Is Project Morpheus The True ‘Next Generation’ For PlayStation 4?


Project Morpheus seems to be a major focus for Sony lately, and there could be a good reason for that. While the PlayStation 4 has been called the “next generation,” gamers merely received a powered-up PS3 with slight differences.

The console has only begun to see a marked improvement in resolution, with early games simply being cosmetic upgrades with very little difference in gameplay and detail. The details are sharper and the draw distance has improved in games like Assassin’s Creed 4 and Call of Duty: Ghosts, but it’s not that big an improvement.

The problem could be that until 4K resolution becomes the norm for mainstream displays, 1080p is the best we’ll ever see without turning to our gaming PCs for better visuals and more processing power.

So where can gaming go for the true next generation? Sony’s Project Morpheus VR headset could be the answer, meaning that Microsoft has some catching up to do. The Kinect 2.0 just wasn’t enough, and it was eventually removed from the basic bundle.

The difference is not the resolution so much, but how the game is delivered to your senses. This PlayStation 4 peripheral takes the image and sound directly to your head, and uses motion sensors to control the action. While the DualShock 4 might have the same sensors, hitting buttons you can’t see is awkward if you aren’t familiar with where they are.

According to the PlayStation Blog, the VR headset will sport higher resolution than your HDTV, so you might not notice any drop in visuals as they sit literally inches from your eyeballs.

The biggest downfall to Sony’s new peripheral is the increased level of disconnection with the real world, so simply pausing the game and taking the Project Morpheus headset off could be a bit jarring to the senses. Also, as some have stated, it’s still a tad bit uncomfortable to use, like having your head “squeezed into a vise.”

Engadget had a chance to use the PS4 peripheral at the Game Developers Conference (GDC 2015) and described how much more it immerses you into the game. Playing a game called The London Heist, they had firsthand experience with how the motion control wands could be used to interact with a first-person scenario. The sensors can simulate activities such as holding a phone up to your ear and even aiming and firing a weapon.

Imagine a first-person Assassin’s Creed or Grand Theft Auto using Sony’s VR headset and you might just feel like they’ve nailed the next generation at last. They just need to make it less awkward to wear, but there is still a year for Sony to perfect it.

The Project Morpheus release date is slated for the first half of 2016, and it could redefine gaming as we know it.

[Image via Gaming Cypher]

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