement with a left/right pole that would send those commands to your controller as you turned your head.... so was kind of fun for some first person shooter stuff. I also remember the Arcade VR pods and trackers that were cutting edge back then, but weighed a ton and took up space.

Given the amount of advances in mobile tech available to detect your head movements, gyroscopes, cost improvements and processing power for portable devices, I'm a little disappointed in the current offerings. This thing is a little expensive for what might be little more than a cellphone you strap on your face. If 3-D and tracking is the main goal, then just sell an IR light bar you slap on your phone and stream video to it. Then you can buy one of those $10 cardboard box VR things and strap that on your face.

Why not integrate a way to track your head movement into the headset with a built in camera that tracks the room as you move your head, or your hands or other objects as you move them in front of you? An external camera that tracks you? Misread the 100 degrees field of view versus the 360 degrees of movement tracking at first... but still not a big deal to run lights around your head. Hopefully they at least extend it to allow multiple devices to connect to the system for multi-player or interactive experiences...

Not a MS fanboy, but seeing the HoloLens is much more impressive to me and where I hope things advance towards more quickly. Everything being built in to the device itself, project completely over, or onto the environment, tracking of your hand and objects and rendering in 3-D. Though I have to wonder how well that looks in comparison to the "individual image to each eye" method of these headsets. Slap on a simple communication/sharing protocol (or use existing standards) and then people can link together and share the same object field of view.

So the 3-D VR headsets we are seeing like Oculus, Sony and others where you strap it on your head and still rely on external devices to track/change your view is a small step forward, but not much more of an advancement than those stereoscopic photo viewers, or the antique "3-d movie" flip versions of them they have in penny arcades and museums. Not saying seeing stuff in 3-D isn't cool, but just not where I thought we be today.

 

[dontay0100]

yeah i was mildy happy with the price , dangerously close to xmas , so im sure my tech savvy kids will apply pressure , and as a parent that uses his kids as an excuse to buy all this shit.. im sure i will bite.. but i hope it comes packaged with something worthwhile , and a good few pre exisiting games work or have updates etc etc... essentially for it to succeed , like everything it needs content..

Indeed!

 

[Meteor7]

So I can play the ps4 sword art online game IN THE GAME????

If by "in the game" you mean with a screen taped inches from your face and a camera system that only moves as far as your neck can swivel, then yes, the future is now.

 

[XDel]

Typical Sony. I knew it there was a catch if their unit was to be the cheapest! They have always done this since the PS1.
"Here, buy this... but you are going to need this and this and this too!"

 

[KingVamp]

I admit the Only VR I have used are the old arcade ones, so I'm basing my hype on other people who have actually experience the thing, but I think that is better than a lot of people I see doubting modern VR without even trying it themselves.

Remember that time when the PS4 could handle the processing necessary for good VR? Because I don't. This gen's consoles are not VR ready.

It has a separated processing unit and it doesn't need as much power as the high end VR.

 

[Joe88]

Playstation VR Worlds trailer

vr street luge looks terrifying

 

[gbaboy123]

vr is not something that actually appeals to the masses like other products for example grannys and kids buy iphones I doubt that they will buy vr most of the teens don't even play games and its less probable to sell to the ones who do. so I don't see this as a good idea but I hope they can prove me wrong

 

[DarthDub]

I wonder if it will let me look at hentai with this..

 

[D34DL1N3R]

$400 + two PS Move controllers + PS Camera = $500.

 

[Silterpy]

Playstation VR Worlds trailer

vr street luge looks terrifying

i wish they had a trailer for the Apollo 11 mission vr thats being done

Edit: they do



its not the prettiest game but it looks so cool

 

[ut2k4master]

I really don't see the hype for VR. Its really not anything hugely different, its just a different position for the screen with some additional control features. It seems more like a gimmick than anything.

you should try it out first, its nothing like that

 

[Hanafuda]

I'm pretty excited about VR and what it will mean for gaming, entertainment, simulations. but something I've been curious and a little concerned about - I can't focus on anything, even with glasses on, any closer than about 7 inches from my face. I'm just screwed I guess?

 

[Saiyan Lusitano]

I don't get why it costs more than a PS4 unit itself. Doesn't seem like a smart plan.

 

[grossaffe]

I'm pretty excited about VR and what it will mean for gaming, entertainment, simulations. but something I've been curious and a little concerned about - I can't focus on anything, even with glasses on, any closer than about 7 inches from my face. I'm just screwed I guess?

No, the way VR works is that by sending your eyes two different images, you will focus not on the screen, inches from your face, but the image at whatever distance out in virtual space.

I would recommend trying before buying, though.