PlayStation VR Owners With HDR TVs Will Have Some Extra Work to Do

If you're fortunate enough to own an HDR television set and plan to get a PlayStation VR headset, you're in for something of a small hassle when it comes time to switch between VR and HDR content.

Sony today published an extensive FAQ regarding PS VR, which launches next week. Much of it covers information we already knew, but it provides some new details regarding the Processor Unit, which comes with PS VR. It's a small box that "connects your PS VR to your PS4 and TV and provides HDMI cable management, enabling Social Screen TV output, 3D audio processing, and Cinematic mode," the FAQ explains. By cable management, Sony means it serves as an HDMI splitter, sending video to the headset and the TV (for other people in the room to see what the VR user is seeing or participate).

When you aren't using PS VR, it simply serves as a passthrough for video content, with support for resolutions up to 4K at 60 Hz. It does not, however, support HDR signals--at 1080p or 4K. That means if you want to play any games or watch anything in HDR using your PS4, you'll need to unplug your PS4 HDMI cable from the Processor Unit and plug it directly into your TV or receiver. Likewise, the Processor Unit will then need to be plugged back in next time you want to use PS VR.

This likely won't be an issue for most people, as HDR TVs are still fairly uncommon. But with all PS4s now supporting HDR and developers hopefully delivering HDR support in their games more frequently (the latest is Deus Ex: Mankind Divided), this is a nuisance to be aware of.

The image below labels the various components on the Processor Unit; you can see Sony's descriptions for everything below that.

Front

• A) Status indicator
  • White: Powered on
  • Red: Rest mode
• B) AUX port
• C) HDMI output port

Rear

• A) HDMI TV port
• B) HDMI PS4 port
• C) USB port
• D) DC IN 12V connector
• E) Vent

PlayStation VR launches on October 13. It comes with a demo disc and a number of other things you can see in our unboxing video.