The PlayStation VR will join many other VR headsets in 2016.
Sony’s PlayStation VR may not be available until October, but you will be able to pre-order it on Tuesday, March 22. According to ZDNet, the $500 is actually a bundle that will get you everything you need to get the headset operating.
The launch bundle includes the PlayStation VR, a PlayStation Camera, stereo headphones, some VR games, and two PlayStation Move controllers. However, the PlayStation VR isn’t just for playing games; you will be able to watch movies in a special cinema mode.
While a $500 virtual reality bundle certainly sounds good, it’s incomplete; you will also need a PlayStation 4 that costs at least $350. Still, it’s cheaper than buying an Oculus Rift headset with a high-powered desktop PC. A couple days ago, PCMag had four hours with Sony’s VR device.
“After spending four hours today playing various launch games, we can say that PlayStation VR is doing quite a few things right. The headset has nice ergonomics, as it’s easy to slide on and adjust in two different places (by pressing one of two buttons) to find the right fit.”
The PlayStation VR is very comfortable to wear.
The review adds that the device is also comfortable for people who wear glasses. However, reviewer Will Shanklin also believes that the motion controls are horrible.
“The problem is Sony’s PlayStation Move motion controllers and the PlayStation camera that tracks them simply weren’t built for today’s VR. These were controllers for the tail end of the Wii era – basically obsolete tech by today’s standards. If Sony sticks with this setup, we think the company is making a colossal mistake.”
Trusted Reviews believes that the PlayStation VR is the best looking, most user-friendly, and most comfortable out of all the headsets currently available. The screen resolution for each eye is, however, less than the Oculus Rift or even the mobile Gear VR.
It would be great to predict that 2016 will be the year virtual reality goes mainstream, but it’s also easy to have some doubts. The Gear VR, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and the Playstation VR all will instantly gratify users. But once the honeymoon wears off, will people keep using these devices with all their shortcomings, especially limited field-of-view and relatively low image resolution? That remains to be seen.
