With the word "PlayStation" right there in the name, you'd think Sony's new PlayStation VR headset would only work with the PlayStation 4. Surprisingly enough, though, the headset seems to work in a limited "cinema mode" when plugged into any valid HDMI input.

After seeing reports of the headset's extra-Sony compatibility leak via Reddit, we put our own PlayStation VR headset to the test this afternoon. The headset easily displayed games running on the Wii U and Xbox One and even showed a Windows desktop when plugged into a PC tower. We can only assume other HDMI sources (cable boxes, mobile phones with output adapters, Ouya, etc.) would work just as well.

There was no discernible display latency or lag that affected non-PlayStation gameplay on the headset, and the PSVR's included headphone jack handled audio from these external sources just fine, too. The HMDI passthrough on the PSVR junction box also works with non-PlayStation sources, sending the raw signal to an external TV as well as the headset (though the processor box has to be plugged into a wall outlet for any of this to work).

This isn't full virtual reality compatibility, mind you. Any non-PlayStation inputs plugged into the PSVR headset simply show up as a large, flat, 2D screen that appears to be floating a few feet in front of you in VR space. That virtual screen stays in place as you tilt your head about. Without direct access to an external camera, though, the headset can't adjust your virtual view as your head moves forward and back or side to side in three-dimensional space. And don't plan on using the headset to play PC games designed for the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive: those platforms won't even recognize the headset (though we're sure hackers are already working hard on trying to force compatibility).

The Rift and Vive both have similar cinema modes to play 2D content while in the VR headset (as does the PlayStation VR for standard PS4 games). Those other headsets only work with PCs, though, and not with generic HDMI sources. The added ability of PlayStation VR to essentially work as a kind of portable, personal HDTV is a nice bonus for what is already a pretty nice VR headset