We're of two minds about Project Morpheus. On the one hand, the virtual reality headset seems like a truly nifty piece of tech. On the other, we've yet to see any genuinely compelling pieces of software to support the hardware.
However, it looks like we won't have very much longer to mull over the mechanical marvel, as Sony big-wig Shuhei Yoshida has revealed that the graphical goggles are almost finished development. Speaking with the Wall Street Journal, the affable executive stated that the headset is around 85 per cent complete.
He was predictably tight-lipped in other areas, though, refusing to share any details on a potential price or release date. Intriguingly, the gaffer mentioned that the final build of Project Morpheus will use components from the Japanese giant's smartphones in order to keep the cost low. This seems like a pretty good plan to us – goodness knows the firm wasn't using those parts for anything particularly important.
What do you make of Sony's virtual reality headset? Do you reckon that it'll be a major hit, or fail to impress? Strap on your goggles in the comments section below.
[source blogs.wsj.com, via computerandvideogames.com]
Comments 34
It seems like a super cool novelty, I just don't see how they can price it affordably. It's got that typical PlayStation problem of too many parts. You'll need a PS4, headset, PlayStation Move wand (probably two), and PlayStation Camera to use this. How on Earth do they package all of that — and make it seem attractive with limited software support?
It's the Move all over again — except this time it's worse!
Worse comes to worse they could market it as a way to play the ps4 without needing the telly similar to Nintendo with the gamepad couldn't they?
I'm ashamed to say the only morpheus related thing that has caught me interest so far has been summer lesson
I still want it...
@DualWielding I thought the Luge demo looked really cool. Not something you'd want to mess around with for long, but the kind of creative idea that the device needs to succeed.
Yeah, "85%" and still most of people that used it are saying it's uncomfortable to use with glasses, different from Oculus Rift, and the graphics are pretty cheap in comparison to the PS4 alone.
I doubt it, it'll probably be done, late next year, because apparently, it's behind Oculus. Don't know if that's true or not, though.
This is going to be the biggest flop.
Give me AAA games like driveclub, destiny or something like that and im game. Indietitles and games just made to show possibilities wont do the system a favor. It needs to be presented with support from the biggest games i think
This feels like it'll be the next Move, or Zune, or Virtual Boy, or something.
I'm sure the tech is cool but how much will it cost? Probably a lot and that will make it lose it's mass-market appeal.
Personally I'm not sold on the idea and I hope Sony haven't wasted a lot of money on this thing!
Wow, surprisingly negative responses in here. Seems like Sony has a lot to prove.
I'm onboard because I'm onboard with virtual reality in gaming in general. That's the single most important prospect of the future of gaming in my eyes. Project Morpheus is, and hopefully will be, a step in the direction I want to head in. We're probably not going to get a perfect, polished virtual reality experience for a while yet. With any luck, Oculus and Morpheus will provide enough unique experiences to keep the trend going. Virtual reality is only going to get better and more immersive with improved technology.
i think it will pan out better than what most are expecting. sony hit home with the ps4, i think that they will keep the same mindset, affordable and amazing because they not only still want to blow away the xbox one but oculus as well. think they'll come out swinging.
@GameAce You took the words right out of my mouth
Watching movies on a giant screen with the head set will be a plus. The main thing will be software support and how good that software is. Sony need to do quality control of software that does come out. Nothing will hurt VR more then lack of support and crapware for it. I will buy one but that thought of another dust collector haunts me.
I think this won't bode well too
Even occuluss rift will be expensive, how could morpheus be more affordable?
I feel like it's going to be great piece of tech and fun to use but sadly will most likely fail because of all the tools needed to get the full experience which many will not be willing to pay for or afford which will probably make most devs pass on it. I hope sony has enough power to get it off the ground because i'm definitely buying it day one and want to see awesome games using the headset in cool ways in the future.
@get2sammyb @Tackleberry_dk Project Cars supports Morpheus
I dont think you absolutely need a Move device for everything
IMO VR is the only way first pers games could feel realistic enough
@N711 Sure, but that then results in the split market problem that Move had. Very few games took advantage of dual wands, because no developer could guarantee what people had.
It's worth bearing in mind that Morpheus could sell well enough because of how successful the PS4 is becoming. Think back to when PS2 dominated the market, Sony made some unique add-ons that were solid hits like Singstar with the mics, Buzz with the erm buzzers & the eye toy (a motion camera that pre dated kinect). Those of course were more for the casual market but they sold because Sony had no competition in terms of install base. Of course when Move came out Sony lost that market to wii, when even things like wii fit sold but they then lost the casual market to smartphones) & at the time Xbox 360 was seen as the cooler brand & Kinect had a more unique selling point compared to Move. Where's now things are different, Wii U is struggling & X1 is doing ok but is losing out comfortably to PS4 admist a backdrop of bad press & anti-consumer practices. PS4 right now is seen as the "cooler brand" & where's Move, Kinect etc were marketed to the casual crowd, Morpheus is more for the hardcore crowd who will pay the money (provided it's priced reasonably) because that's what the core do.
Meh
if priced 300 or less ill take 2
I'm feeling the same as Sammy, but am holding out hope. I was very hyped about it at first, but like the Move, if there isn't enough software to support it... I won't be early adopting, but will definitely wait and see as I'm very interested in VR.
If they make a FPS's, racing games, and able to watch movies comfortably this thing will sell like hotcakes!
I don't care how the negative people are in here, I'm going to get this VR headset. I think the people that are negative just don't want to see something like this succeed. I, on the other hand, have always wanted a VR headset since the days of watching the movie Lawnmower man.
@Demi_God I love the concept of VR and am pinging in anticipation for a consumer device. If I have a PS4 when this is released then I will most certainly buy it.
Now that we know where I stand... This is going to flop hard.
I want it. I hope it can play movies as well as games. It'll be like strapping on a virtual cinema screen. I love playing and watching stuff on huge screens! Total immersion between gamer and the world. Sweet
@eLarkos I think you want it to flop hard. While this can be used on the PC which I believe was confirmed, I think it's uses are going to really shine while used on the PS4. I don't see why you would buy this if you didn't have a PS4 anyway. See, this is where I don't understand your post as it really just confirms my point of you wanting it to flop. O.O
@get2sammyb that's your opinion. While it might have limited use, Morpheus will launch eventually and it'll find it's intended audience. This audience won't include cheap people and casual gamers. Il give you and example: Hardcore racing fans around the world will likely find the Morpheus to be awesome when games like project cars (confirmed) and likely gran turismo support it. Those game alone are worth it. All the people who have had experiences with Morpheus found it to be very immersive and the potential is there for some new ways to experience games. It's not a controller as much as it is a new way to experience a game. Hold your judgement. Don't compare it to move lol.
@Demi_God I love the idea of VR and would love this to be the best device ever created and go on to be a huge monster success. However, my opinion is that it will flop.
@eLarkos I don't think it will flop though. I'm quite sure that if certain games show full support of this device, it's going to sell pretty well. I don't expect it to sell like the PS4 has been selling, but I think it's going to sell quite a bit and with the games it supports, it will go down pretty well.
@Demi_God Good for you. Please don't make assumptions about what you think I want to happen. Im honest in my comments and if I wanted it to flop then I simply would have said so.
I think this will become popular if it got the right games made for it. One thing we can't forget is that with this tech game devs can get more creative with what they create to add that extra bit of realism.
@eLarkos I'll make the assumption if I want, after all it's the internet and the assumption I made wouldn't surprise me one bit on here. I'm just pointing out, but in reality I really don't care that much since everyone on the internet is a critic anyway. I will call it as I see it and if that makes me a prick, so be it.
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