PlayStation Camera – Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation

November 11, 2020

New PlayStation VR Bundles for Europe & North America to Include PS Camera Adaptor

Tomorrow is the beginning of the official launch of PlayStation 5 in select territories and for those early adopters who also want the console to power their PlayStation VR, they’ll need a free PlayStation Camera Adaptor. Today, Sony Interactive Entertainment has announced that new VR customers will find the device included in bundles at the end of November.

The main PlayStation Twitter account revealed that customers in the US and Canada will find the adaptor in the PlayStation VR Marvel’s Iron Man VR Bundle. While over on PlayStation Europe, the account noted that the adaptor would feature in the PlayStation VR Starter Pack this month.

It was revealed last month that Japanese customers buying bundles would get the adaptor, so it’s good news this has been rolled out to more locations. Of course, if you already have a PlayStation VR then you’ll need to go down the route of ordering one of the free adaptors from SIE’s website which isn’t too difficult. Don’t expect instant shipping as SIE notes deliveries could take up to two weeks.

All of this stems from the current PlayStation Camera being incompatible with PlayStation 5 and the fact that the newer PlayStation HD Camera won’t support VR. PlayStation Move, Aim and DualShock 4 wireless controllers will support PlayStation 5 but the DS4 controller won’t work with PlayStation 5 titles. On the plus side, most VR games will be backwards compatible and some like Firewall Zero Hour will make use of PlayStation 5’s improved hardware to reduce load times and increase the visual fidelity.

PlayStation 5 has a split worldwide launch with the console available in the US, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea from tomorrow, 12th November. As for everywhere else, they have to wait until 19th November. The standard disc drive edition retails for £449.99 GBP/$499.99 USD whilst the Digital Edition will cost £359.99/$399.99.

For all the latest PlayStation VR updates, keep reading VRFocus.

October 29, 2020

You can now Request the PlayStation VR Camera Adaptor for PS5

The PlayStation 5 is only a few weeks away from launch and virtual reality (VR) fans who’ve got their pre-orders in can now rest a little easier. Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) has released details as to how you can request the PlayStation Camera Adaptor so you can use PlayStation VR on the new console.

The process is straight forward enough. Simply go to the Camera Adaptor support website to put your request in. You’ll need the PlayStation VR serial number, which is found on the rear of the Processor Unit (seen above) and once that’s been entered you’ll need to give SIE address and contact details for shipping.

An FAQ page goes into greater detail, saying: “Anyone who owns a PS VR headset qualifies to receive a PlayStation Camera adaptor with a limit of one per household,” so make sure you don’t lose it. As for when they’ll be delivered it can take up to two weeks so get those requests in early.

Timing will vary depending on your region, here’s what SIE has listed currently:

Japan: End of October.
Americas: Mid-November.
Europe, Middle East, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand: Mid-November.
Asia: Early December.

As VRFocus previously reported, if you happen to be in Japan then new PlayStation VR bundles will automatically come with the adaptor. At the time of writing, there’s been no mention of this option being deployed on a worldwide scale.

The PlayStation Camera Adaptor is an essential component if you want to use PlayStation VR with the PlayStation 5. The new HD Camera doesn’t support VR tracking so you have to use the current camera model. And as there’s no native connection on the new console, you’ll need the adaptor, now a crucial piece of kit for those looking to upgrade their gaming hardware.

SIE has already confirmed that thanks to backwards compatibility most PlayStation VR games will work on PlayStation 5. There’s only two that won’t, Crytek’s Robinson: The Journey and DWVR by Mad Triangles.

As for PlayStation VR 2, there have been a few patents hinting at what a new headset might be like but there’s been no official confirmation. Only that a new headset might appear once the new console has launched. For further updates, keep reading VRFocus.

October 20, 2020

New Japanese PlayStation VR Bundles to Include Camera Adaptor for PlayStation 5

Sony Interactive Entertainment’s (SIE) next-gen console, the PlayStation 5 is due to launch in a month and while most details have been released including a recent teardown, one piece of information is still missing; how to get the PlayStation Camera Adapter. Unless you’re in Japan, with a couple of new bundles confirmed to include the device.

Over on the Japanese PlayStation Blog the site has announced two new PlayStation VR bundles which will go on sale from next Thursday, 29th October 2020. A ‘Variety Pack’ will offer the headset, PlayStation Camera, PlayStation Move controllers and four videogames (Astro Bot Rescue Mission, PlayStation VR Worlds, Everybody’s Golf VR and Ryan Marks Revenge Mission).

The other is an entry-level bundle with the headset, camera and PlayStation VR Worlds. Crucially, customers who buy either of these deals will be given the PlayStation Camera Adapter free at the time of purchase. Even if they don’t buy these particular bundles, customers buying a PlayStation VR after the 29th October will still be given the adapter free of charge.

However, SIE has yet to confirm how current owners either in Japan or the West go about applying for the free adapter. With the weeks quickly ticking away the chance of playing VR on the new hardware on launch day could be in doubt.

Why all the fuss about the adapter? Well, it’s down to two reasons. Firstly, PlayStation 5 doesn’t have the correct port for the older camera and rather oddly, the new HD Camera doesn’t support PlayStation VR. So without said adapter, it’s impossible to switch your VR gaming to the new console. Luckily, when you have it most VR titles are supported by PlayStation 5, only two aren’t – Crytek’s Robinson: The Journey and DWVR by Mad Triangles.

When details regarding how to get the PlayStation Camera Adapter are released, VRFocus will let you know.

August 3, 2020

Current PlayStation Camera Will Need Free Adaptor to Work With PlayStation 5

Looking forward to the arrival of PlayStation 5 in a few months? If you’re a PlayStation VR owner you may be wondering which if any of your peripherals will work with the new console after Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) has previously confirmed the headset will. Today, those questions have been answered.

A PlayStation Blog post has newly detailed which peripherals will and won’t work. When it comes to the VR side of things there’s no need to worry. Your current PlayStation Camera will work with PlayStation 5 but it will require an adaptor provided free of charge.

The adaptor will only be free for PlayStation VR users by the sound of it – it is kind of essential – with details regarding how to get one to be released at a later date. This also means you won’t need to buy the new camera which was showcased during the recent unveiling.

On the controller side, the DualShock 4 will be compatible with PlayStation 4 games on the new console but it won’t work with PlayStation 5 titles. The PlayStation Move and Aim controllers will also work as normal when using PlayStation VR with PS5.

So there’s seemingly no worries when it comes to swapping over to the PlayStation 5. It was finally unveiled in June at the very end of an hour long videogame showcase. Not only were fans greeted with the new design but there were two models as well as accessories. At launch you’ll be able to choose between models with or without a disk drive for a sleeker design. At the moment the final details everyone is awaiting, price and date, are yet to arrive.

There’s been no mention of any specific VR content for PlayStation 5 just yet so there’s no real need for VR fans to upgrade. VRFocus expects this to change nearer to launch as a ‘PlayStation VR 2’ still isn’t expected for a while – most likely towards the end of 2021 – with new VR titles making use of the extra power. Plenty of patents keep appearing indicating what sort of features it may include.

VRFocus will continue its coverage of PlayStation 5 and its VR compatibility, reporting back with further updates.

June 12, 2017

PlayStation VR Bundle Deals Arrive Ahead of E3 Reveals

Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) is expected to make a wealth of announcements regarding the PlayStation VR at a press conference later today, prior to a playable outing at this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), Los Angeles. The retail industry has obviously taken note of this, offer a number of discounted PlayStation VR bundles to tempt you into a new purchase at the crest of the new announcement hype.

Farpoint screenshot The pre-E3 press conference from SIE is set to take place at 11pm BST/3pm PST today, and a huge number of new PlayStation VR titles are expected to be revealed. Previously announced titles such as Golem, Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown and GT Sport are also expected to make a return to the limelight, along with rumours of brand new virtual reality (VR) experiences from Sony Santa Monica and Bethesda Softworks.

For those who’ve been waiting for this second wave of videogame titles to be revealed, there’s never been a better time to purchase that PlayStation VR head-mounted display (HMD). The official suggested retail price (SRP) of £349.99 GBP is greatly discounted in these bundles, including value add-ins of videogames and even the PlayStation Camera.

The best value bundle, offered via Amazon.co.uk, includes the PlayStation VR itself, the hugely popular Farpoint, DriveClub VR and a PlayStation Camera for just £349.99. Another offers Farpoint with the HMD for the same price, or Resident Evil 7 biohazard for the slightly higher price of £357.60. Additional bundles see the PlayStation VR packaged with a carrying case for £347.28 or PlayStation VR Worlds for £348.10.

Resident Evil 7 - Family It should be noted that none of these packages are official bundles distributed by SIE, instead compiled by retailers themselves. If SIE intend on readdressing the value package of the PlayStation VR it’s possible that we could see such an announcement at the press conference later today. VRFocus will of course keep you updated with all the latest details direct from the show.

March 26, 2017

PlayStation VR & PlayStation Camera Bundle Targets Europe

The PlayStation VR hardware package has been confusing for many at launch, with different territories offered very different assortments of hardware and software. It looks as though Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) are hoping to make the process of purchasing a PlayStation VR easier for gamers across Europe however, with a new bundle emerging.

PlayStation VR & Camera Bundle

According to sources in distribution, a new bundle is heading its way to ‘mainland Europe and the UK’ soon. This bundle will include the PlayStation VR head-mounted display (HMD) and the required PlayStation Camera, which itself saw a redesign prior to the launch of the PlayStation 4’s virtual reality (VR) platform. An image of the bundle packaging can be seen above.

What is interesting about this potential new bundle is that the packaging displays a PEGI rating, suggesting that software is also included in the box. While not yet confirmed, it would be easy to assume that the demo disc included with the PlayStation VR at launch remains part of the bundle for the next wave of packages.

No release date or pricing information for this bundle is currently available for either Europe or the UK; however the bundle is already available in select EMEA territories for effectively the same price as buying the PlayStation VR HMD and PlayStation Camera separately. Indeed, should this bundle materialise in European retailers, it will likely be positioned solely as an easier purchase option opposed to a better pricing deal.

It should also be noted that this bundle does not include PlayStation Move motion controllers, which are often considered an essential accessory for PlayStation VR.

VRFocus will of course keep you updated with any further details on this and other PlayStation VR retail bundles.

September 7, 2016

New PlayStation 4 Camera Showcased at PlayStation Meeting

Sony Interactive Entertainment’s PlayStation Meeting has just finished, and while it may have been short it was certainly packed with announcements. A new slimmer PlayStation 4 and the official unveiling of PlayStation 4 Pro – previously PlayStation Neo – were the highlights. Not shown at the event but on display afterwards, SIE has quietly displayed a new PlayStation Camera.

While no specs have yet been released from the image below it’s easy to see the redesign of the camera, going from a rectangular unit to a cylindrical device. And because of the new form factor the camera now has a stand.

PlayStation 4 Accessories

This new feature might just be to do with the PlayStation VR head-mounted display (HMD), for various reasons. The clips holding the PlayStation Camera are in the centre meaning that the camera could possibly twist. Having this ability would mean the device is more adaptable for standing or seated experiences. Having the stand also makes the camera easier for placement, the small footprint takes up far less space.

As SIE hasn’t made any official announcements on the new camera it’s unclear if it’ll keep the same price as the older model and when the company actually plans on releasing it.

With the smaller PlayStation 4 due out this month, PlayStation VR out next month, and PlayStation 4 Pro out in November, SIE have a hardware heavy line-up coming out in the latter half of 2016 and the camera is probably part of it.

VRFocus will continue its coverage of PlayStation VR, reporting back with all the latest announcements.