At CES 2024, Sony unveiled its latest innovation, a spatial content creation system geared towards professionals working in 3D design and animation. This headset-and-controller combo aims to bridge the gap between the virtual and physical realms, offering creators a unique and immersive experience.

Unlike its PlayStation VR sibling, this headset isn’t targeting gamers. Instead, it boasts high-resolution 4K OLED displays powered by the Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 platform, catering to professionals who require precision and detail in their work.

Sony mixed reality headset

Sony’s CEO, Kenichiro Yoshida, emphasized the system’s ability to “expand the creation space by overlaying virtual objects into physical spaces.” This is achieved through a unique controller setup, replacing traditional joysticks with a finger-worn ring and a handheld pointer. These intuitive tools mimic natural gestures, allowing creators to manipulate virtual objects with ease as if they were physically present in the room.

But what about those moments when you need a break from the virtual realm? Sony has you covered. The front of the headset flips up, seamlessly transitioning users back to the physical world. This flexibility ensures creators can maintain a connection with their surroundings while still enjoying the immersive benefits of the virtual workspace.

Sony isn’t new to the world of 3D creation. Their previous Spatial Reality Display offered a taste of this technology, but the new system takes it a step further. It boasts “proprietary rendering technology” capable of delivering real-time, high-definition textures and lifelike character expressions. This level of detail promises to revolutionize the way 3D models are created and visualized.

While the exact release date and price remain undisclosed, Sony has confirmed the system’s arrival sometime later this year. It faces competition from Apple’s Vision Pro, set to hit stores next month. However, Sony’s focus on professional creators and intuitive controls might give them an edge in this emerging market.

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