Sony has announced its Virtual Reality headset, project Morpheus, at the Game Developers Conference 2014.
The headset, presumably named after the Matrix character, will use a 1080p LCD, will feature a 90 degree field of view and will use both the PlayStation camera for tracking and the PlayStation move for motion control.
Shuhei Yoshida, Sony’s president of World Wide Studios said that ‘Nothing delivers a feeling of immersion better than Virtual Reality. VR has been a dream of many gamers since the computer was invented. Many of us at PlayStation have dreamed of VR and what it could mean to the gaming community.’
Richard Marks (the man behind the Playstation eyetoy), joined Yoshida on stage, adding, ‘The thing that makes VR special is really the feeling of being in another place… there’s no way to explain it to you that will make sense, but it’s that feeling of presence. VR is going to be pervasive, and what I mean by that is it’s going to be used for all sorts of things you might not think it would be used for.’
Marks also claimed that he was working with NASA to allow PlayStation 4 users to feel like they’re on Mars. This could mean that the PlayStation 4 can be advertised to a new market of non gamers.
Microsoft has not revealed its own Virtual Reality headset which could mean that project Morpheus is the piece of technology Sony needs to further hamper Xbox One sales and edge closer to market dominance.
Virtual Reality headsets are not a new concept and the failed attempts in the past have taught gamers to keep their expectations grounded. However, the development of the Oculus Rift Virtual Reality headset will mean some healthy competition for the market.
Regardless, the kickstarted Oculus Rift and the Sony produced project Morpheus should make gamers excited for this year’s E3.