Helmet virtual reality PlayStation VR came to the market much later than its direct competitors in the face of Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. This gave Sony the opportunity to look at all the shortcomings that the "pioneers" of virtual reality had, fix them and make their device as comfortable as possible for users of their console.

Despite the fact that the next-generation PlayStation 4 console was released back in 2013, the developer did not rush to follow the trends and decided to develop one of best devices on the market, albeit with a slight delay. As a result, users of the new game console have the largest volume of games that support the game mode in virtual reality. About this accessory for game console PS4 we will talk in this review.

Design and construction

Even for a person who has previously seen other virtual reality helmets, PlayStation VR will make a good impression. The device is made in a futuristic style, it is immediately clear that the engineers have shown a creative approach to the Morpheus project. The PS4 helmet has some bright LEDs on the body that make it look attractive.

Calling the helmet light simply does not work - its weight is 610 grams x whole. However, if we compare it with lighter competitors (Oculus Rift and HTC Vive), then we note that PlayStation VR is much more convenient. It does not cause as much fatigue during long-term use as direct competitors. In addition, the device sits on the head just fine.

The lenses in PlayStation VR are close enough to a person's face. Due to the heat generated by the body, they tend to fog up with prolonged use of the device, so the helmet will have to be regularly wiped with a special cloth. But what can not be avoided is the marks around the eyes after prolonged use of the device.

Connecting a PlayStation VR to a console is quite a hassle. This is one of the biggest drawbacks - the abundance of wires. Detailed description The steps to follow to connect to the console are presented in the instructions.

Headphones are included with the device. Note that the bundled headset along with the PlayStation VR also comes under the Sony label. But it is simply not enough for a full immersion in virtual reality. If you want to get the most out of the game with a virtual reality helmet, don't be stingy and get a more serious headset.

Movement tracking

Head tracking is done using the PlayStation Eye camera - thanks to the LED sensors located on the device. Here's another example of a well-placed helmet controls that are not only useful, but also give the device an attractive appearance. Control in games is an important component of any immersion in virtual reality. Here, Sony did not blunder - in some projects, a standard DualShock controller is enough, but some of the exclusives will require tracking the position of the hands. This is where the PlayStation Move motion sensor comes in handy.

For aiming in shooters, a special controller is provided: PS VR Aim Controller - ideal for playing active titles with shooting battles.

Do you need a PS4 Pro

For total immersion to the virtual world with the help of PlayStation VR, the PS4 game console in any modification is enough: Slim, Fat, Pro. Of course, no one is saying that when using PlayStation VR, all devices will have the same graphics. On the most powerful console in the PS4 Pro lineup, you will be able to see better graphics in some games.

If you just want to get acquainted with the worlds of virtual reality and enjoy immersion in your favorite games, then feel free to buy the PS 4 Slim console complete with a virtual reality helmet from Sony. And if your goal is to get the highest quality gaming experience, then the choice should be game console PS 4 Pro - it will provide best graphics at maximum performance.

What to play

When you buy a PlayStation VR to play games, you do right choice– on PlayStation 4 it's easy great amount exclusive titles, each of which will captivate you for more than one hour. In this article, we will tell you about best games, which are currently at the peak of popularity among Japanese console users.

Driveclub VR is a PlayStation VR-exclusive racing game based on virtual reality technology. The game has a number of characteristic differences from other similar projects, which include:

• detailed graphics. All landscapes that you, as a driver, will have to observe in the first person, are implemented with the highest quality. This also applies to cars;
• more than 114 unique tracks that are not similar to each other. Each of them can take you to Japan, Canada or anywhere else in the world;
• 80 of the most modern, popular cars from leading brands. Absolutely all cars will surprise you with their power and engine sound.

A gift to Sony console players from the notorious German company Crytek. These guys gave modern world games like Crysis and Far Cry. Them new project, which is exclusive to PlayStation VR, will also impress all those who love colorful graphics. Take yourself to a fantasy universe where unforgettable adventures await you. Build your camp, grow food, chat with your drone and raise your little dinosaur. But be careful - at any moment of your life, huge lizards can threaten, which very much resemble prehistoric creatures from the earth.

The Farpoint game gives the player the opportunity to plunge into an alien world where everything around is not like ours: fantastic landscapes, dangerous enemies and only one desire - to get home from this planet. Uncover the secrets of the anomaly that drove you to this strange planet, use different kinds weapons to get even with enemies. During the passage of the game you will find quite a few discoveries, strong enemies and interesting adventures.

Other

In addition to exclusive projects, you can also play other well-known cross-platform games using PlayStation VR in combination with a Sony console. So, this is Fallout 4 VR - the legendary game from Bethesda. Any fan of the series would certainly like to see the game events with their own eyes, find themselves in a post-apocalyptic world and explore artifacts and anomalies with their own hands. The game settings menu, inventory - all this is implemented simply incredible in a virtual environment. The gameplay itself captures from the first minutes. If you have become a happy owner of PlayStation VR, then do not bypass the project.

Bravo Team is another game that is definitely worth your attention and money spent on it. Tactical first-person shooter will turn you into a real elite special forces soldier for a while. You will have to break into houses, conduct special operations in the narrow streets of the urban jungle. Graphics on highest level so that the effect of total immersion is guaranteed.

Price

The Japanese company's VR glasses cost a bit less than competing PC electronics. The price of the gadget is about $390. Sony PlayStation VR is completely worth the money - that's a fact. With such abundance gaming opportunities and decent technical support, this is one of the best virtual reality helmets on the market.

Second generation PS VR

Sony is preparing to release the second generation of VR headsets. According to available information, the shortcomings of the original PlayStation VR helmet will be partially corrected. The Japanese company will slightly change the design of the device. Good decision- embed a headset into the PlayStation VR. Third-party headphones will no longer be needed.

The changes will also affect the cable of the device: it will become much thinner and easier to handle. A good decision, given that the wires were the main problem of the PlayStation VR.

True, the Japanese company was not able to meet all expectations. So, the second generation PlayStation VR will not have 4K support.

Outcome

With the launch of an exclusive virtual reality helmet, the PlayStation has changed: finally, the army of consolers has at its disposal a device that can compete with VR on the PC. It is safe to say that the expectation of a device for immersion in virtual reality from a Japanese company was worth it: the device turned out quite well. We note several advantages.

Advantages

• the opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of virtual reality with a minimal budget. The PS4 Slim console costs about $300, while the PlayStation VR helmet costs about $400;
• a huge number of exclusive applications;
• excellent appearance;
• playing the most popular cross-platform titles;
• ease of setting.

Flaws

• low resolution;
• the user cannot independently adjust the frame rate in games;
• lots of wires.

Sony has presented its "pass" to the world of virtual reality. The price of PlayStation VR has been announced - $400 in the US or €400 in Europe (in Russia, 30,000 rubles, approximately).

The start of sales is scheduled for October 2016. The company shared the news this afternoon during a briefing at the GDC (Game Developers Conference) 2016 in San Francisco.

This cost can be considered cheap if you already have a PlayStation 4, and not if the console is yet to be bought. Although the total cost of the PS4 + PlayStation VR bundle is still significantly cheaper than Sony's main competitors in the VR market.

The Oculus Rift will start at $600 and the HTC Vive will retail for $800, but both devices are very demanding. powerful computers, which at times exceed the cost of the console itself, whose price fluctuates around $ 350.

But! As always happens with Sony (for this it is loved and appreciated), there is a little trick: the basic PlayStation VR set does not come with Move controllers, and it will not put a PlayStation camera in it either - they are exactly what is required to use PSVR. However, you can play without Move using Dualshock 4, but you still need a camera.

A Sony spokesperson said this is because many PS4 owners have already bought the camera. He says this for everyone in vain, firstly, the price, and secondly, not everyone needed it ... until this moment.

PlayStation VR bundles will be sold, and those will likely include things like cameras and Move controllers, but Sony has refused to share any more. detailed information on this occasion. Most likely they are preparing more small surprises before the start of sales.

The company has confirmed that the final version of PlayStation VR will have the same specifications what we heard in the prototypes:

The main 5.7-inch OLED screen is capable of displaying games at 120 frames per second, has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 RGB, which means every pixel receives the full spectrum of RGB colors.

Sony has also promised that 50 games will be released between PSVR's October launch and the end of this year. Sony won't give us much of the details beyond this, but it does announce that there will be a VR version of StarWars: Battlefront that will be a PlayStation VR exclusive.

Modest resolution, but thanks to 120 frames / sec, the picture in games will be very smooth.

Unlike the Oculus Rift, which looks like a "strap Frankenstein monster", PlayStation VR looks much more concise and complete product, although in its appearance not much has changed compared to what we saw two years ago at the GDC. Then the device was called Project Morpheus and no one really believed that Sony would bring it to such a level.

Some of the internal parts have been improved during this time, but the overall look of the device has remained almost the same. PlayStation VR has nine LED indicators for 360-degree head tracking, Sony claims it has a latency of less than 18ms.

The accuracy and performance of the PlayStation VR can't be directly compared to pricier competitors like HTC and Oculus, but given Sony's focus on the mainstream, there's every chance the PSVR will become the most popular VR device. And this is the main point.

Check out the Official PlayStation Blog for a Q&A post on the future of PlayStation VR. The developers have announced that they are preparing to release a new version this device, which will have new design and an updated processor module to support HDR technology.

Question: Are there any plans new model PlayStation VR? What is the difference from the previous one?
Answer: We are preparing updated version The PlayStation VR, which is numbered CUH-ZVR2, also features a slightly modified design with a thinner connection cable and built-in stereo headphones. The device will have an updated processor module to fully support HDR technology.

Question: When will the updated PlayStation VR be released? How much will it cost?
Answer: We will share the exact release dates for the remastered PlayStation VR in a bit. The cost of the device will not change.

Question: How to distinguish an old PlayStation VR from a new one when buying?
Answer: The packaging of the PlayStation VR will change slightly when the new model hits stores. You can distinguish the models by the number printed on the box. The previous PS VR model number is CUH-ZVR1, while the new version will be CUH-ZVR2. In addition, the image of the device itself will be slightly different. It will show all the features of the new model, including built-in headphones.

Question: If I already have a PS VR, can I replace my old processor module with a new one?
Answer: Since the cables for CUH-ZVR1 and CUH-ZVR2 are different, you cannot swap CPU modules.

Question: Will all my games be compatible with the new PS VR?
Answer: Yes, all games supported by the previous PS VR will work on the new model.

REPOST

Those who like to spend their free time at the console playing their favorite title will not have to sacrifice their preferences for the sake of the coming revolution called virtual reality. And let for personal computers already announced more than one promising virtual reality helmet, console players should not be upset, Sony announced its own Playstation VR virtual reality helmet codenamed Project Morpheus.

The novelty has already been repeatedly given to consumers to touch. According to the company, the development of the helmet has been going on for about 6 years and this is their second attempt to conquer the virtual reality market. Previously, they did not consider the virtual reality market worthy of their attention, and considered it only as an investment in the distant future of video games. However, the situation with Oculus Rift changed everything.

Specifications Project Morpheus

The device looks stylish, somewhat futuristic. Inside, an OLED display is mounted that provides a 100-degree view, and has a resolution of 960 by 1080, for each eye. Less than consumer version of Oculus Rift, by the way. But the refresh rate of 120 hertz so far bypasses all competitors. There is a headphone jack on the helmet itself, but wireless headphones Glasses also support. People with limited vision will not have to part with glasses, plus there is a button for adjusting optical lenses on the case.

What you need to immerse yourself in virtual reality

A VR device is not complete without “crutches”. In addition to the attachment itself Playstation 4, the device requires a camera to work Playstation camera, joystick DualShock 4 and controller PSMove. The camera allows you to track the position of the controllers and the helmet in space, but the controllers are needed to control gameplay. But that's not all, along with the console will be a separate computing unit, comparable in size to the Nintendo Wii. It was decided to put all the computational work on his plastic shoulders.

Co-op mode in Playstation VR

A separate computing unit brings the console team another plus point. The image will be duplicated on the screen. But it will be duplicated normally, and not “half and half”, as can be observed with virtual reality glasses for personal computers. This means that it will be possible to play in a company - one person is wearing a helmet, and the rest are watching TV. There are even a number of video games tailored for such a cooperative.

Project Morpheus and wires

On the this moment, Playstation VR helmet wired, but the developers promised to eliminate this "misunderstanding" by the release. hard to believe because modern technologies do not allow you to abandon the wires without losing the quality of the final picture. But who knows, maybe they will build it into a computing unit powerful WiFi a repeater that does the job. In the meantime, wires are stretching to it, and the developers are proud to announce a ping of only 18 milliseconds.

Playstation VR release date

It is noteworthy that on Playstation VR release date scheduled for the first quarter of 2016, simultaneously with . Although the start of pre-order has not yet been heard. We may hear more at CES 2016. Project Morpheus release date Support for more than 10 games is promised.

Playstation VR price

On the day of the announcement, company representatives promised that Sony helmet won't be overly expensive. However, in the future it was clarified that Playstation VR price will be approximately equal to the price of the PS4 console. And its cost is about 400 dollars in the USA, and 30-40 thousand rubles in the vastness of our vast country. Do not discount the cost of additional equipment required for functional work Sony virtual reality headset. So, the camera will cost you 4000 rubles, the PSMove controller at 1500 rubles apiece and one DualShock 4 controller at a price of 4000 rubles per copy. Charger for a wireless controller costs 1500 "wooden". In total, if you buy everything you need now, but for one person, the full cost of the Playstation VR virtual reality helmet will cost the end user about $1200 or 88 000 rubles. Of course, if you have a console and some accessories, you will have to spend less, but the total amount does not change. It is noteworthy that for PC lovers their “set”, which includes a computer and a helmet, is around $ 1,500.

Description

From the moment you put on your PlayStation VR, new system virtual reality for PlayStation 4, you begin to experience the game world in a new way. You will find yourself in the very center of events and see how every detail of incredible worlds comes to life, you will feel as if you were inside the game.

Involve other players in what is happening. PlayStation VR creates two types of images, one for the headset and one for the TV screen, so that everyone can participate in the game.

Thanks to 3D sound technology, you will hear all the sounds around you with amazing clarity.

Equipment

• Sony PlayStation VR v2 virtual reality helmet
• Computing block
• stereo headphones
• Power adapter
• VR headset connection cable
• HDMI cable
• USB cable
• Power cable
• PlayStation Camera v2
• PlayStation VR Worlds (VR Only)

Peculiarities

• OLED screen
  The new PlayStation VR headset features a 5.7-inch OLED screen with 1920 X RGB X 1080 resolution. New screen provides an increased field of view without the effect of blur when turning the head.
• Refresh rate 120Hz
  PlayStation VR games can run at 120 frames per second. The high refresh rate of the OLED screen, combined with the power of the PS4, will allow the PlayStation VR headset to deliver stunning visuals.
• Ultra-low latency
  Lower latency is essential for a fully immersive VR experience, and the new prototype is below 18ms, half the latency of the first PlayStation VR prototype. This provides the effect of presence and comfortable playing.
• surround sound
  Explore a new dimension of sound with state-of-the-art surround sound that accurately determines the direction and distance of sounds above, below and around.
• Built-in microphone
  Chat with friends online, discuss your activities and immerse yourself in the virtual world even deeper thanks to the microphone built into the headset.
• PlayStation Camera
  With a dual lens and 3D spatial sensors, PlayStation Camera tracks the position of your headset, PlayStation Move controller and DUALSHOCK light bar, putting you always in the center of virtual universes.
• Accurate Tracking
  The PlayStation Camera monitors the nine LEDs placed on the front, back and sides of the PS VR headset to accurately capture your movements in the game world.
• DUALSHOCK 4
  Everyone's favorite PS4 control precision takes PS VR to the next level; all games are controlled with the DUALSHOCK 4 wireless controller, and the lightbar constantly tracks your movements to show them in the game.
• PlayStation Move motion controller
  Touch the game world and fully control your movements in virtual reality for a fully immersive and immersive experience.

Characteristics

• Screen type: OLED
• Screen Size: 5.7 inch
• Resolution: 1920 x RGB x 1080 (960 x RGB x 1080 for each eye)
• Refresh rate: 120Hz, 90Hz
• Viewing Angle: Approximately 100 degrees
• Sensors: accelerometer, gyroscope
• Connection interface:
  • Helmet: HDMI, AUX, Stereo Headphone Jack
  • computing unit: HDMI TV, HDMI PS4, USB, HDMI, AUX
• The weight:
  • helmet: 610 g
  • computing unit: 365 g