Virtual reality just went mainstream. After the Oculus Rift prototype blew the doors off in 2012, it was only a matter of time until larger companies moved in on the concept of modern VR gaming. Sony just unveiled its plans to release a VR headset for the PS4, and this just might be the Oculus Rift’s first real competition.From the beginning, a PS4-focused VR solution seemed like an inevitability. Rumors have been bubbling for months regarding Sony’s plans, and executives were hinting at Project Morpheus as early as January. Valve is clearly interested in the possibilities of virtual reality, and it’s a safe bet that Microsoft is hard at work on its own implementation for the Xbox One. Just like motion-based gaming was a massive trend last generation, the VR meme is quickly spreading throughout the entire industry.
The promise of lifelike virtual reality is incredibly alluring, but the measure of success comes down to the technical implementation. If the display has too much lag, or if the virtual 3D audio is wonky, the illusion is easily broken. In fact, poorly implemented VR could even cause nausea in a non-trivial percentage of users. If Sony is serious about VR, it needs to nail every single detail right off the bat. Project Morpheus is going to compete head-to-head with the likes of the Oculus Rift, so Sony needs its very own John Carmack: a passionate engineer with a tendency towards perfectionism. If all of the stars align, this quirky little VR helmet could mean a substantial influx of cash for a company that continues to struggle despite the PS4′s early success.
