SONY HAS UNVEILED a new prototype for a virtual reality headset for its Playstation 4 console;
Project Morpheus, which was revealed at the Game Developers Conference 2014 (GDC), is a head-mounted display with 1080p resolution and a 90 degree field of view.
It has both an accelerometer and gyroscope sensor as well as Playstation Camera built into the unit to help track movement.
The device also includes 3D audio technology which recreates stereoscopic sound in all directions so when the player moves their head, the virtual world rotates with them.
The president of Sony’s Worldwide Studios, Shuhei Yoshida, said the company had been working on the technology for three years.
I have long dreamed about VR and the possibilities it brings in regards to game development. This new technology will deliver a sense of presence, where you as the player actually feel like you’re inside the game and your emotions feel that much more real.
The prototype will be used as the first development kit for Playstation 4 developers who wish to incorporate the technology into their upcoming games.
No commercial release date was given for the device, but those at GDC 2014 will be able to play a number of demos using the headset such as the reboot of Thief, Eve Valkyrie, a multiplayer space dogfighting game, The Castle, a medieval combat game and The Deep, which sees players descending into a diving cage where they encounter deadly creatures.
While it’s designed specifically for the Playstation 4, Project Morpheus isn’t the only virtual reality headset. The Oculus Rift has been steadily gaining traction since it raised just under $2.5 million on Kickstarter back in 2012 and is expected to be released in late 2014/early 2015.
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