And there it is… during the GDC, Sony revealed that the PlayStation VR will officially launch in October for $399.
The launch is a little later than the company anticipated, but it seems inline with recent chatter, so it’s not surprising. The $399 price, although not “cheap” seems reasonable at this point. The bundle does not include controllers or the PS Camera (or a PS4 obviously), but we assume there will be another SKU or bundle for those. There will be roughly 50 compatible titles available before the end of 2016, including the free Playroom VR.
Head on over to the PlayStation Blog for details on the launch, or keep reading for the press release below with additional details and specs.
See a few product shots below too.
Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) today announced that PlayStation VR (PS VR), a virtual reality system that takes the PlayStation 4 (PS4) system to the next level of immersion, will launch from October 2016 in Japan, North America, Europe and Asia, at manufacturer’s suggested retail price of 44,980 yen, $399 USD, ?399 and ?349*1.
“Ever since we unveiled PS VR during the 2014 Game Developers Conference, we’ve received a tremendous response from gamers and developers alike,” said Andrew House, President and Global CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. “To make sure that we are able to prepare and deliver enough units of PS VR and a wide variety of software titles to consumers worldwide, we have decided to launch PS VR in October 2016. For those who are looking forward to its launch, we would like to thank everyone for their patience and continued support. We are beyond excited to deliver to consumers the amazing experience that PS VR offers.”
Currently more than 230 developers and publishers*2 are working on PS VR software titles, from smaller independent teams to larger studios at the industry’s top publishers such as 2K Games and Ubisoft. Software titles in development for PS VR from these developers and publishers as well as from SCE Worldwide Studios (SCE WWS) are now totaling to more than 160 titles*3, and over 50 of those titles including Eagle Flight (Ubisoft), EVE: Valkyrie (CCP Games), Headmaster (Frame Interactive), Rez Infinite (Enhance Games), Wayward Sky (Uber Entertainment), RIGS: Mechanized Combat League, Tumble VR, Until Dawn: Rush of Blood and PlayStation VR WORLDS(SCE WWS) are expected to launch by the end of this year. Additionally, Electronic Arts Inc., DICE and Lucasfilm are working on an all-new Star Wars Battlefront (Electronic Arts Inc.) gaming experience only for PS VR. Furthermore, THE PLAYROOM VR*4 by SCE WWS will be available as a free download from PlayStation?Store to all PS VR owners, simultaneously with the launch of the system.
To further drive the expansion of the PS VR software line-up, SCE is partnering with Tools & Middleware companies*5 to provide innovative technology solutions and enhance the title development environment for PS VR.
The system also has a Cinematic mode, which lets users enjoy a variety of content in a large virtual screen*6 while wearing the headset. Supported content for the Cinematic mode includes standard PS4 games 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.
SCE will continue to vigorously promote PS VR towards its release in October 2016 by showcasing PS VR titles at events around the globe, while also broadening its title portfolio.
< Specifications of PlayStation VR > 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 Processor unit: HDMI TV, HDMI PS4, USB, HDMI, AUX
Processor Unit Function 3D audio processing, Social Screen (mirroring mode, separate mode), Cinematic
modeIncluded 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 adaptor ? 1
*Design and specifications are subject to change without notice.*1 Prices in North America and Japan exclude tax. Prices in Europe and UK include tax.
*2 Number as of March 16th, 2016
*3 Number as of March 16th, 2016
*4 THE PLAYROOM VR will include 6 games which will allow all users, including those new to PS VR, to intuitively enjoy VR experiences with other users.
*5 Refer to the attached list for details.
*6 Users can enjoy content on a virtual screen up to 225 inches (5 meters in width) at a distance of 2.5 meters. The size of the screen will feel different depending on individual users.