Sony Unveils Plans for Spatial Content Creation System Featuring XR Headset and Controllers, Set to Launch in 2024
The Upcoming Sony XR Headset to Boast Qualcomm’s Latest XR Processor, the Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2
Following Apple’s Vision Pro mixed reality headset announcement, Sony unveils plans for an immersive spatial content creation system featuring an XR head-mounted display and controllers. Geared towards 3D content creators, the headset runs on the Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 Platform and is equipped with 4K OLED Microdisplays. While the launch date is yet to be specified, Sony assures availability later this year.
The XR headset boasts Sony’s proprietary rendering technology, enabling real-time high-definition 3D rendering of objects and human facial expressions. The spatial content creation system incorporates six cameras and sensors for video see-through functionality and spatial recognition. The controllers include a ring controller for 3D object manipulation and a pointing controller for precise interactions. Designed to facilitate 3D modeling using both controllers and a keyboard while wearing the XR display, creators can visualize and modify real-scale 3D models in an Extended Reality environment, as highlighted in Sony’s announcement.
As mentioned before, the Sony XR headset will be powered by Qualcomm’s latest XR processor, the Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2. The XR head-mounted display will sport 1.3-type 4K OLED Microdisplays with 96 percent of DCI-P3 colour gamut coverage. Additionally, the headset will also feature a flip-up mechanism that allows users to quickly twist up the display part of the headset and switch from virtual to physical space seamlessly.
Sony is also partnering with Siemens at launch to integrate NX Immersive Designer software, a product engineering service from the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio of industry software. The spatial content creation system will cater to creators in industrial design and product engineering field, with Sony planning to collaborate with 3D production software developers from entertainment and industrial design fields.
Sony’s headset, which seems geared towards immersive product engineering and industrial design in 3D space, will launch later in 2024. Additional details about the device’s specifications, launch date, regional availability and pricing, sales channels, and software compatibility will be announced in time.
As the extended/mixed reality headset market gains momentum, Apple’s Vision Pro is set to debut in the US on February 2, with pre-orders starting on January 19 at 5:00 am PST. Joining the fray, Samsung’s XR headset, codenamed ‘Infinite,’ is anticipated for release in the second half of 2024. Samsung had previously announced collaborations with Google and Qualcomm for the development of this upcoming wearable in 2023, adding to the excitement surrounding immersive reality experiences in the tech industry.
