I tried Sony’s prototype Xyn 3D headset with a unique mixed reality feature, and it’s great for building worlds in it
- Sony’s new XR headset is all about content creation
- The new Xyn sub-brand includes 3D scanning and creation
- It’s similar to other headsets, with one major design difference
Even without unveiling the next-generation Bravia TV series, Sony still has a pretty busy CES 2025. An example of this is Xyn, a new sub-brand within Sony that focuses on capturing, creating and playing in spatial worlds, and I have to go hands-on with the Xyn Headset Prototype and a new 3D capture solution.
The entire lineup is about spatial creation, so unlike PlayStation VR 2 or Meta Quest 3 or 3S, Xyn’s Headset is all about people and brands – big or small – wanting to create content.
The Xyn headset is quite lightweight and has a familiar shape; I was right at home demonstrating the prototype, which rested easily on my head and, like countless other headsets, could be tightened or loosened via a dial on the back. The real stars here are the fact that it can run on its own (meaning it doesn’t need to be connected to another device) and the 4K displays.
@techradar
♬ original sound – Ny Breaking
During my hands-on, a video of which you can see below, I viewed a digital environment on 4K micro-OLED screens – one for each eye. The space around me consisted of some ground, various building elements and even skeletons. The main event, so to speak, was a bunch of crystal rock formations of different shapes and designs; I was given the task of placing them in and around the area.
And these elements are not just drawn in a creative app, but scanned with another part of the Xyn portfolio. With the controller in hand, I was able to resize the crystals and place them anywhere, all quite easily. It all felt pretty fluid, even for an early prototype. While the graphics were good, the real difference here is that the screen can easily flip up, bringing you back into the real world.
Since these assets were scanned using a station with a traditional Sony Alpha camera attached to a phone with a prototype . quite handy.
And that process of scanning items, whether they were crystals, shoes, or even high-end china, was quite simple. I watched a Sony representative take several photos of the object and saw that the app on the phone showed a heat map that glowed blue in the area being captured.
From there it’s processed in the cloud, and I was able to look back at those 3D models on a custom, glasses-free 3D monitor with an eye-tracking camera to really bring out the effect. I could see this being useful for people wanting to get started with 3D production, building or creating these elements for the virtual world, and even for larger productions.
What’s really nice is the accessibility, as you don’t need a degree in 3D modeling or design as the app makes the experience quite seamless… at least at this early stage.
We cover all the latest CES news of the show as it happens. Stick with us for the big stories on everything from 8K From TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets and the latest in AI.
And don’t forget that follow us on TikTok for the latest news from the CES show floor!
It could potentially help make spatial content creation accessible to more people, so while the Xyn headset itself is still a prototype and may not be sold directly to consumers for content consumption, the worlds, objects, and environments that could potentially were created with Xyn Capture and customized to perfection on the headset should be seen on more mainstream VR platforms in the future.