PlayStation VR

PlayStation VR
Basic Info
VR/AR	Virtual Reality
Type	Head-mounted display
Subtype	Console VR
Platform	PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 (via adapter)
Creator	Sony Interactive Entertainment
Developer	Sony Interactive Entertainment
Manufacturer	Sony Interactive Entertainment
Announcement Date	March 18, 2014 (GDC, as "Project Morpheus")
Release Date	October 13, 2016
Price	$399 (headset), $499 (Launch Bundle)
Website	https://www.playstation.com/ps-vr/
Versions	CUH-ZVR1 (original), CUH-ZVR2 (revised 2017)
Requires	PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5 (with adapter), PlayStation Camera
Predecessor	None
Successor	PlayStation VR2
System
Operating System	PlayStation system software
Chipset	External Processing Unit (EPU)
CPU	N/A (PS4/PS5-powered)
GPU	N/A (PS4/PS5-powered)
Storage
Storage	N/A
Memory	N/A
SD Card Slot	No
Display
Display	Single 5.7" OLED
Subpixel Layout	RGB stripe
Peak Brightness	Not specified
Resolution	960 × 1080 per eye (1920 × 1080 total)
Pixel Density	~10 PPD
Refresh Rate	90Hz, 120Hz (reprojection)
Persistence	Low persistence
Image
Field of View	100°
Horizontal FoV	~96°
Vertical FoV	~96°
Average Pixel Density	~10 PPD
Peak Pixel Density	~10 PPD
Foveated Rendering	No
Optics
Optics	Aspheric lenses
Ocularity	Binocular
IPD Range	Software adjustment (no physical)
Adjustable Diopter	No (glasses compatible)
Passthrough	No
Tracking
Tracking	6DoF outside-in (PlayStation Camera + visible light LEDs)
Tracking Frequency	60Hz (camera)
Base Stations	PlayStation Camera required (sold separately or bundled)
Eye Tracking	No
Face Tracking	No
Hand Tracking	No
Body Tracking	No
Rotational Tracking	Yes
Positional Tracking	Yes
Update Rate	120Hz (display), 1000Hz (IMU)
Tracking Volume	~10 ft × 6 ft
Play Space	Standing/seated
Latency	<18ms motion-to-photon
Audio
Audio	Integrated earbuds (included), 3.5mm jack
Microphone	Yes (inline on earbuds)
3.5mm Audio Jack	Yes
Camera	No
Connectivity
Connectivity	HDMI, USB (via EPU)
Ports	HDMI (to EPU), USB (to EPU), 3.5mm audio
Wired Video	Yes (HDMI via EPU)
Wireless Video	No
WiFi	No
Bluetooth	No
Power	EPU powered (AC adapter)
Battery Capacity	N/A
Battery Life	N/A (tethered)
Charge Time	N/A
Device
Dimensions	187 × 185 × 277mm (headset)
Weight	600g (headset without cable)
Material	Plastic
Headstrap	Adjustable halo band
Haptics	Controller haptics (DualShock 4, PS Move)
Color	White/Black
Sensors	9 LEDs (visible light), accelerometer, gyroscope
Input	DualShock 4, PlayStation Move controllers, PlayStation VR Aim Controller
Compliance	FCC, CE

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The PlayStation VR (PSVR) is a console VR head-mounted display developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, first revealed as "Project Morpheus" at GDC on March 18, 2014, and released on October 13, 2016 at a price of $399 for the headset alone or $499 for the Launch Bundle including PlayStation Camera and PlayStation VR Worlds. The PSVR brought high-quality VR to the living room through the PlayStation 4, offering an accessible entry point compared to PC VR headsets that required expensive gaming computers. Featuring a 5.7-inch OLED display at 1920 × 1080 resolution (960 × 1080 per eye), 120Hz capability, comfortable halo-band design, and a unique RGB subpixel arrangement that reduced screen door effect, the PSVR sold over 5 million units by its second anniversary, establishing console VR as a viable market segment.

History and Development

Project Morpheus

Initial development:

Internal Sony research since 2010
"Project Morpheus" codename
Named after Greek god of dreams
GDC 2014 reveal

GDC 2014 Announcement

Public unveiling:

March 18, 2014
Prototype demonstrated
PlayStation ecosystem integration
Developer enthusiasm

Development Iterations

Multiple prototypes:

Original 2014 prototype
Updated 2015 version (GDC)
Near-final at TGS 2015
"PlayStation VR" final name (September 2015)

E3 2016 Launch Details

Commercial launch announced:

October 13, 2016 release date
$399 pricing revealed
Launch game lineup
Bundle options

October 2016 Launch

Global release:

$399 headset only
$499 Launch Bundle
PlayStation Camera required (separate or bundled)
Strong initial demand

Design Philosophy

Console Accessibility

Living room VR:

No PC required
Existing PlayStation 4 base
Lower total cost than PC VR
Family-friendly environment

Comfort Priority

Extended wear design:

Halo-band head mount
Balanced weight distribution
Doesn't press on face
Comfortable for glasses

Social Screen

Shared experiences:

TV shows what VR user sees
Asymmetric multiplayer possible
Family participation
Party game design

Display Technology

Single OLED Panel

Split display approach:

Size: 5.7 inches (single panel)
Resolution: 1920 × 1080 total (960 × 1080 per eye)
Type: OLED
Subpixels: RGB stripe (not PenTile)

RGB Subpixel Advantage

Reduced screen door effect:

Full RGB arrangement
Better than PenTile at same resolution
Smoother image appearance
Sony's display expertise

Refresh Rate

Multiple modes:

Native: 90Hz, 120Hz
Reprojection: 60fps → 120Hz
Smooth motion
Developer flexibility

Low Persistence

Motion clarity:

Global illumination
<18ms latency
Reduced blur
Comfortable viewing

Optical System

Aspheric Lenses

Clean optics:

Minimal god rays
Less distortion than Fresnel
Good clarity
Comfortable viewing

Field of View

Approximately 100°:

Competitive FOV
Good immersion
Slightly less than PC VR
Adequate for games

IPD Adjustment

Software only:

No physical adjustment
Software compensation
Works for most users
Limitation for extremes

Glasses Compatibility

Designed for glasses:

Headset extends forward
Doesn't press on frames
Good glasses fit
Comfort maintained

External Processing Unit (EPU)

Breakout Box

Required component:

Connects headset to PS4
Processes 3D audio
Handles social screen output
Powers headset

Functionality

Processing tasks:

Mirror display to TV (social screen)
3D audio processing
Cinematic Mode rendering
Signal management

Connection Flow

System integration:

PS4 → EPU → Headset
PS4 → EPU → TV (social screen)
Seamless switching
VR/non-VR transitions

Tracking System

PlayStation Camera Tracking

Visible light LED tracking:

9 LEDs on headset
Tracked by PlayStation Camera
6DoF positioning
Visible light (not IR)

LED Configuration

Unique light pattern:

Front and sides of headset
Distinctive shape recognition
360° challenging
Best facing camera

Tracking Limitations

System constraints:

Front-facing primarily
Occlusion issues when turning
Limited tracking volume
PlayStation Camera limitations

IMU Integration

Sensor fusion:

Accelerometer
Gyroscope
Combined with camera data
Smooth tracking

Controllers

DualShock 4

Standard gamepad:

Light bar tracked
6DoF positioning (limited)
Familiar controls
Included with PS4

PlayStation Move

Motion controllers:

Originally PS3 accessory
Two controllers recommended
6DoF tracking each
Hand presence in VR

PlayStation VR Aim Controller

Dedicated accessory:

Gun-shaped controller
Designed for shooters
Accurate aiming
Immersive experience

Physical Design

Halo Band

Comfort innovation:

Band around head
Visor extends forward
No pressure on face
Easy adjustment

Adjustment System

Fitting controls:

Rear dial tightening
Scope button (slides visor)
Eye-to-lens adjustment
Quick changes

Weight Distribution

Balanced design:

600g headset
Weight on top of head
Not face-heavy
Extended comfort

CUH-ZVR2 Revision

2017 update:

Slimmer EPU
Integrated headphone cable
Improved cable management
HDR passthrough

Audio

Included Earbuds

Standard audio:

Stereo earbuds included
3D audio capable
Inline microphone
Removable

3D Audio

Spatial sound:

Custom audio engine
Positional accuracy
Enhances immersion
HRTF processing

3.5mm Jack

Upgrade option:

Use own headphones
Better audio quality possible
Premium headphone support

Cinematic Mode

Virtual Screen

Non-VR content viewing:

All PS4 content in VR
Virtual cinema screen
Three size options (small/medium/large)
Up to 226" virtual screen

2D Gaming

Regular games in VR:

Play any PS4 game
Large virtual display
Personal theater experience
Alternative viewing mode

Software and Games

Launch Titles

Day-one content:

PlayStation VR Worlds
Batman: Arkham VR
RIGS: Mechanized Combat League
EVE: Valkyrie
Job Simulator

Exclusive Games

Platform-defining titles:

Astro Bot Rescue Mission
Blood & Truth
Resident Evil 7 (full game)
Gran Turismo Sport (VR mode)
Firewall Zero Hour

Third-Party Support

Wide content library:

Beat Saber
Superhot VR
No Man's Sky VR
Skyrim VR
500+ VR titles

PlayStation 5 Compatibility

PS5 Support

Backward compatibility:

Plays PSVR games on PS5
Free camera adapter required
Enhanced performance some games
Legacy support

Adapter Required

Camera connection:

PS5 doesn't have PS4 camera port
Free adapter from Sony
Same tracking system
Functional on next-gen

Commercial Success

Sales Performance

Strong adoption:

Over 5 million units (by October 2019)
Best-selling VR headset at launch
Console audience reached
Market expansion

Market Impact

Industry significance:

Proved console VR viable
Mainstream VR exposure
Developer support
Platform longevity

Comparison with PC VR

Feature	PlayStation VR	Oculus Rift CV1	HTC Vive
Price	$399	$599	$799
Platform	PS4 ($299+)	Gaming PC ($900+)	Gaming PC ($900+)
Resolution/eye	960×1080	1080×1200	1080×1200
Refresh Rate	90/120Hz	90Hz	90Hz
FOV	100°	110°	110°
Tracking	Camera (visible)	Constellation (IR)	Lighthouse (IR)
Room-scale	Limited	With sensors	Native

Legacy

Console VR Establishment

Proved market:

5+ million units sold
Console VR viable
Developer support
Mainstream reach

Comfort Innovation

Design influence:

Halo band design copied
Face-pressure-free concept
Glasses compatibility
Extended wear comfort

PlayStation VR2 Foundation

Successor development:

Lessons applied
Technology advancement
PS5-native design
Next generation

Technical Specifications Summary

Specification	Details
Display	5.7" OLED, 960 × 1080 per eye
Total Resolution	1920 × 1080
Refresh Rate	90Hz, 120Hz
FOV	~100°
Tracking	PlayStation Camera (visible LEDs)
Subpixels	RGB stripe
Audio	3D audio, earbuds included
Controllers	DualShock 4, PS Move
Weight	600g
Platform	PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Price	$399 (headset)

References