Sony shares PlayStation VR2 will get live-streaming support, 'Cinematic Mode'

Source: Sony Interactive Entertainment

Sony has more details on its upcoming PlayStation VR2 headset. A new feature it'll get is live-streaming support. So, if you have a PS5 HD Camera, you can use this to broadcast both gameplay and a view of yourself. For non-virtual reality content, it gets a 1080p "Cinematic Mode" that shows the PS5 interface and conventional games on a virtual screen. It has refresh rates between 24Hz and 120Hz. Meanwhile, native VR content displays at 4,000 x 2,040 with a 90Hz or 120Hz refresh rate.

Another feature coming to the PlayStation VR2 includes a "see-through" mode that lets you quickly peek into a room to avoid a collision or help locate your controllers. It will also allow you to define a customized play area so it can warn you if you're too close to your couch or TV. We don't know what the interface looks like, but Sony promised developers would "soon" access the latest experience.

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'The Last of Us' PS5 remake promises smarter AI, extra gameplay modes

Sony has released a new 10-minute trailer for The Last of Us Part 1, a remake of the game for the PlayStation 5. The new trailer shows off things like improved graphics and gameplay changes. One of the new things coming includes improved AI for enemies and companions. It also gets extra gameplay modes, and cutscenes have audio descriptions for accessibility.

This will get a permadeath mode for those who want to try surviving a zombie apocalypse. There will also be a speed run mode, but it isn't clear how that'll work. The trailer just shows a timer in the upper right corner. But there's more in the trailer that you should check out. If you're interested in getting the game, it's worth a watch.

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'Gran Turismo' movie is coming in 2023

Source: Sony

Sony has confirmed its Gran Turismo movie. It'll premiere on August 11, 2023, under the direction of District 9 helmer Neill Blomkamp. The film will be based on the real-life adventures of a player of the racing game. Sony describes the film as a true story based on the "ultimate wish fulfilment tale of a teenage Gran Turismo player whose gaming skills won a series of Nissan competitions to become an actual professional race car driver." The racing game series has been around since 1997, and there isn't any plot or characters to follow, so this approach makes sense. Whether you'd want to see this game adapted to the big screen is a different conversation altogether.

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Sony launches 2 premium, pricey Walkmans

Source: Sony

Sony has some new, very expensive MP3s for audiophiles. The company just launched a couple of high-end Walkman players, with the top-of-the-line model, the NW-WM1ZM2, retailing for a hefty US$3,700 (approx. CA$4,782). It has an S-Master HX digital amp with "fine-tuned" capacitors, 99.99% pure gold-plated, oxygen-free copper chassis, and a thick Kimber Kable (linking the amp to the headphone jack). This combination supposedly contributes to a "clear, expansive" output. Its reflow soldering also has gold that supposedly boosts sound localization and widens the sound stage.

This Android-based player has a 5-inch 720p display, a better upscaling algorithm for CD-quality (16-bit, 44/48kHz), and a larger power supply. This has 256GB of expandable storage, Wi-Fi streaming, 40 hours of battery life when playing 96kHz FLAC audio, and charging via USB-C. It supports up to 32-bit, 384kHz audio in formats like MQA and WAV.

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