Oh, and the headset’s dimensions are approximately 187(w) × 185(h) × 277(l) mm and it weighs around 610g, excluding the cable, (for reference the Sennheiser HD 800 headphones weigh approx 330g) which means the headset is quite easy on the neck.

When you’re wearing the headset, after a while, you actually feel that there’s nothing on your head, the device is that incredibly comfortable. Simply speaking the PSVR has gone beyond design for comfortable user experience to create user delight.

The Processor Unit is a little box is capable of carrying out a number of features which are crucial to the VR experience such as (A)3D audio processing, (B)Social screen and (C)Cinematic mode and it also takes the sensor data from the headset and sends it back to the PS4 via USB.

PSVR Processor Unit (Top)

(A) 3D audio processing. 3D audio actually needs an article of its own, but as an fanatical audiophile I’m sharing a lil brief here. The human brain is wired by evolution to perceive sound from all directions and from multiple distances, much faster when compared to vision, which is purely front oriented due to the placement of the eyes. In other words, hearing supersedes vision as a sense. Now this is particularly important regarding VR.

“While purely visual VR experiences can be made, adding 3D audio greatly magnifies the impact and depth of a VR experience.”

To quote Dr. Richard Marks, Director of PlayStation Magic Lab, Sony Interactive Entertainment- “When sound is perceived to come from the same direction as a visual stimulus, the credibility of the virtual experience is greatly increased. While purely visual VR experiences can be made, adding 3D audio greatly magnifies the impact and depth of a VR experience.” (Source: The Verge)Hence the PSVR has a custom 3D audio binaural solution in its development kit and the processing unit of the consumer unit processes object-based 3D audio and delivers directional sound in real time.

As for sonically complex 3D audio solutions, while the PlayStation Gold Headset is fantastic for PSVR, something else has stolen my audio obsessed heart (and taken a considerable investment from my wallet) and with good reason too.

Credits -Ossic

Ossic X 3D Smart Headphones. These envelop users in a mind blowing soundstage which tremendously helps with the suspension of disbelief and creates a truly immersive experience, thanks to advanced 3D audio algorithms, HRTF Individual Anatomy Calibration, Integrated Head Tracking and a Multidriver array of 8 drivers.

The Ossic X also features an unbreakable headband, a built-in 3D microphone array, removable and washable ear and head pads, and a 10 hour internal battery. (recovering jaw from the floor). While I’m a bit annoyed that its not wireless, I guess great technology comes at a cost. I feel I can agree with them when they say “It isn’t just a headphone, it’s an entirely new way to hear sound”. Hoping they’ll ship with a rugged carry case to withstand the trials of Indian airports.

Now returning to the processing unit’s functions

(B) Social Screen has two sub-modes — Mirroring mode and Separate mode.

Mirroring mode social screen displays an undistorted, cropped and scaled image of the headset display on a TV. This mode allows people outside the VR experience to see exactly what the player with the headset is viewing.

Source -Road to VR

The Separate mode social screen outputs a completely separate audio and video stream to a TV. This social screen will run at 720p at 30 frames per second on the TV and is particularly nice for social/local competitive and cooperative gaming experiences with friends and family. So in games like Monster Escape, while I can play as the monster using the VR headset, 4 of my friends can try to take on me using the TV as their display as shown in the video below.

(C) Cinematic mode “lets users enjoy a variety of content in a massive virtual screen (with a simple black background around the image, further enhancing the theater effect) while wearing the headset. Supported content for the Cinematic mode includes every standard PS4 game and videos as well as variety of PS4 features including Share Play and Live from PlayStation. Users will also be able to enjoy 360 degrees photos and videos that are captured by devices such as omnidirectional cameras on PS VR via PS4 Media Player, which will let them feel as if they are physically inside the captured scene.” There are three different simulated screen sizes - 117 inches, 163 inches (encompasses your entire field of view) and a massive 225 inches (you’ll have to move your head left and right to see the whole screen). When using the PSVR, if you get tired you can lie down while wearing it and the display will match your horizontal perspective. Thanks to the Cinematic mode, I can seek Libertalia with Drake while my friends binge Netflix Game of Thrones on the TV.

PSVR Processor Unit Front

PSVR Processor Unit Back

Optics are pure visual fire power. The headset has a 5.7 inch cutting edge full RGB OLED display with a resolution of 1920×RGB×1080 (960×RGB×1080 per eye) and each pixel features three full subpixels for True RGB experiences which translates into extremely crisp visuals.

As for refresh rate — it’s got 60hz rendering (by the game/experience) with 120hz display via “asynchronous reprojection.”, 90hz rendering resulting in a 90hz display and 120hz rendering to a 120hz display (potentially rendering games at 120fps).

The headset has Field of View of approximately 100 degrees and as for its Sensors; it’s got a Six-axis motion sensing system (three-axis gyroscope, three-axis accelerometer). It‘s tracked with several internal IMUs, as well as 9 LEDs for optical tracking by the PlayStation camera.

Connection interfaces. VR headset has an HDMI, an AUX, and a Stereo Headphone jack whereas the processor unit has singular HDMI TV, HDMI PS4, USB, HDMI and AUX ports.

PSVR Requirements. The PS Camera and the DualShock 4 are mandatory for the proper functioning of the PSVR. The camera along with the 9 tracking LEDs on the headset tracks movements 1000 times a second, thus replicating the feeling of presence within game camera movement. The DualShock 4 will be the primary form of game input and when used to demo Battlezone and RIGS it worked splendidly.

PS Camera

DualShock 4

PSVR Optionals. These are for those who seek truly immersive VR experiences. Dual Move Controllers should replicate the feeling of having two arms with fingers in virtuality. I’m a little concerned about the Move wands as their last gen tech, and there are murmurings on the internet about it being less accurate compared to Vive controllers.

PS Move Wands

However I’m relieved to see the Move Aim Controller, it’s a standalone, gun shaped Move peripheral with two thumbsticks, a tracking glow ball and buttons. Introduced by Impulse Gear and co-developed with Sony for their game project, Farpoint, the Move Aim may be the controller that replaces the original Move wands. “The PS VR Aim Controller offers the most realistic and precise way to control our game. With direct 1 to 1 tracking, you aim in Farpoint just as you would in real life. How you hold and where you point the controller are directly matched in the game. This allows you to do things in Farpoint that just are not possible in a standard FPS game. It also provides an unbelievable sense of presence in the virtual world.” Those who experienced the Move Aim Controllers said they were blown away.

We’ll definitely be getting one and testing it out.

Move Aim Controller

That’s it, about the hardware.

The Cinematic mode will influence a lot of potential customers who dwell in small living spaces to consider adopting the headset as replacement to the massive traditional HDTV.

Adopters. Globally 40 million people (as of June 2016) have purchased a PlayStation 4 console. That’s a market 3x times more than that with VR ready PCs, which is around 13M. There’s the Cinematic mode that will influence a lot of potential customers who dwell in small living spaces to consider adopting the headset as replacement to the massive traditional HDTV. The headset being portable compared to a regular HDTV can be bundled along with a PS4 and taken to tournaments or for memory making gameplay sessions at friends’ houses. Thus the existing audience, the price (more on this below), the build, the games portfolio and the portability, positions the PSVR to be appealing to casual and non gamers too.

Heritage. Sony has rarely shared the crown of the Video Gaming since the PlayStation 1 by Ken Kutaragi was announced in 1994 (the early years of the PlayStation 3 being the exception) and has held its own and overcome Nintendo and Xbox. The Japanese giant has a global footprint of quality and trust worldwide for decades, their design and prowess in audio visual experience devices is famous if not legendary. The PSVR joins the PlayStation legacy as another magnum opus to empower the Games Industry.