Sony has showcased a new headset device meant for spatial content creation at CES 2024. This is different from the PlayStation VR2 as it is not meant for gaming. The new headset is targeted at professionals to help them with 3D content creation in entertainment and industrial design. The company is yet to reveal its full specifications, pricing, and release date information. The current announcement was more of a teaser on what to expect once it launches later this year.
Sony Working on Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 Powered Headset
Sony has kept the majority of the details about the headset under wraps for the moment. This is the reason we do not know the official name of the product either. It is currently being referred to as a “spatial content creation system” in the teaser announcement.
The headset has an XR head-mounted display featuring 4K OLED Microdisplays. It is said to be capable of delivering real-time, high-quality rendering of not only 3D objects but also human facial expressions. Sony is using its proprietary rendering technology to make that happen. There are a total of six cameras and sensors that help with spatial recognition.
It has the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 processor, which went official just last week. It is the most powerful XR chip from the house of Qualcomm. It is responsible for supporting 4K OLED Microdisplays on the headset as well as the much-needed performance for smoother XR experiences.
Sony’s new mixed-reality headset comes with a unique set of controllers. It has a ring controller and pointing controller. The ring controller helps with interacting with 3D objects in the virtual space intuitively. The pointing controller works the same way as the name suggests. It is meant for precise pointing and helping creators work in the virtual space using controllers and keyboards.
The headset has a flip-up mechanism that makes it easier for users to switch between the virtual and real space. It eliminates the need to take off the headset whenever you want to engage with the real world. Sony says it has also fine-tuned the device’s center of gravity and worked on its material to ensure users can wear it for a long time.
Sony’s goal is to team up with multiple 3D production software developers. It has currently announced an exclusive partnership with Siemens. We should be hearing more about Sony’s plans for the new headset in the coming months.
