Sony said with the announcement of cross-console play that it’s trying to be much more open as an organisation, and this partnership with Lenovo is just another example of that. Rather than go after the manufacturer for ripping off PlayStation VR’s critically acclaimed design, it’s instead licensed its patents out, allowing the Chinese company to legally “borrow” the crown-like design of its virtual reality headset.
The two-year deal will see the electronics giants working “together to greatly enhance the design sophistication and appeal of the rapidly expanding VR field”. Lenovo vice president Yao Li was particularly complimentary of PSVR’s design, although if you read between the lines of Sony’s response, it sounds like lawyers probably would have got involved if an agreement couldn’t be made. Of course, this situation is beneficial to both parties, and preferable to a costly legal battle.
The Google Daydream-powered Mirage Solo will be the first headset to release as part of this partnership, and as you can see from the pictures it does bear a striking resemblance to Sony’s own. It’s actually not the first virtual reality device to mimic PSVR’s design, but this one isn’t particularly subtle in the slightest. Still, while the terms of the relationship haven’t been revealed, we’re sure the Japanese giant will be handsomely rewarded for licensing out its blueprints.
[source theverge.com]
Comments 8
Probably stands to make as much money in licensing as it does in sales.
Also, following on from their prior comments about the VR market effectively stalling and no one being a true competitor to keep things pushing forward, effectively having them monopolise and thus stagnate a very young market, it seems they found a solution.
Simply license their stuff out to get more people in the market to push it forward.
This is smart.
This deal makes sense form a commercial standpoint. VR needs to be successful across the whole sector. Occulus Quest next year is really going to push VR forward even more.
As the comments section on the Verge link point out, I think the problem is still less the headsets, even the price of the headsets, and more a killer software application. But the cons overall outweigh the pros.
While using VR is cool. Really really cool. Setting it up is a pain. The nausea some people get is an actual pain. You aren't supposed to use it if you are under 13 years old, and the videogame market still has the feel of being for kids, even if RDR2 and GTAV and CoD run the show, parents who buy Christmas gifts aren't going to get their kids one when 13+ is plastered on the side of the box and the headsets are actually physically too big for young kids. So you loose that market, no Frozen 2 games. And you need space to really get the feel, not great for bedrooms or dorm rooms. And the game selection still looks to me like it's catered towards Halloween, scary spooky stuff. Which is great for people who like Halloween, but what about people who enjoy Christmas, Easter, Valentine's Day and the 4th of July? And of course it really works best, first and foremost in first person, so people who don't like first person games are out. Sure you can play Bit.Trip Runner in VR, but why?
Pros - it's a really really cool experience for 15 minutes at a time
Cons - dark, heavy, adult themes, pain to set up, makes people sick, not for kids, best for FP games
Having other companies selling PSVR like headsets really isn't going to change any of that. Needs more content. Colorful, happy, fun content. Or at least full games like CoD or RDR2 or Spiderman. It's still in the trial, demo, beta phase. Maybe Astrobot Rescue will be looked back upon as a first step if things take off, but it needs more games. Or at least experiences. I need a 10 pack of the worlds greatest rollercoasters. And the Louvre. And all of Manhattan. VR needs to be virtual reality, not just scares in the dark.
Man, that's ugly af
@CK97 i'll have to agree with you, i thought they would put a little more effort to copy the headset lol, i'm disappointed.
To be fair it is damn comfy... well as comfy as I can imagine having a screen strapped to your face can be. Plus this just means more money to pump into R&D for PSVR 2!. Higher res, larger FOV, controllers with analogue sticks, all guaranteed obviously but I hate the waiting! I want it now! stamps feet
Psvr making more money to Sony. And they said it was a bad idea.
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