Sony developing Virtual Reality headset for PS4
Sony is preparing to reveal the final piece of its PS4
hardware strategy at TGS by showcasing a PlayStation-branded virtual reality
head-mounted display, CVG has learned.
[Update: Following the publication of this article, CVG has
been told by people connected to the matter that there are no longer any
existing plans to publicly showcase the virtual reality headset at the Tokyo
Game Show.
In August, when Sony abandoned its initial strategy to
reveal the device at Gamescom, CVG was told at the time that the reveal had
been be pushed back to the Tokyo event. Now the expectation is to showcase the
headset in 2014.
Executives at Sony have demonstrated the VR display to a
select number of developers at E3 and Gamescom, and will also conduct
closed-doors meetings at TGS.
Sony originally intended to reveal the headset at Gamescom
but plans fell through at the eleventh hour. The company is currently weighing
up whether the PS4 device should be pitched as a key differentiator for the
console or a non-essential add-on.
The matter has been slightly complicated, but not derailed,
by the growing industry support for Oculus Rift. Sony's device will be a
categorical rival to Oculus, and for months there have been rumours suggesting
the two companies are seeking a partnership.
A games developer familiar with Sony's plans, who wished to
remain anonymous, told CVG that Evolution Studios is currently working with the
device to simulate a cockpit view on its
PS4 title Drive Club.
Another developer claimed the virtual reality headset
resembles the 3D headset that Sony first revealed in January 2011.
The head-mounted display will be available separately, like
with the new PlayStation Eye, in order to keep the baseline PS4 price as low as
possible.
In August, Sony Worldwide Studios boss Shuhei Yoshida
suggested to CVG that R&D work on such devices was currently underway.
"Y'know, we're Sony, so we have lots of different
things and different ideas in R&D," he said when asked if the
corporation was building a VR headset.
"When it come to researching things, we are doing a lot
of things that we can't talk about."
Sony intends to showcase over 50 PlayStation titles at the
Tokyo Game Show.
That includes more than ten PS4 games such as Knack and
Capcom's Deep Down, which was recently revealed to be an online title.
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