Sony Announces Project Morpheus, a VR HMD for the PS4

[Tbone]

Today during GDC Sony unveiled Project Morpheus, their virtual reality headset for the PS4. The headset will be available for the press to demo.

The headset uses the PS Eye to track the headset's glowing edges. Sony plans to use the PS Move as a VR controller.

Full details:

-1080p display (OLED assumed, as they mention low persistence)
-90+ FoV
-15mm eye relief
-Positional tracking and rotational head tracking (3 meters volume, 360 degrees)
-Forward prediction
-DS4 and PS Move as controllers
-Uses PS Eye to track headset and controllers

[likwidtek]

Interesting.

[Sared]

With Valve and a multitude of others backing the Rift for PC, and Sony's new push with the Morpheus for the PS4, I'm curious to see if Microsoft or Nintendo is going to jump on the VR-peripheral bandwagon.  Perhaps as the Rift continues development as a stand-alone Android unit, other manufacturers will develop for Rift compatibility on their hardware?

[Tbone]

There's already a rumor that Microsoft is throwing its hat in the ring.

[likwidtek]

Is this even a good thing though?  Seems like if they could all back a standard like Oculus, we'd see less fragmentation.  :/ 

Not sure if it'd be an issue though.  I honestly was really hoping Sony would have just supported the Rift in the living room.  Silly me. 

[Erathaol]

Is this even a good thing though?  Seems like if they could all back a standard like Oculus, we'd see less fragmentation.  :/ 

Not sure if it'd be an issue though.  I honestly was really hoping Sony would have just supported the Rift in the living room.  Silly me. 

I suppose that depends on whether you think collaboration or competition will be better for VR in its infancy. 

Would it be better for multiple large companies to all put their support into one project, like the Oculus Rift, or would it be better for each company to attempt to one-up the competition with their own take on the idea?

[Akiya]

Collaboration will bring a better final product.

But competition will drive down the price.

[YuriVi]

very well put Akiya

Collaboration will bring a better final product.

But competition will drive down the price.

[Tbone]

It should help with content. VR content creators can now make games for PS4 AND PC - they're more likely to invest if they can develop for cross platform like that (assuming development for the two are similar).

[YuriVi]

I'm sure it will be apart of the plan. Making games cross platform draws more users for interaction. If they want VR to be big, I would say making VR games cross platform a good way to go.