Sony: PC Integration is "A Possiblity" For PlayStation VR

[Steven Bogos]

Sony: PC Integration is "A Possiblity" For PlayStation VR

//cdn.themis-media.com/media/global/images/library/deriv/1297/1297499.jpg
While it's not on Sony's immediate agenda, PC integration with PlayStation VR is definitely on the table.

Speaking with in October 2016 [http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO98760930T20C16A3000000/] is significantly cheaper than its PC competitors: the Vive ($799) and the Rift ($599), at just $399.

"Since Playstation 4 shares a lot of its internals with PCs, the possibility is there," PlayStation executive vice president Masayasu Ito told the Japanese business newspaper.

"At the moment we are focused on games and we are not ready to make any announcements at this stage, but I'd say there will be an expansion into various fields."

He went on to warn that "nothing will happen right away," and that this is definitely a long-term goal for the device, rather than something they hope to have ready at, or shortly after, launch.

Either way, having the device come to PC could provide the "budget" VR option that PC gamers were hoping the Rift would be.

Source: Nikkei (Japanese) [http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO98760930T20C16A3000000/]



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[dragongit]

Someone will probably find a way to jury rig a VR to work on the PC within a month. Computer people are crazy.

 

[shirkbot]

If I remember correctly the Sony headset needs external processing to compensate for the limited PS4 hardware, which has made a lot of people scoff, but I think this gives the Sony headset a distinct advantage: that external processing means the headset could function with lower-end systems. The buy-in might be end up being similar by the time this manages to make its way to PC, but not having to buy a new PC is almost certainly going to encourage more people to take another look.

 

[-Dragmire-]

If I remember correctly the Sony headset needs external processing to compensate for the limited PS4 hardware, which has made a lot of people scoff, but I think this gives the Sony headset a distinct advantage: that external processing means the headset could function with lower-end systems. The buy-in might be end up being similar by the time this manages to make its way to PC, but not having to buy a new PC is almost certainly going to encourage more people to take another look.

As well as not needing multiple USB3 ports. That was the main bottleneck for me, everything else was a simpler upgrade.

I am far more interested in this if it becomes PC compatible.

 

[FalloutJack]

Please produce a heavily-secure OS for it called Altimit, and then create a MMORPG called 'The World'. Thank you.

 

[Vigormortis]

As well as not needing multiple USB3 ports. That was the main bottleneck for me, everything else was a simpler upgrade.

I am far more interested in this if it becomes PC compatible.

This was only really an issue with the Rift. The Vive doesn't require 3+ USB3.0 ports. It even functions on USB2.0 ports.

As for the PSVR, I'm worried it will set a negative precedent. Specifically in terms of the perception of VR in the public sector. Being priced as it is, the PSVR system will provide what is essentially the very, very low end of VR. (not quite as bad as the HMDs that essentially just mount your phone to your face, mind you) This may lead to many people suffering from motion sickness and other ailments normally associated with older VR devices. Especially if the PSVR isn't able to maintain a high enough resolution at the minimal refresh rates.

Hopefully I'm wrong and Sony manages to make the thing more than just 'functional'. But being as cheap as it is, I'm not convinced.

 

[Mikeybb]

I really hope this rumour proves to have an element of truth to it.

It'd be a good move, insofar that budget conscious gamers would have a more affordable first step into vr gaming, sony would have a significantly larger potential userbase for sales and, of course, it would expand the market for vr capable games as a result.

I worry about the latter in regard to vr games.
While for many it'll be an attached option to games that have a standard monitor interface already, but some games will be specifically tailored as vr experiences.
My concern being that the expense may put off too many people from purchasing the hardware, leaving the market for vr gaming to flounder under a perceived lack of interest based on a slow uptake of hardware and low returns on developed software.

However...

As for the PSVR, I'm worried it will set a negative precedent. Specifically in terms of the perception of VR in the public sector. Being priced as it is, the PSVR system will provide a what is essentially the very, very low end of VR. (not quite as bad as the HMDs that essentially just mount your phone to your face, mind you) This may lead to many people suffering from motion sickness and other ailments normally associated with older VR devices. Especially if the PSVR isn't able to maintain a high enough resolution at the minimal refresh rates.

Hopefully I'm wrong and Sony manages to make the thing more than just 'functional'. But being as cheap as it is, I'm not convinced.

This is also a very, very valid concern too.
If the playstation vr experience is too shoddy, then that could burn potential customers and make them reluctant to purchase whatever subsequently released models other companies are working on, even if they are more advanced and more affordable.

 

[Vigormortis]

As for the PSVR, I'm worried it will set a negative precedent. Specifically in terms of the perception of VR in the public sector. Being priced as it is, the PSVR system will provide a what is essentially the very, very low end of VR. (not quite as bad as the HMDs that essentially just mount your phone to your face, mind you) This may lead to many people suffering from motion sickness and other ailments normally associated with older VR devices. Especially if the PSVR isn't able to maintain a high enough resolution at the minimal refresh rates.

Hopefully I'm wrong and Sony manages to make the thing more than just 'functional'. But being as cheap as it is, I'm not convinced.

This is also a very, very valid concern too.
If the playstation vr experience is too shoddy, then that could burn potential customers and make them reluctant to purchase whatever subsequently released models other companies are working on, even if they are more advanced and more affordable.

As concerned as I am, there is some hope on the horizon.

http://uploadvr.com/valve-cost-vr-graphics/

Valve is hard at work attempting to lower the requirements for an effective VR experience. They've already gotten their Aperture Robot Repair to run stably on 680 generation nVidia cards from 2012 and are continuing their research into finding ways to more efficiently render VR displays.

So, if Sony does plan to bring the PSVR to PC, let's hope they allow for OpenVR or SteamVR integration into their own APIs.

 

[-Dragmire-]

As well as not needing multiple USB3 ports. That was the main bottleneck for me, everything else was a simpler upgrade.

I am far more interested in this if it becomes PC compatible.

This was only really an issue with the Rift. The Vive doesn't require 3+ USB3.0 ports. It even functions on USB2.0 ports.

Really? For some reason I just expected the Vive's requirements to be just as high if not higher than the Rift.

As for the PSVR, I'm worried it will set a negative precedent. Specifically in terms of the perception of VR in the public sector. Being priced as it is, the PSVR system will provide what is essentially the very, very low end of VR. (not quite as bad as the HMDs that essentially just mount your phone to your face, mind you) This may lead to many people suffering from motion sickness and other ailments normally associated with older VR devices. Especially if the PSVR isn't able to maintain a high enough resolution at the minimal refresh rates.

Hopefully I'm wrong and Sony manages to make the thing more than just 'functional'. But being as cheap as it is, I'm not convinced.

Isn't that precedent already there with the Gear VR? Not that you can use it for gaming but it is a VR experience powered by a phone.

 

[Vigormortis]

Really? For some reason I just expected the Vive's requirements to be just as high if not higher than the Rift.

Surprisingly, no. It only requires one HDMI port or DisplayPort, one USB2.0/3.0 port, and one power connection. The Lighthouse base stations operate wirelessly and only require a wall outlet for power.

Valve and HTC have spent a lot of time and effort in an attempt to make the Vive as non-resource-intensive as they could. In fact, Valve is still working on lowering the requirements for a quality VR experience. As I linked in a previous post they've already managed to get their Aperture Robot Repair demo running stably on a nVidia 680 series card from 2012, so hopefully they can put top-tier VR within reach of a much larger audience than it is currently viable for.

Isn't that precedent already there with the Gear VR? Not that you can use it for gaming but it is a VR experience powered by a phone.

Egh, vaguely. But devices like the GearVR are generally viewed as the "mobile" version of VR, akin to how most people don't necessarily view mobile gaming as the same as home console or PC gaming. Devices like the PSVR, Rift, and Vive tend to be viewed as the "premium home-theater experience". As such, if the PSVR provides only a marginally improved experience to what the GearVR and it's ilk provide, it may lead to VR being viewed as nothing more than a gimmick.

That is if the PSVR proves more popular, initially, than the others. And this assumes the VR experience offered by the PSVR is extremely sub-par.

I doubt that it's that bad, but if it's not quite 'up to snuff' when compared to the Rift and Vive, it may turn a lot of potential users off, simply because of the ill effects of poor VR. (nausea, dizziness, etc)