First Impressions: Sony PlayStation VR Gets Gamers Hooked

With Sony’s first VR accessory, you don’t need a high-end PC with a graphics card.

Sony’s PlayStation VR headset was announced on the sidelines of India Gaming Show on Thursday, priced at Rs 41,990. The headset is expected to be available from March onwards, and is compatible with the PlayStation 4 gaming console.

We took a spin at the latest virtual reality headset, which when bundled with the PS 4, will still cost you less than the price of buying a HTC Vive or the Oculus Rift in India. Here’s what we thought about the upcoming product.

Virtual Reality Is Finally User-Friendly

The first thing you cherish about using the PlayStation VR (PS VR) is how easily you can wear this headset weighing 365 grams and not feel any kind of strain. Moving away from the bulkier versions, it is good to see technology brands evolving with their headset designs, getting closer to how they should really be.

We managed to wear the PS VR for over 15 minutes, and wanted to continue wearing it without any complains. Future of VR looks good, alright.

Gamers get a Taste of Virtual Reality

If you’ve given a shot at gaming with VR headsets like the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive, it’s kind of obvious that the level of excitement in gaming with VR goes to a whole new level. We spoke to a few gamers at the PS 4 stall, and their excitement chimed with ours.

If there was anything that the gaming industry was crying out loud for over the years, those prayers have been finally been anaswered.

Our demo unit was added with the Batman Arkham VR version, taking us through the story of young Bruce Wayne, when his parents were killed in an alley. Wearing the PS VR, you feel as if the young Bruce Wayne is you, and the killer is looking right into your eyes. That’s sure to give you goosebumps.

The next stage of the game, takes you to Wayne’s dungeon and this is where the head tracking capability of the PS VR comes to fore. Shooting weapons with the controller, offers a haptic feedback, which is also seen with the HTC Vive’s wireless controllers.

Now if I was an avid gamer, letting go of the story would have been next to impossible but that’s where it all ended for us. We can’t wait to experience the PS VR in the coming months.

PlayStation VR: Everything You Should Know

• Display: 5.7-inch 1920x1080 full-HD OLED
• Field of view: 100 degrees (approx)
• Connectivity ports: USB and HDMI
• More: built-in microphone, gyroscope, accelerometer, 360-degree head tracking, high refresh rates
• Compatible with: PS 4 or PS 4 Pro
• Price: Rs 41,990 (Rs 37,990 without camera bundle)

Get Gaming with VR

We’re happy that an event like the IGS gave us the chance to try out the PS VR before it hits the stores. For those keen on buying this one, can pre-order it right now.