UPDATE: Project Morpheus is now officially called PlayStation VR. Click here to see more details . .
Project Morpheus works with the PlayStation camera, your Dualshock 4 Wireless Controller and PlayStation Move to deliver an easy-to-use, plug-and-play VR experience. In addition, the new technology also boasts Sony’s new 3D audio technology that re-creates stereoscopic sounds in all directions as well as changing in real-time depending on your head positioning.
At the begining of March 2015, Sony revealed a brand new, updated prototype of it’s Virtual Reality Headset- Project Morpheus at the annual Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco. The company also announced that it was aiming to release the headset in the first half of 2016.
After first unveiling it’s answer to Facebook owned Oculus just over a year ago, Sony has continued to work on improving the headset into what it is today.today. Important changes include a new 5.7 inch 1920 X RGB X 1080 resolution OLED display which replaces the 5 inch LCD Sony initially used.With the new Project Morpheus Virtual reality headset now equipped with double the previous refresh rate spec, the new prototype,will render games at 120fps and promises an amazing visual output.
The total number of LED’s used to achieve better positional tracking has been increased to 9 with the inclusion of 3 additional LEDs to the Virtual Reality headset – one on the front and two on the side. The extra LEDs provide 360 degree tracking capabilities and complement the improved latency which Sony has managed to reduce to about half that of the first prototype.
Gigaom: Hands on with Sony’s Project Morpheus Virtual Reality Headset
Sony has also been working on the Virtual Reality Headset looks and feels to the wearer with an aim at improved aesthetics and user comfort. Changes made include a new single-band design which uses a quick release button that makes taking off or putting on the headset much easier. In addition, the new Project Morpheus design has been altered to ensure that the headset relieves any pressure on your face by taking the weight of the unit at the top of your head.
Overall, Sony’s tweaks and adjustments have resulted in a lighter second prototype that also looks better and is more comfortable for use by gamers. It seems the Japanese electronics giant is taking this Virtual Reality Headset seriously and that can only be a good thing for PlayStation 4 gamers.
The company is also quite bullish about being at the forefront of this innovative take on gaming with Shuhei Yoshida, President of Sony’s Worldwide Studios saying this in the official announcement on the PlayStation Blog: ” A new dimension of gaming is almost here, and PlayStation again is at the forefront with Project Morpheus. . . We believe VR will shape the future of games, and I can’t wait for you to try Project Morpheus when it launches in the first half of 2016.”
Sony has also promised to keep us updated on the Virtual Reality Headset’s progress with promises of demonstrations of VR games at E3 and later events as the Project Morpheus launch date gets closer.
