Tech

Sony has one major advantage over Nintendo and Microsoft in gaming

Ben Gilbert
2015-09-15T16:24:32Z
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Sony Playstation 4
http://us.playstation.com/ps4/

Sony's PlayStation arm is on a tear. 

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The PlayStation 4 game console is by far the highest-selling system against the likes of Microsoft's Xbox One and Nintendo's Wii U, outpacing the competition by 2:1 (or more).

And Sony's gone a long way in convincing gaming fans that it's got the console this generation, from locking down an exclusivity agreement on the "Call of Duty" franchise to helping resurrect beloved, long-dead gaming franchises.

But Sony's got one more trump card up its sleeve: the newly renamed PlayStation VR (née "Project Morpheus"). So, uh, what is it?

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Sony originally unveiled its virtual reality headset at the 2014 Game Developer's Conference in San Francisco.

GDC 2014
Official GDC

Sony Worldwide Studios leader Shuhei Yoshida led the presentation. "Thank you for coming to this cryptic Sony-sponsored session," he told attendees.

Project Morpheus
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Since the VR headset wasn't announced before the presentation, it was kept under a shroud during the introduction speech.

Project Morpheus
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Yoshida wasted no time in jumping in. He unveiled the headset only 10 minutes into an hour-long presentation.

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The headset was initially named "Project Morpheus," after the god of dreams.

Here's a clean shot of Project Morpheus in March 2014.

project morpheus sony ps4 virtual reality headset prototype
@PlayStation/Twitter
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The unit has evolved over time. This is Project Morpheus in March 2015, looking slightly different.

Project Morpheus
Sony
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The headset got a new, official name during Sony's Tokyo Game Show presentation on September 15: PlayStation VR.

PlayStation VR
Sony

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PlayStation VR works with the PlayStation 4, though it won't work with all your games. This is a headset made specifically for virtual reality games. Like "RIGS" from Guerrilla Games:

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And "EVE Valkyrie" by CCP Games:

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More than just a VR headset, PlayStation VR uses a motion controller to track your hand movements. You'll need a PlayStation Camera to track the headset and the controller.

PlayStation Move, PlayStation Camera, PlayStation DualShock 4
Sony

The camera tracks your head by watching the lighted areas on the headset.

PlayStation VR
Sony
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It's able to track the controller by the light on top. And yes, you can use more than one at a time as you see here.

PlayStation VR
Sony

Not all games require the motion controller. Many can be played using the standard issue DualShock 4 that comes with the PlayStation 4. There's a light on the back that can be tracked, even.

DualShock 4
Sony
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What's most impressive though is seeing people use PlayStation VR. Like this:

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And this:

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And especially this:

There's nothing that compares from the competition. Sony says PlayStation VR will become available for purchase in the first half of 2016.

PlayStation VR
Sony

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