(Credit: Sony)
Sony is already established in the VR gaming space with the PlayStation VR. At CES 2024, the company previewed a more enterprise-focused mixed-reality headset geared toward those interested in things like 3D modeling and creation.
"Sony plans to collaborate with developers of a variety of 3D production software, including in the entertainment and industrial design fields," it says. Siemens will be its exclusive launch partner and provide a "new solution for immersive design and collaborative product engineering."
The headset, which is expected in late 2024, will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 platform. On-chip AI will facilitate user and space tracking.
Expect 4K OLED micro displays and video see-through function, plus controllers "optimized for intuitive interaction with 3D objects and precise pointing." The display flips up like a visor so the person wearing the device can return to reality without taking off the full headset. Full specs, pricing, and a launch date will be revealed at a later date.
The obvious comparison is with upcoming Apple Vision Pro, which lands on Feb. 2 for $3,499. Sony is calling its headset a "spatial content creation system," while Apple is pushing the spatial computing concept hard with the Vision Pro. Apple's device has more of an entertainment focus, however. (CEO Tim Cook watched Ted Lasso with it, he says.)
There's also the more budget-friendly Meta Quest 3, which features color pass-through cameras that enable high-quality augmented reality. We'll have to see where Sony's device fits in.