How likely is it that we will see more powerful consoles for VR?

[Duddy]

Full question is, how likely is it that Sony or Microsoft will put out beefed up versions of their current consoles simply to meet VR demand?

Unreal recently announced they had a Morpheus demo achieve 60fps, but it sounds like that pushes the PS4 to it's max. From what I have read, 90fps for VR is the minimum to reduce motion sickness across a much wider audience.

I feel like VR is going to be massive by 2017, I just wonder if the console makers are willing to break their normal years long stretches between new consoles.

 

[ImpulsE69]

Full question is, how likely is it that Sony or Microsoft will put out beefed up versions of their current consoles simply to meet VR demand?

Unreal recently announced they had a Morpheus demo achieve 60fps, but it sounds like that pushes the PS4 to it's max. From what I have read, 90fps for VR is the minimum to reduce motion sickness across a much wider audience.

I feel like VR is going to be massive by 2017, I just wonder if the console makers are willing to break their normal years long stretches between new consoles.

Always possible that MS might, but I have a feeling Sony won't. It is really starting to look like the era of 'consoles' might be near the end (or at least a crash coming). I think this generation missed the boat on many technical levels, but I don't think they care enough about VR and what will probably be perceived as un-needed gimmickry by the majority of casual gamers.

Hard to say though. Nintendo keeps doing weird things that divide the playerbase, so anything is possible.

 

[purbeast0]

isn't sony already working on their own VR thing? doubtful that they would put one out that doesn't work with the ps4 as it is.

putting out a more powerful ps4/x1 would be about the dumbest thing that either company could do and they know that, so highly doubtful they will do that.

both consoles are great as is the only people who really complain about them are pc gamers and fanboys of the other console, which aren't the target market anyways so it doesn't matter. for every 1 person you cry about 1080p60 on this forum, there are about 100k people enjoying the consoles. yes, i made that number up.

 

[mmntech]

Sony has their Morpueus, which according to the gaming press works pretty well. So obviously the PS4 can handle it. Though I strongly suspect it will only work in "supported" games. Meaning devs will have to ensure their game can run consistently at 1080p60 before it gets certified to work with the device.

My biggest concern is that it ends up like the Move. Sony likes to tinker around with exotic hardware, but then never gets around to actually developing software for it. Third party, multi-platform developers can't be bothered spending the extra time and money adding support.

Of course VR has some pretty big consumer applications outside of gaming. There's two things that will sell it: live sports and porn. I know they're already working on the latter, because of course they are. With sports, I think a lot of people will be willing to pay a little extra to get the stadium experience at home.

 

[ImpulsE69]

Yea to clarify, I was referring to Sony not putting out a more powerful console for it. I could see MS doing that though, and even Nintendo.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Nah. They'll just require that games run at whatever detail settings are necessary to provide a smooth experience when they are in "vr mode". You'll probably have to give up a lot of visual fidelity to get VR until the next console generation arrives, if there is a next console generation.

I'm not buying the imminent demise of consoles yet though. People keep predicting it, but as far as I can tell they're doing that despite the evidence rather than because of it, citing factors that one might expect to have an impact on the market rather than evidence that those factors are indeed influencing things.

 

[cmdrdredd]

isn't sony already working on their own VR thing? doubtful that they would put one out that doesn't work with the ps4 as it is.

putting out a more powerful ps4/x1 would be about the dumbest thing that either company could do and they know that, so highly doubtful they will do that.

both consoles are great as is the only people who really complain about them are pc gamers and fanboys of the other console, which aren't the target market anyways so it doesn't matter. for every 1 person you cry about 1080p60 on this forum, there are about 100k people enjoying the consoles. yes, i made that number up.

Yes, sony has been actively working on their VR headset called Morpheus and from what little I've read it has received positive feedback. I still think VR will end up like 3D and be something you either love or can do without and won't go mainstream.

Yea to clarify, I was referring to Sony not putting out a more powerful console for it. I could see MS doing that though, and even Nintendo.

Powerful and Nintendo do not belong in the same sentence.

Full question is, how likely is it that Sony or Microsoft will put out beefed up versions of their current consoles simply to meet VR demand?

Unreal recently announced they had a Morpheus demo achieve 60fps, but it sounds like that pushes the PS4 to it's max. From what I have read, 90fps for VR is the minimum to reduce motion sickness across a much wider audience.

I feel like VR is going to be massive by 2017, I just wonder if the console makers are willing to break their normal years long stretches between new consoles.

People said that about 3D and it's pretty much died off except where it's forced on you in the theater. In general people do not like wearing extra glasses or goggles to be entertained for long sittings.

 

[mmntech]

I think Microsoft is probably going to wait and see how well VR does on PC. If buzz over the Rift doesn't translate into sales, then VR is going to get shoved to the back burner.

Powerful and Nintendo do not belong in the same sentence.

Only since the Wii. In the past, Nintendo's TV top systems were as or more powerful than their mainstream contemporaries. But yeah, they're notoriously slow to latch on to industry trends.

 

[ImpulsE69]

True but Nintendo LOVES to put out expensive peripherals that only get so so actual game support. I could totally see them releasing some VR thing on a system that is an upgrade to a Wii-U. They do this stuff constantly on the mobile side.

 

[JeffMD]

VR is going to be a test been for at least 5 more years I think. It should be in its Prime in time for the next systems. Nintendo will turned into another Sega, but not suck as much me thinks.

 

[cmdrdredd]

VR is going to be a test been for at least 5 more years I think. It should be in its Prime in time for the next systems. Nintendo will turned into another Sega, but not suck as much me thinks.

I hope so, then I wouldn't have to buy another $200+ console for 2 or 3 games that are actually good. Looked at the release list and there was all this noise last year about "wait and see, Nintendo will have all these games and kick Sony and MS' asses" well, there's 5 games releasing between now and early next year. Only three are scheduled for 2015. There are a lot of coming soons and TBAs on the list too but those titles are a year off (or more)most likely.

I don't see Nintendo doing anything on the hardware front for home consoles. Their stuff just isn't selling to begin with.

 

[Duddy]

I know Facebook has approached Microsoft about bringing the Rift to Xbox. MS could at least make a Hololens VR or something.

Imagine a partnership with the NFL. They could offer VR seats to NFL games. Create the most immersive experience of a game short of actually being there. Hell, even have players approach the VR rig and give commentary. They could even set-up a reporter table next to that VR seat, making it feel like you have your own sports commentators speaking to you.

I just think there is massive potential there for a waterfall of cash.

 

[dagamer34]

When you take a look at the specs Oculus Rift recommends vs the likely price of Morpheus (maybe $200, probably $300), I don't see it "exploding" in sales.

Doing VR right with the visuals the public probably expects takes a *ton* of GPU power if you want it to be fast, movement to be fluid, and visuals to be rendered for a HiDPI display to avoid looking at a pixelated mess. And I'm not sure even the PS4 is really there when Oculus recommends a GTX 980. And certainly Oculus will have the upper hand as the want 90 frames per second rendered vs. Morpheus capped 60.

 

[Graze]

It would never happen.

 

[Rezist]

My guess is the next consoles will be sub-4k but 1080p 60+, then maybe after that we get 4k and then our first VR after that. So probably 12-15 years.

 

[Anteaus]

Oculus Rift is running at 2160X1200 (1080X1200 per eye). In a world where consoles can barely manage 1080P at 30FPS in some games....its highly unlikely that we will see meaningful VR except where the tech might be gimped to match the performance level of consoles.

I think VR will be useful for certain applications, but for mainstream gaming we are still well away. Even with the release of Oculus Rift, mainstream gamers will be hard pressed to spend that much money to get equipped. There is also longevity to be concerned with. As for myself, even I see the virtue of VR but I have little desire to spend any real amount of time with gear on my head. I refuse to even see 3D movies anymore because the annoyance of wearing the glasses has overshadowed the gimmick of the technology.

In general I am excited about the technology, but as a gamer I'm only moderately interested.