Sony’s first foray into virtual reality is almost here. The PlayStation VR will be available in stores starting October 13th for $400 (or $500 for a VR Launch Bundle with a camera and motion controllers for folks that don’t already have them).

That price doesn’t include the cost of a PlayStation 4 game console, but if you’ve already got the game console, but rivals like the $600 Oculus Rift and $800 HTC Vive don’t include the price of a gaming PC either. No matter how you slice it, the PlayStation VR is cheaper than the competition… assuming you want a VR system more powerful than a smartphone that can be strapped to your face.

But is the PlayStation VR any good? Early reviews suggest it is. In fact, some reviewers say it might be the best VR system launched to date.

ps-vr

Technically, the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive might have better hardware. But the PlayStation VR reportedly makes up for that with a bunch of high-quality games that will be available at launch, a comfortable headset, and specs that are good enough that you might not care that other models have higher-resolution displays and faster hardware.

Here are some of the early reviews:

  • Engadget – PlayStation VR has better games than its competitors… so far.
  • Gizmodo – “PlayStation VR is the first virtual reality system any regular person should bother with.”
  • Kotaku – In the most negative review I’ve read so far (although it’s not all bad), Kirk Hamilton says “I’ve been impressed by some things, turned off by others, and made nauseous by a few. Throughout that time I’ve also been disappointed.”
  • The New York Times – It’s not clear if VR is worth the asking price yet… but for existing PS4 owners, this is one of the cheapest ways to get started.
  • Polygon – This is more of a preview than a full review, but it’s a good look at the design and comfort of the headset.
  • The Verge – “it offers a balanced, interesting launch catalog and a headset that’s a joy to wear, with weak points that hurt the system, but don’t cripple it.”
  • Wired – It’s not necessarily better than the competition, but it works it’s comfortable, and it’s more affordable (although not exactly cheap.

Want to know more about the PlayStation VR? Sony published an extensive FAQ this week.

 

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