Update, 3/15/16, 4pm PT: If you thought $399 was too good to be true, it is. During Sony's announcement, they led us to believe that the PSVR would be $399. In fact, we went back and listened to our audio recording, that is what was said from the stage. Not just the headset, but "PSVR." Later we got materials from Sony that paint a different picture, which is to say that price doesn't include the camera or the Move controllers.
Indeed, PlayStation UK eventually tweeted that "the PlayStation VR requires the PlayStation Camera, which is available separately." Further, the PlayStation VR website even states that the "PlayStation VR" will cost $399, but in small print it notes that the PS4 and Camera are sold separately. That, plus all the images Sony provided, would lead one to believe that the Move controllers are included in that price, but if you check the spec sheet, they are not.
Not every game will need the Move controllers, necessarily, but most people will surely want them. They cost $50 each, so you can tack another $100 on top of that $399, plus the cost of the camera, which is around $50.
Therefore, that $399 number is really a boondoggle. The real price, when you take into consideration all the peripherals you still need to buy, the PSVR as a whole will cost closer to $550.
Original article:
Sony announced today at GDC in San Francisco that the PlayStation VR will be available globally in October for $399 (399 Euro, 349 GBP and 44,980 Yen, $549.99 CAD). The company also announced that the hardware has been finalized.
The specs of PSVR have not changed from what's been previously stated. As a reminder, it uses a 5.7-inch OLED display; with a resolution of 1920x1080, with R, G, and B subpixels; and a 120 Hz refresh rate. The company claimed a latency of less than 18ms. And of course, because it works with PS4, of which there are now 36 million according to Sony, developers have an exact target to hit, hardware-wise, without deviation.
The headset is visor style, and the company said it has been crafted to reduce pressure on a user’s face. It has a single band and a quick release button to make it easy to take on and off. The company also announced that it will include 3D audio that will work within a 360-degree space. That is, it will change in real time based on the orientation of your head.
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Playstation VR Specifications |
|---|---|
| Product name | PlayStation®VR |
| Product code | CUH-ZVR1series |
| Release month | October 2016 |
| Recommended Retail Price | 44,980 yen, $399 USD, €399 and £349 |
| External dimensions | VR headset: Approx. 187×185×277 mm (width × height × length, excludes |
| largest projection, headband at the shortest) | |
| Processor unit: Approx. 143×36×143 mm (width × height × length, excludes | |
| largest projection) | |
| Mass | VR headset: Approx. 610g (excluding cable) |
| Processor unit: Approx. 365g | |
| Display Method | OLED |
| Panel Size | 5.7 inches |
| Panel Resolution | 1920×RGB×1080 (960×RGB×1080 per eye) |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz, 90Hz |
| Field of View | Approximately 100 degrees |
| Sensors | Six-axis motion sensing system (three-axis gyroscope, three-axis accelerometer) |
| Connection interface | VR headset: HDMI, AUX, Stereo Headphone Jack |
| Row 17 - Cell 0 | |
| Processor unit: HDMI TV, HDMI PS4, USB, HDMI, AUX | |
| Processor Unit Function | 3D audio processing, Social Screen (mirroring mode, separate mode), Cinematic |
| mode | |
| Included | VR headset × 1 |
| Processor unit × 1 | |
| VR headset connection cable × 1 | |
| HDMI cable × 1 | |
| USB cable × 1 | |
| Stereo headphones × 1 (with a complete set of earpiece) | |
| AC power cord × 1 | |
| AC adapter × 1 |
A few other interesting tidbits: The PSVR will allow for cinematic mode, wherein you can project any PS4 game in 16:9 at three different zoom levels. There will be an updated media player that can expose any 360-degree content (photos, videos). And Playroom VR, a toybox of games from Sony Japan, will come as a free download.
The company said there will be about 60 titles at launch, and today at GDC it is showing off about 20 games.
Our own Kevin Carbotte took the PSVR for a spin back at the Immersed conference, and he was surprised at how well the device performed.
Update, 03/15/16, 3:40pm PT: Included more comprehensive specifications chart
Fritz Nelson is the Editor-In-Chief of Tom's Hardware. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Google+. Follow us on Facebook, Google+, RSS, Twitter and YouTube.
