The Playstation Eco-system, EBEXPO 2016

There’s a lot going on in the world of Playstation and VR is just the tip of it, for anybody with a vested interest then VR has to be intriguing – a next level jump to accessible gaming that raises the bar on immersion.

Personally I can’t wait, however I do find the VR label being a touch ambitious, not having had a hands on yet. My designated slot is 18:30 Friday…I understand the VR rig coupled with a headset will offer substantial ‘suspension of disbelief’ which will add to immersion, but I’d be more inclined to apply the VR badge to a full blown holodeck.

That said, I can’t wait.

And, its not the only show pony in the Playstation family at the moment. We talked about the Playstation Ecosystem when PSTV came along, which to this day is a vastly underrated and underused gadget. Being able to throw your PS4 screen to another TV in the house is a huge bonus, something I do plenty of especially when somebody has flattened my Vita battery. Something that is also handy now that my Mac can handle the same function, flipping between WordPress and a running game is a godsend. To help this there is the new usb dongle that helps my Mac run the Dualshock controller wirelessly. The Dualshock Wireless adaptor, filling a small, but necessary niche.

Not forgetting the new PS4 Slim and its slightly older sibling the 4k enabled Pro, a redesigned camera, a new Dualshock with tweaks and extra light bars visible on the touchplate. For the audiophile there is the Platinum Wireless headset, I’ve heard nothing but praise for the previous Gold model, so its probably a no-brainer to get hold of a pair of these to go with my shiny VR system.

Some info on the new PS4 Consoles:

• PlayStation 4 Pro delivers enhanced experiences through improved image processing capability and support for 4K quality
• Allows games to deliver graphics with far more detail and unprecedented visual precision
• 4K video playback support to deliver 4K streaming video services such as Netflix and YouTube
• Support of HDR imaging technology, enabling reproduction of brightness and darkness while realizing a much wider range of colours
• Available in Australia from November 10, 2016, AUD$559.95 RRP

• New form factor reduces size by more than 30% and makes console 25% lighter in weight than previous models
• Increased energy efficiency, cutting power consumption by more than 34%
• All PS4 systems including the new slimmer model and PS4 Pro will support HDR imaging technology via systems software update
• 500GB PlayStation 4 available in Australia from September 16th, 2016, AUD$439.95 RRP
• 1TB PlayStation 4 available in Australia from September 29th, 2016, AUD$509.95 RRP

Its a great time to be on board with Sony and being able to make use of all these gadgets just simplifies how, when and where you can indulge. If there was a refresh of the Vita on the horizon the circle would be complete, but I expect new move controllers and accessories will be the order of the day.

With EB Expo kicking off on Friday I can guarantee that I’ll be spending plenty of time on the main stand getting across these shiny goodies.