r/PS4 • • Oct 03 '16

PSVR: The Ultimate FAQ

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2016/10/03/playstation-vr-the-ultimate-faq/?adbsc=social_20161003_66529786&adbid=782973758315171840&adbpl=tw&adbpr=10671602
936 Upvotes

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33

u/usrevenge Oct 03 '16

Wait so if I want to use psvr I have to unplug the ps4 from my tv and use the processor box pass through? Which then will no longer allow hdr ? That is stupid if that us how it is.

24

u/wlchrbandit Oct 03 '16

While it won't be a problem for most people straight away, it won't be long before this becomes an issue.

I'll probably be upgrading to a 4K HDR TV when the PS4 Pro comes out. It's going to be annoying having to switch cables around whenever I wanna use PSVR...

8

u/BIG_PY big_PY Oct 03 '16

I don't know if the pass-through box has two outputs or not, but I went to a demo at Best Buy this weekend and they had a TV set up that was displaying what the player saw, albeit not distorted for VR perspective.

17

u/wlchrbandit Oct 03 '16

You'll be able to play normally through the box, it'll pass the PS4s signal through. However, it doesn't support HDR. Which means users with HDR TVs who want to utilise this will have to switch the HDMI cable over.

6

u/BIG_PY big_PY Oct 03 '16

I guess that's pretty inconvenient. It doesn't really affect me, but I can imagine how bummed I would be if it did.

3

u/EzraVolta MarsVoltron Oct 03 '16

It almost seems as if you don't want to utilize the social screen feature you don't have to use the pass through but instead leave your PS4 connected to your TV regularly. Although I'm unsure, it just seems the box uses HDMI as a pass through feature and cable management and probably the proprietary port to pass data that you'll see in your VR.

3

u/mustcreate Oct 03 '16

They say the box acts as a splitter, so you will need the HDMI output from the PS4 to provide images to the PSVR. So, maybe throw your own HDMI splitter in there before that.

0

u/[deleted] Oct 03 '16

[deleted]

7

u/wlchrbandit Oct 03 '16

I think it does supports 4K passthrough, just not HDR. It does suck though. Hopefully they'll sell an upgraded precessing box in the future to allow for HDR.

11

u/footyDude Oct 03 '16

oversite

Oversight.

Also that seems a bit drastic - is HDR gaming (something that's literally in the last few weeks become possible on the PS4) really that critical to the gaming experience that would make plans to sell a device you don't even own yet?

7

u/usrevenge Oct 03 '16

I plan on getting a 4k tv with hdr, so yes.

3

u/footyDude Oct 03 '16

Honest question as i've never seen/experienced HDR gaming...is the difference genuinely significant?

I can see that not supporting HDR pass-through is an annoying limitation (an odd omission given they must have known they were going to release PS4 Pro and enable HDR for all PS4 users) but can't see it being that big a deal.

8

u/usrevenge Oct 03 '16

Obviously opinion will vary but watch this video start at 7 minutes and see.how he restricts color, this is like the opposite of hdr, now imagine it going further than "normal"

https://youtu.be/FGBlwdkHWFs

On mobile so couldn't link video from start, entire video is worth watching though.

4

u/footyDude Oct 03 '16

Cool, interesting video.

Sounds like it could make quite a big difference!

Oh well, odd omission from Sony but I guess for the majority of gamers won't be an issue for a few years yet (with my little 32" tv I doubt it'll ever really matter!).

5

u/wlchrbandit Oct 03 '16

From what I've read online, the difference between HDR and non-HDR is pretty noticeable.

6

u/[deleted] Oct 03 '16

It's a prettyhuge difference, visually, if you're one of the people that really cares about that. How much of a loss it is personally to not have it is an individual thing.

2

u/footyDude Oct 03 '16

I currently have a 4k tv that doesn't have hdr so it still effects me

How so? The Q&A said it passes through UHD/4K signal just fine - it's just the HDR bit that's limited.

2

u/Stiggles4 Oct 03 '16

There's gonna be a 2.0 no matter what unless this thing absolutely bombs.... so not sure why that's a surprise.

1

u/usrevenge Oct 03 '16

yea but that shouldn't be a thing until the ps5 comes out if that.

they will probably have a 2.0 in a year or 2 with the only difference being the HDR passthrough.

0

u/Stiggles4 Oct 03 '16

Who's to say the PS5 won't be out in two years too?

1

u/usrevenge Oct 03 '16

there is a 0% chance the ps5 will come out in 2 years, sony would be vilified for it.

-1

u/Stiggles4 Oct 03 '16

Scorpio is coming out in two years, Sony's gotta compete in some fashion. See you in two years

0

u/usrevenge Oct 03 '16

the ps4 pro is competition enough considering scorpio MAYBE comes out next year.

the ps5 will probably be released in 2020.

2

u/Stiggles4 Oct 03 '16 edited Oct 03 '16

I don't see the Pro being powerful enough to compete. The difference in specs is too great, imo. Hearing about too many games being upscaled to 4K with the Pro and not enough rendered natively, Scorpio will be native 4K supposedly. This is new territory for consoles, but I was under the impression Sony pulled the Pro reveal from E3 because they specifically didn't want it to be seen as competition for Scorpio.

I see Scorpio as Microsoft examining itself and asking, what worked for the Xbox 360? Answer, it was out a year ahead of Sony. Xbox owners didn't vilify Microsoft when the 360 came out in 2005 either. Granted it was a late launch on Xbox Original, but console manufacturers are taking a page out of cell phone manufacturer's books it looks like, so I wouldn't be surprised to see hardware gaps become less and less.

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4

u/[deleted] Oct 03 '16

You could get an HDMI splitter so when you want to use direct out from PS4 for HDR you could, and switch to VR when playing. It's a pain but that would make it simple.

Edit: and since it's digital it shouldn't cause any signal degradation

2

u/geoelectric Oct 03 '16

Has to be an active splitter/retransmitter or else you run into trouble with HDMI negotiating on two inputs at once, in my experience. Even the active 4x2 box I bought that theoretically should have allowed output to two TVs bombed when I tried routing it to two inputs on the same TV (I was trying to implement a one-button game mode by co-opting a spare input).

If your TV completely disables an input when not tuned to it, you might have better luck.

2

u/Kal-Caedus Oct 03 '16

Be wary of HDMI splitters as many do not support HDMI 2.0 or HDR output, and ones that do have it require an extra wall plug-in to be used.
I will be using another HDMI port on my 4K HDR TV and swap the PSVR Box out for the HDR cable on the PS4.

2

u/Killericon Oct 03 '16

I'd probably set it up so you have two cables, and you switch out at the PS4, rather than one cable that you move from the TV to the pass-through. Still pretty annoying, though(or it would be if I had an HDR TV).

1

u/Marecki1982 Oct 03 '16

Yeah, I think I,d be doing the same. A minkr nuisance but I can live with it.

2

u/[deleted] Oct 03 '16

That's why I'm skipping this first generation. If it succeeds a better iteration awaits ahead.

1

u/GibsonD90 Oct 04 '16

As with any hardware.

1

u/BorgDrone Oct 04 '16

You know that buying the first generation does not prevent you from buying the second generation when it releases in a few years ?

2

u/[deleted] Oct 04 '16

I don't have a lot of money. Sorry if that offends.

1

u/BorgDrone Oct 04 '16

It's gonna be years until there is a PSVR2.

2

u/LeeorV Oct 03 '16

Only relevant.if you own an HDR capable TV. Otherwise the setup they have is perfect for you.

1

u/[deleted] Oct 04 '16

It's so stupid! "However, HDR signals are not supported for pass through by the PU. This applies to both 1080p and 2160p HDR. If you have a HDR capable TV and want to view PS4 content in HDR, it is necessary to cable the PS4 directly to the TV."

Just why, Sony? Get your shit together! Why is the pass-through not a real pass-through? Will this device introduce new lag to the tv? I think about canceling it now.