PSVR's Awkward Design Is in Desperate Need of Change, But It's (Probably) Not Going to Happen

Author writes: Sony announced a handful of PSVR titles during its State of Play livestream. Unfortunately, the headset's awkward design needs some attention it won't get.

[2pacalypsenow]

Awkward design?

[Nitrowolf2]

Not sure what they mean by this tbh, I mean it’s a headset display and the design looks fine to me. Not to mention it’s really comfortable

It’s a stepping stone for the future, and maybe one day it’ll all be on a set of sunglasses (cries knowing that won’t happen for a long time and at an affordable price)

[darthv72]

i believe Sony did have a prototype that was much narrower for the display size. Still bigger than sunglasses but not as big as it currently is. and it had built in headphones.

In all honesty, it really doesnt need such a large display piece. Even something half the thickness / height would still work. So its possible they will revise it to be much more light weight and streamline. If anything, the future for VR will likely end up looking like Jordy's visor from TNG.

[darthv72]

Ahh yes... here is one of their prototypes. you can see its design was a bit more streamlined.

http://cmdcorner.blogspot.c...

And here was another that was similar but slightly different

https://www.samaa.tv/uncate...

not sure why they went with the one we got now but either of these (especially the 2nd one) looked to be more comfortable (lighter weight) to wear for long play sessions.

[kayoss]

If i remembered correctly, that streamline design had flaws. It couldnt stay on the gamers head when they're moving around due to it being front heavy and the design allowed external lights to go through. I cant remember where i read that from but it was a while back.

[VenomUK]

Sony announce the quite amazing news that this 'niche' product has over 4.2 million sales and we get one of these negative articles designed to garner hits. Now, it's not to say that the PSVR headset is perfect, but I tried the original Oculus and Vive and they were both terrible for comfort (especially the Vive, it hurt after less than 30 minutes). What Sony did was design the headset so that it be worn for a prolonged period because it distributes its weight evenly around the head. It was so good that Lenovo copied it! Then Sony begun legal proceedings against them and then Lenovo agreed to pay to license the design.

It's perfectly fair to look at hardware and talk about what you would like to be better in the next version, but I think the problem here with this piece is that the author Chris Jeck is reviewing a hardware that is two and a half years old, that is pioneering first generation VR hardware, and criticising it for not being perfect or comparable to present day technology. Now a review is subjective but with pioneering technology that is constantly changing if you review it 2.5 years later then the market will have moved on.

[RizBiz]

If you read the article it becomes clear the headline is complete click-bait. The re-design he's talking about is with regards to cable management and how setup isn't as easy as it could be.

[bluefox755]

It's easily the most comfortable headset imo, not sure what this article is on about.

[subtenko]

its the best looking one too!

[ElementX]

Did you even bother to read the article? They do refer to the 50 cables you have to attach to the thing, plus the fact that the original model required you to unplug it to play a regular game in HDR.

[Neonridr]

yeah, they fixed some issues with the v2 but they really screwed the pooch with the whole breakout box not supporting HDR for the original design. Which was a dumb decision because this thing released a few weeks before the Pro model, so it's not like they didn't see the need for HDR.

I have to run a stupid HDMI switch and an extra HDMI cable to be able to not have to unplug the breakout box everytime and swap around HDMI cables in order to enjoy HDR on my 4K TV.

[anonymousfan]

Did you ever have to setup an oculus or a vive?!? The PSVR is a walk in the park next to those two.

[HICK]

50 cables? Right...I do agree that it's annoying the v1 breakout box doesn't support HDR, but it's not a deal breaker. I'm excited for v2 and hoping it's a big step in VR innovation and not just a few improvements.

[Neonridr]

@anonymousfan - the only reason why a Vive or Oculus is harder to set up is because there are more components (more sensors, etc). This is also the reason why the tracking on those other two will always be far superior as well.

[2pacalypsenow]

I don't see how wires make it an awkward design.

[LordStig]

50? Ok one hdmi to connect the breakout box to the tv, one hdmi to connect the breakout box to the ps4, one power cable to power the breakout box, one usb to connect to the ps4 and one cable to connect the headset to the breakout box.

[Razzer]

" the only reason why a Vive or Oculus is harder to set up is because there are more components (more sensors, etc). "

That's kind of his point.

[rainslacker]

It doesn't have that many cables, and is it worth saying they need redesigns on certain things, and coming to the conclusion that it won't happen, when they have already redesigned some things....such as HDR? Why make a point of something, then use an argument that is completely counter to that?

As far as set up, it's not that hard. Hell, I have to place my camera in the middle of the room every time I use it, and it still only takes a few seconds to calibrate. I do hope they fix the camera distance thing, but thats a software thing, and not an issue of the design of the hardware.

You say that it has 50 cables. I count 5, including the power cable. That's 5, not 50. That's 10% of the number you say. Given that if something doesn't go above 10% it's a failure in the eyes of many, I'd say that your argument fails.

If you want to make a hyperbolic or exaggerated argument, at least say why that exaggeration is somehow awkward. The only cable that can be awkward is the one going to the headset. It's mostly not in the way, and is actually long enough to reach across a sizable room. The camera cable could be longer, or they could have better sensors, but that doesn't make PSVR awkward, just requires some set up before each use in some situations.

[ElementX]

I bet most of the people who wanted the HDR pass through went out and bought the revised version also, inflating the sales numbers.

[uth11]

i get the cables are annoying, but what's the alternative? wireless with the throughput needed would shoot up the price and would still probably need a base station that plugs into the PS4.

also the PS5 has been rumored to have the breakout box tech integrated into the console, so that would reduce a few cables

[thorstein]

Why would I need to read an article on a device I own.

And, now you confirm that they are lying about it? Nice.

There is one cable. 1. While I know that you are being hyperbolic about the 50. There is still only 1.

"plus the fact that the original model required you to unplug it to play a regular game in HDR."

Another lie. I have the OG model and a $20 HD switch is all I needed to pick up. They were $30 at launch and are only needed if you have a 4K TV and PS Pro.

Not needed for those with OG PS4 going to 1080P.

Any other lies you'd like to spout?

[subtenko]

Nope, not when its BS.

[ocelot07]

@Neonridr this is true plus with the standard PS4 also getting HDR support it was a little silly on Sony's part.

[Neonridr]

I get so many disagrees for stating an obvious fact. If PSVR had released a few years prior to HDR being implemented or the Pro releasing, then fine. But this was a complete oversight on Sony's part. The fact that I had to buy an HDMI switch and a couple of extra HDMI cables was dumb. I didn't feel like climbing under my entertainment center and swapping out the cables thus putting wear and tear on the HDMI ports so I went with a more permanent solution. Sure it works now, but why should I have to engineer a solution when Sony should have done so from the start? Those who jumped on board with V2 got a much better end of the deal.

People think I am slamming PSVR or something, I own and use one for pete's sake. What, I am supposed to not complain about something that should have been there from the start? Sheesh..

[rainslacker]

I think they had that break out box manufactured before they started using the new chips, and probably before they knew the base PS4 would have HDR. HDR has been kind of a weird standard to get implemented, and the hardware requirements have changed a few times due to HDCP2.2 and it's predecessors adding new requirements.

Either that, or they had a bunch of old chips they were trying to get rid of. I think it was an oversight, and not a design flaw. I dunno. It's been fixed, so if that was an issue for making it awkward, it's not a reason to say Sony won't fix things in the future. It's kind of too bad they don't sell the newer breakout boxes separately for those that do want HDR easier.

[Neonridr]

@rainslacker - I would have totally went out and purchased a newer breakout box. But as it stands I have 3 options. Buy an entire v2 model to get the newer breakout box. Build my own solution involving an HDMI switch and some extra cables. Or climb under my entertainment unit and swap cables any time I want to play the PSVR and/or use HDR on my 4K TV.

I chose the middle option because it required a nominal investment ($30). And it seems to work. Definitely an oversight, just something they should have been aware of I guess.

[rainslacker]

Twinfinite Editor in Chief: Quick, MS needs our help. We need to find a way to distract from yesterdays State of Play Video which had a bunch of VR games shown. What can we do?

Twinfinite Write: I know. Let's drum up an old argument that wasn't true in the first place, disregard that the design is among the best on the market in terms of comfort and discount that it has advantages over some of the more expensive competitors of the time. We'll not give credence to the fact that the peripheral has only been around for around 3 years, and that Sony should have a new model the very second, two months before, any new tech actually becomes available. We'll avoid the fact that Sony has filed god knows how many patents in the past three years related to VR, and has already stated that they will continue on with PSVR and a new model was in the works.

Twinfinite EiC: Brilliant. I love it when we can write click bait and no one really holds us accountable to our idiocy. Be sure to submit your article to me so I can verify any adlink items so we can get paid. Don't worry about things like verifying facts or making a decent editorial argument. I won't read your article anyways, because you aren't a good writer to begin with. Get to work!!!

This educational skit of Game Journalism Today brought to you by the JJ Jameson foundation for media integrity. A non-profit organization providing free to use educational material for middle school level journalism classes, which is about the only qualification you need to be a game journalist today.

[Knushwood Butt]

@ rainslacker

Yeah, I can imagine what the inevitable article would have been had a bunch of VR games not been included in the presentation. 'Is Sony abandoning VR?', etc...

[sampsonon]

HAHAHA! this is some kind of conspiracy against Sony. yes these subtle attacks, cross play, ps now, vr, have always been there. but not at this rate, and i find it very interesting it happening just after Googles Stadia announcement.
man, with MS, Google, and soon to be Apple going hard for streaming services, Sony better get those AAA single player MASTERPIECES coming. like a title wave of pure gaming art, where no shortcuts are made.

if you're a gamer you need to support what Sony is doing. they may be gaming's last hope for traditional console gaming.

do i like streaming games? sure from time to time. but what is coming is total control of your future ability to game . they can ban you and then you have nothing. and then there is the future low quality games. how else do you think Google can promise 4 - 8k ( 60 - 120 fps) streaming? if you think games like God Of War or Horizon Zero Dawn will play without problems?you are dreaming. i won't even mention games like GT Sport.

like Chuck - D once said "FIGHT THE POWER".

[KickSpinFilter]

Perhaps he means all the wires going here from there?
Headset wise it's a perfect form for what it was intended for.
But ya wires gotta go!
PSVR2 needs other options, but it would be asinine to have yet another redesign for PS4 gen.

[ThinkThink]

Of all the VR headsets I've tried, I prefer the comfort of the PSVR. Plus, it's the only one that doesn't give me VR hair.

[smolinsk]

Maybe it's the way it's set up, the design with all the confusing cords and cables that goes in all directions. Very confusing setup and very irritating.. The headset is fine, so it must be the all the rest that just doesn't work in our world with so many cords and cables just doesn't add up.. Only reason I didn't buy it..

[ApocalypseShadow]

How is it confusing when all the cords are NUMBERED with stickers on where they go and the HDMI cables are marked with CONTROLLER SYMBOLS on how they plug into the breakout box which is also marked with symbols?

Generally speaking, you would have to be a complete idiot not to figure it out when they made it that easy with a huge manual with big pictures. A Fifth Grader could figure it out.

[MrSega]

I Like a lot of its design, of all available VR headset it is the best one.

[SuperSonic91]

PS VR is gonna sell like crazy this year

[rainslacker]

I actually find it pretty comfortable once its all positioned properly. I have an issue with my contacts drying out when I use it, so I often have to stop and readjust it more than I feel the average person would. I'm getting new glasses soon, so maybe that'll make it better to use.

On a side note....I know some didn't like the SoP thing yesterday and they criticize it because of the VR stuff. But, it did it's job, and is getting people talking about VR. People said that E3 was important, but with everything that goes on at E3, how many times have we seen VR stuff get some attention in the fact of bigger things? Not since the reveal and subsequent showing the year after. Every other VR thing they showed pretty much went unnoticed.

And that's why Sony is going this route to market it's products. E3 couldn't provide broad enough results for the money they were spending. They were spending a lot of money, and only a few takeaways were happening.

[ApocalypseShadow]

Actually rain, they spent money having demo booths to play it on the show floors. Which makes sense in the fact that you have to try it to understand it. Onstage just doesn't make sense.

Maybe they need more bus tours to different cities and let gamers try some games while telling them to be careful of full locomotion games. Or use comfort settings. Maybe rent out some locations for "Playstation Parties."

[rainslacker]

Yeah, I know they do stuff. But, we're talking the difference between reaching a few hundred people at a time, compared to reaching tens of thousands at a time. I think when the Twitch stream ended yesterday, they had 56,000 viewers. It would be unreasonable to demonstrate PSVR to that many people within a short period of time.

Putting it in places like Best Buy, and some select GameStops can be good, but I think they didn't last that long. I never saw one in a GameStop despite there being quite a few around here. I never saw one at a Best Buy. It's just the nature of the beast that you can't demonstrate this product to people on a large scale.

[boing1]

That's the most comfortable vr headset I've used.

[porkChop]

There are things that could be improved, but it's not that bad. The set-up and cables need to be a bit more streamlined for PSVR2 though. But as a first attempt they did a pretty solid job.

[rainslacker]

I think just having an VR out on the PS5 would solve the issue. Surely they can have the splitting hardware internal to the PS5. I don't think it would cost that much to include. However, even a few dollars over millions of units is still a lot. Perhaps a proprietary single cable to manage all that stuff may be better, and if we're lucky, a wireless new headset. I'd imagine if they make the current PSVR forward compatible, it will require the same set up....so I'm only talking about PSVR2.

[porkChop]

Honestly, PSVR 2 doesn't even need a proprietary cable. They can just use USB-C.

USB-C can power the headset and transmit the audio/video signal. It's even got enough power and data throughput that they could power the cameras/sensors through the same USB-C port with a splitter/adapter.

If they end up going with inside-out tracking I hope they don't make the same mistake as the Rift S. Inside-out tracking needs a camera/sensor on the back of the headset to properly track the controllers. The Rift S now has the same tracking issue that the WMR headsets have. It's just dumb to overlook that.

[zsquaresoff]

Unless your head shaped like that of an alien, there is nothing awkward bout the psvr headset design.
The only thing they need to do is cut down on the wires. Way too many.

[sin7279]

Sombody is salty? Haha!

[Master of Unlocking]

What awkward design? Looks great to me.

[TacoTaco]

PSVR2 is what we need, on a more capable PS5. PSVR now does what it needs to well and people are buying it because of that.

And v2 will [hopefully] have new controllers, I'm more concerned about that.

[Hroach616]

I find the headset pretty comfortable. Granted I haven’t worn other ones very much. But like the article says it’s the wireing harness that is a major drawback. But when I recently moved I didn’t even bother setting it up. The main reason being the having to unhook and hook stuff up every time I want to use it so I can have proper 4K HDR use when I’m using my console for every day stuff. I played the shit out of it when it first released. Now it’s just a thing I pull out when I have company over who haven’t tried it. Probably sell it soon and wait for version 2 if there is one. Hopefully that will have a better set up.

[DaDrunkenJester]

I would like a more sturdy premium feel to the headset for sure, but that's kind of last thing on the improvements PSVR 2.0 should be making.

[Segata]

I'm not into VR at all but Sony has the nicest looking VR set I have seen TBH.

[mastershredder]

Your opinion. Maybe you or your noggin needs a redesign.

[TheEnigma313]

the design isn't bad. My only issue is the wire and that's it.

[Father__Merrin]

Arkward design? It's the comfiest out of all the headsets and arguably looks best. Looks like someone can't stand playstation having an option for VR

[Silly gameAr]

Hey, PSVR sold 4 million!

10 min. later

Eww, the PSVR's design is yucky!

[Thundercat77]

EXACTLY!!!

PSVR is like a year old and NOW, suddenly, he is criticizing the hardware that has been praised as the more confortable of all the VR devices out there. Crazy stuff.

[jelloaceomega]

Maybe it needs fire stripes to make it go faster? /s

[Rapidfirepunches]

Things can always be improved but it's still the most comfortable compared to the original Vive/Rift

[DVAcme]

So the best selling VR headset on the market, right now acclaimed for its ease of use, comfort and price range, has an "awkward design". Sure, whatever.

[uth11]

the only thing awkward is the Moves. Everything else has a well thought out design

[Mr_Luke]

What...? :O Awkward design?

[AK91]

No no ot doesn't

[mike32UK]

As a person who actually owns a PSVR headset and has done since release, I can honestly say that I would use it a hell of a lot more than I do now if it were wireless or at least 1 cable only. I'm very much the kind of person that hates visible wires and such in my media setup so I have to pack it away fully in it's protective case after every use.

[cell989]

It’s the most comfortable headset around your head. I don’t want looks over performance

[xX-oldboy-Xx]

Change? NEVER GONNA HAPPEN. PSVR2 - that'll definitely see design changes and improvements.

[Thundercat77]

We get this news "PlayStation VR sales top 4.2 million"

And suddenly after we get this opinion article criticizing PSVR hardware... Now? After what? 2 years later?

PSVR is getting more success and support than anyone hoped for and that seems to upset many. We are going to get PSVR 2 with PS5 so there is no point on changing the current hardware.

[Miacosa]

Funny because all the major headsets have copied their halo design in someway.

[ibrake4naps]

probably the coolest looking, most comfortable headset out there. They just need upgraded specs and a controller like the oculus touch for psvr2...

[BenRC01]

Had some real fun with it but far too many micro hurdles to make it pick up and play. Everyone I know loves it but never plays it.

[philm87]

I know what you mean. Absolutely love it when I play it, but can't be bothered a lot of the time. Especially if I'm short of time.

[philm87]

I think if you spend a bit of time organising where the cables are you can make it a lot easier. Really doesn't seem to messy on my setup, and i just have a connection box so I can flick a switch when I want to play HDR games. I think it's a lot less awkward than the PC VR headsets in terms of cables, so I'm not sure what the solution would be.

A knuckle controller like on the PC headsets is the main thing it needs, takes a lot of time to get used to movement on games like Skyrim VR.

[Hungryalpaca]

All Vrs have an awkward design. They kinda need to. They’re fitting a screen on your face.

[isarai]

I do agree that the Launch PSVR unit not having HDR can cause quite the inconvenience as i had to deal wih that myself till i took advantage of the $199 deal they had going on last holiday and traded mine in with a few games to get a new model. The best solution for older models is the ibis HDMI splitter, but i found out even that is not a perfect solution as it can only allow 4:2:0 at 30hz (fancy talk for slightly blurry color at only 30fps)

However i don't get the complaint with the cable setup, yeah i guess it can be a bit confusing at first, but after setup it can literally just sit on top of your PS4. and even then the cable setup is not THAT complicated, just plug all the cables into the unit that are included, plug usb into ps4, plug ps4 HDMI into unit, plug unit HDMI into TV, then just plug into outlet and done.

Like i said CAN be confusing, but when the competition has you mount several cameras around your room i'd say this is pretty damn simple. Only VR headset made simpler are the new Mixed Reality headsets where tracking is done from headset mounted sensors so it's literally just plug and play.

this article just seems like a knee jerk reaction honestly