The long wait for virtual reality is finally going to end this year. The Oculus Rift will lead the pack, releasing at the end of this month with the HTC Vive coming out a month later, in April. The Sony PlayStation VR will join the party a bit later, slated for an October 2016 release. We take a look at what to expect from the PlayStation VR and why it may be a better option than its competitors for an Indian gamer.

What is the PlayStation VR?

The PlayStation VR, originally called Project Morpheus, is Sony’s Virtual Reality device made to run exclusively with the PlayStation 4. The PS VR goes beyond the realm of being just a VR headset though; it also acts as a second screen allowing you to use your console even if you can’t hook it up to the TV.

What do you get with the PlayStation VR?

The PlayStation VR headset will come with an external processor unit, a VR headset connection cable, HDMI and USB cables, headphones and a power supply unit. Unfortunately, you’ll still need to pick up a couple of other things to use the PS VR if you don’t have them already.

What do you need to use the PSVR?

Considering the PlayStation VR is being made for the PlayStation 4, you’ll need one of those to play. Apart from the PS4, everything you need comes with the headset, aside from the PlayStation Camera and controllers. The PlayStation Move controller and DualShock 4 will both be compatible with PS VR, though they will have to be purchased separately.

Assuming you own none of the above and want to pick up the PlayStation VR, the following list includes what else you’ll need to pick up with it:

PlayStation 4

PlayStation Camera

DualShock 4 controller or PlayStation Move controller



Despite being a fairly expensive shopping list, the combined cost of the above along with the PlayStation VR headset, only brings it to par with the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, making it a very pocket friendly option.

Where does the PS VR stand?

For most of the part, the three devices come across as fairly similar with the PS VR being slightly behind the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive in terms of hardware. The Oculus Rift and HTC Vive have been made to run with a variety of different setups, though to experience them at their best you’ll need a fairly high-end system, which is only adding to your overall cost.



The PS VR on the other hand, will be relatively lighter on your pocket. The official price for India hasn’t yet been announced but it’s priced at $399 in the US, which leads us to believe that it’ll launch at a price similar to that of the PlayStation 4. Even if you have to shell out more for the PlayStation Camera (or even a brand new console!) you’ll still be getting a better deal than you would if you were to buy the Oculus Rift or the HTC Vive.

One massive advantage that the PS VR boasts over the other two VR devices is that you don’t have to worry about system requirements for any games that are released on it. Since the PS VR operates in a closed environment, you can be certain that once you’ve laid down money for it you’ll get to play pretty much every game released for it, while with the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive you’re restricted by what your PC can run.

The PS VR also comes with it’s own processing unit that supports an additional HDMI output, which can be connected to your TV. This serves more of a function than just broadcasting your gameplay though. The second screen can actually show you something completely different to what the wearer of the headset is seeing, and there are already games in development that will take advantage of this. Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is a game which will require two players, seeing different things, to work together in order to diffuse a bomb.

The PlayStation VR delivers a lower resolution (960x1080) to each eye than its competitors (1080x1200) but offers a higher refresh rate (120Hz to 90Hz). It has a 100-degree viewing angle compared to 110 on the other devices, which means you’ll have a smaller field of vision on the PS VR though that isn’t going to negatively impact your experience.

When it comes to audio, the PS VR shines through quite well. Sony have gone ahead and created a 3D positional audio engine specifically for the PS VR. Coupled with the head tracking that will be carried out by the PlayStation Camera, you’ll hear the sounds relative to the positions of both yourself and the source. In terms of immersion, this is going to be absolutely brilliant.

All in all, the PS VR will be up there with the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive in terms of quality. While, on paper, it’s slightly weaker than its contemporaries it’s more than capable of providing an excellent VR experience in its own right.

Is the PS VR here to stay?

A lot of people are looking at Virtual Reality rather cautiously. After all, weren’t motion controls supposed to revolutionize gaming a few years ago? So far though, it doesn’t look like VR is going to be just a gimmick that we get bored of very quickly. The possibilities of what can be done with just the PlayStation VR are endless. It not only offers you a new style of playing games but it also acts as a second screen. There have already been over a 100 titles announced for the PS VR as well, with a good chunk of those being exclusives for the PS VR.

The games are, in fact, the biggest plus point that the PS VR has over the other two VR devices. Most major VR releases over the next few years will most likely come out for the PS VR and you won’t have to worry about needing to update drivers or buying a new graphics card to run them. While a high-end PC will undoubtedly be the best way to experience VR, the PS VR is certainly more accessible to the average user. The PS VR is much friendlier on the pocket, already boasts an impressive library of games and is set to offer a very streamlined experience.

Sony want the PlayStation VR to be accessible to the masses and going off of what we know so far, the PS VR looks to be the easiest to get into. For someone with a PlayStation 4, the PS VR is easily the best option. Even for those without a PS4, given that the combined price with a PS4 still isn’t exorbitant, the PS VR makes sense as an affordable Virtual Reality device with guaranteed game support for the next couple of years.



To see the list of PS VR games we're most excited about, head right here.