Sony has provided some updated details about its virtual reality product, Project Morpheus. According to managing editor Matt Bertz, who is at the briefing, the image you see above is a near-final version of what the head-mounted display will look like when it arrives.
As importantly, we finally have a release window for one of the major VR competitors. Sony projects that Morpheus will see consumer availability in the first half of 2016.
Sony reiterated a number of the specifications with which we were already familiar, but listed off the entire set for the sake of completeness. Here's what we know about the near-final technical aspects of the product:
- OLED Display
- 1920x1080 pixels with RGB subpixels to reduce motion blur
- Morpheus is designed to render at 120 frames-per-second, within the capabilities of the PlayStation 4
- There is also an option to render at 60 frames-per-second, but reach the 120 FPS target using a technique called "re-projection"
- Re-projection uses sensor data to create an in-between frame to boost the rate from 60 to 120.
- Sony says latency, a key factor for smooth virtual reality displays, is sub-18 millisecond
- Screen size is 5.7 inches, with a 100 degree field of view
- Sony has added three more tracking LEDs from the unit it unveiled at GDC last year, bringing the number from six to nine
- The design has been tweaked and rebalanced to put more of the weight on top of the head for comfort
Sony is also addressing one of the big challenges of virtual reality: smooth transition in and out of the head-mounted display. This is important to see the controller in your hand (or on your side table), pick up a drink, or acknowledge someone else in the room.
Project Morpheus features a display unit that slides in and out of the mount easily. Our team is currently waiting to test out the new version. We'll have impressions for you shortly.