Sony has unveiled a new prototype of its Project Morpheus virtual reality headset, with development to continue throughout the year and a consumer launch slated for the first half of 2016.While 2015 has already seen a lot of action in the growing VR category, Sony will build to Morpheus’ eventual debut in 2016, having now locked in a firm window for the PlayStation 4-powered headset’s release.
Sony took the wraps off its latest prototype at the Game Developers Conference 2015 in San Francisco.
In terms of upgrades, the new Morpheus has exchanged a 5″ LCD display for a 5.7″ 1920 x RGB x 1080 OLED, with Sony stating the new screen “expands the field of view and enables low persistence, removing motion blur or flicker”, building immersion and helping deliver sense of presence.
With Morpheus adopting OLED, it now supports 120 fps output, and is able to render 120 images per second, with a system software update to allow all PS4 systems to handle native 120 fps output when connected to the headset.
Three more LEDs have been added to the headset for a total of nine, designed to make positional tracking more accurate with the PlayStation Camera.
Morpheus now supports 360 degree tracking, while Sony states the overall system has been optimised to reduce latency between the physical movement of a player’s head and rendering on the headset’s screen.
In terms of design, maintaining the original visor-style setup, the new prototype features a single band and a quick-release button, designed to make it easier for users to put it on and take it off, while other components have been adjusted to make the headset lighter.
“With the technical specs achieved on the new prototype, we are one step closer to realising our vision for making amazing VR experiences on PS4, and ultimately to deliver a real sense of presence to players,” commented Shuhei Yoshida, SCE Worldwide Studios president.
“We believe that the near-final technology of Morpheus combined with the power of PS4 will provide a standard for game developers to target as they build on their creative ideas and turn them into VR games and experiences.”
