Boring name, cool tech: Sony’s Project Morpheus is now called PlayStation VR

By Brad Jones September 15, 2015

sony renames project morpheus playstation vr 2

This morning, Sony kicked off the 2016 edition of the Tokyo Game Show with a host of new game announcements and other news. Among the updates shared at the company’s conference came the official rebranding of the virtual reality system many had become very familiar with as Project Morpheus.

Sony announced that the peripheral will now be known as PlayStation VR — a rather dry name for an exciting bit of equipment. As is the norm for video game hardware, the codename was far more interesting than the official label it will be released under.

Executive vice president Masayasu Ito is quoted as saying that the new name ‘reflects our hopes that we want our users to feel a sense of familiarity as they enjoy this amazing experience’ in a post on the official PlayStation Blog for Europe.

Project Morpheus was first announced at the 2014 Game Developers Conference, but had reportedly been in development for some three years ahead of its unveiling. Since then, it’s been a constant presence at trade shows, and hands-on impressions have largely been very positive.

Sony has maintained that the hardware will be ready for a retail release in early 2016, and the fact that this rebranding has taken place now certainly lends credence to that plan. The consumer version of the Oculus Rift is also anticipated to release in the first quarter of next year.

The race for virtual reality dominance is certainly starting to hot up, although it remains to be seen which device will come out on top. A fun experience for five minutes in a trade show setting is one thing, but the proof of the pudding will come when the hardware is in the hands of consumers — then we’ll see whether this tech is really the future of gaming, or just the latest fad.

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Brad is an English-born writer currently splitting his time between Edinburgh and Pennsylvania. You can find him on Twitter…

Gaming

PlayStation VR2 is my first headset. Here’s what I think after one week in VR

A side view of the PlayStation VR2, which sits on a wood table.

Before my PlayStation VR2 arrived at my doorstep last week, my experience playing in VR was minimal. I'd reported on the industry and its games for years, but my actual playtime in a headset was limited to an Eve: Valkyrie demo at a GameStop ahead of PlayStation VR's launch, a couple of demos at trade shows, and one 15-minute session of Phantom: Covert Ops on Meta Quest 2 while hanging out with a friend.
Despite claims by companies like Meta that VR would serve as the future of communication and entertainment, the technology seemed too scattershot and underdeveloped for my liking, with many competitors putting out underpowered headsets, many of which need a wire or two. That said, part of me still wondered if it would take the right headset with the right features and game library to transform the gaming medium forever. Although the Meta Quest 2 has tempted me for some time, it was the PlayStation VR2 that finally got me to bite the bullet and embrace VR.

PSVR2 is expensive at $550, but it appealed to me with its impressive specs and the fact that it only requires one wired connection to the PS5. That was all I needed to bite the bullet. Since it arrived, I've gone all-in on the tech to make up for lost time, trying out games like Gran Turismo 7, Horizon Call of the Mountain, and Zombieland: Headshot Fever Reloaded. Although I'm impressed by the headset's power and how comfortable it is, don't consider me a convert just yet. I can't imagine it replacing traditional gaming on my PS5 or becoming my preferred social setting anytime soon, and that leaves me to wonder how high VR's ceiling can actually go.
Strapping in
My first thought when I got my PSVR2 was that the package was much smaller and lighter than I expected. VR always seemed large and clunky from an outside perspective, so I was impressed by the sleek and easy-to-unbox packaging and the headset's manageable size. Next, I had to set up the headset, which was something I was dreading as a first-time user. Surprisingly, the setup process was pretty quick after I plugged in the headset.
Within about 15 minutes, I had completed the initial setup and was already familiar with the passthrough tool. It didn't dig into my head and nose like I thought it would, mercifully. The few times I've strapped on other VR headsets, they've always felt like they're squeezing my face. That was not the case here, as I easily adjusted the headset to my liking. Even the feeling of the wire quickly became a non-factor for me as I played more and more.

Gaming

PlayStation VR2’s best launch game isn’t the one you we’re expecting

fantavision 202x impressions hands on psvr2 outer space fireworks

With the PlayStation VR2 out now, all eyes are on Horizon Call of the Mountain. The action-adventure title is Sony’s first big exclusive for the platform, acting as its tentpole launch title. While it’s a must-buy for anyone picking up the device on day one, it's more successful as a strong technical showcase for the headset rather than as a fun game that stands on its own. If you’re looking for the latter, you’ll want to check out PSVR2’s real hidden weapon: Fantavision 202X.

『FANTAVISION 202X』 - ゲームプレイトレーラー

Gaming

Get these 6 PlayStation VR2 launch games to showcase its features

A side view of the PlayStation VR2, which sits on a wood table.

If you're planning on buying a PlayStation VR2 at launch, be prepared for an intimidating process as you decide which games to pick up first. Early adopters will have a lot of options to choose from, as Sony's latest headset will support over 40 games at launch. The bulk of those, though, are ports of preexisting VR games from the past few years. That makes it a little tricky to figure out which games actually showcase what the PSVR2 is capable of and which will feel like a dated experience that doesn't benefit from new tech.

To help guide you, we've spent time playing through a wide variety of launch titles, from classics like Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy's Edge all the way to Horizon Call of the Mountain. While there are plenty of games that we've enjoyed, including charmers like What the Bat? and Jurassic World Aftermath Collection, six games in particular act as great showcases for various PSVR2 features. Whether you're looking to test its power, Sense controllers, or audio options, you'll want to put these six games in your digital shopping cart.
Horizon Call of the Mountain