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Update (3/21/16): Sony has confirmed that a PlayStation VR Launch Bundle — which includes the headset, PlayStation 4 Camera, two PlayStation Move controllers, and the PlayStation VR Worlds game — will cost $500. While the cost of a standalone PS4 camera has (unsurprisingly) risen by $6 in the days since this article was published, you can still save $20 or so if you do not need two Move controllers and the game. Otherwise, as it stands now, Sony's bundle looks to be your best bet. The original article follows below.
Sony yesterday confirmed the launch details for the PlayStation VR, announcing that its PS4-based virtual reality headset will arrive in October, support around 50 VR-specific games before the end of the year, and cost $400.
As many observers were quick to point out, though, that last detail isn’t entirely accurate — at least not for everyone. That’s because the headset requires Sony’s existing PlayStation 4 Camera to work.
This is what enables it to support positional tracking, which allows you to move and interact more freely within a virtual space. It’s a key feature, one that makes the PlayStation VR feel closer to a high-end headset like Oculus Rift or HTC Vive than a phone-based one like the Samsung Gear VR.
Beyond that, your $400 also won’t get you any PlayStation Move motion controllers, which are set to make various games easier to maneuver. (Though the standard DualShock 4 should be fine with some VR games, and will work with existing titles in the headset's "Cinematic Mode.")
The company later confirmed that it’ll sell a bundle that includes a Camera and Move, but it didn’t specify how much it’ll cost. We’ve asked Sony for comment on further specifics, but have yet to hear back. Considering that the two have MSRPs of $60 and $50, though, somewhere around the $480-500 mark doesn’t seem too far outside the realm of possibility.
All of this means that you might be able to save a few bucks by picking up a PS4 Camera and/or Move today. Both devices have retailed for well below their original prices for the last few months — currently, the Camera is down to $44 on Amazon, while the Move is down to $29. We can’t say for certain, but we’d imagine it’ll be harder to find either for cheap as demand grows closer to the PlayStation VR’s launch.
There’s still plenty of time between now and October, so it’s possible that the bundle will be cheaper than expected, or that Sony will release a new camera or controller entirely. For now, though, it’s worth noting that preparing your PS4 for VR today doesn't cost the $460 or $510 that some reports have suggested.
PlayStation 4 Camera, $44.08, available at Amazon.
PlayStation Move Motion Controller, $28.89, available at Amazon.
