Sony has added a feature to the PlayStation VR setup that you’ll either use whenever you get a chance, or not right away, depending on how you watch movies. The latest update adds the ability to watch 3D Blu-ray movies through the headset without additional settings or features. You simply insert a disc, put on your headset, and 3D effects start immediately. As long as you don’t watch a movie yourself and don’t use the headset for 90-120 minutes, this is a great opportunity.
It also works quite well considering you’re using PlayStation VR Cinematic mode to watch a movie on a 1080p display and don’t actually use all the pixels to begin with. But a lot of that experience depends on how your current PSVR settings are applied. If your goal is to truly enjoy this experience, you’ll probably want to change some of the settings.
Before you start
The first thing you need to watch 3D Blu-ray on PlayStation VR is a real 3D Blu-ray. This new feature does not add 3D effects to existing Blu-rays that do not yet offer 3D on disc. Check out the packaging for the 3D Blu-ray logo before you try it.
Playing 3D Blu-rays with PlayStation VR only works if both the system and the headset have been updated to the latest. You want to update your PlayStation 4 to system version 4.5 and your PlayStation VR to system version 2.5.
Read more: How to update PlayStation VR
Next comes the positioning of the headset. It’s usually very important to make sure your PSVR is properly positioned on your head, but when watching 3D Blu-Rays this is very important. If the image is shifted too far in either direction due to incorrect placement of lenses in front of the eyes, the 3D effect can quickly become disorienting. Make sure you are seated and your headset is set up correctly.
Read more: How to set up your PlayStation VR headset
It’s also important to make sure the lenses in your headset are as clean as possible. Make sure you have a microfiber cloth with you and remove stains from your lenses before trying to watch 3D Blu-ray.
Viewing 3D Blu-ray via PlayStation VR
As soon as you insert a Blu-ray into your PlayStation 4, Cinematic mode will set up to show you the movie in 3D. You won’t see any 3D features until the movie starts, unless your movie included 3D visuals in the disc menu system.
Everything else in Cinematic Mode will remain the same, which means the display size will remain the way you were by default. If you have set the Cinematic Mode to Medium, you will probably want to increase the size to Large when watching 3D Blu-Rays. This will allow you to use more of the display and offer you more 3D experience.
Read more: How to adjust the display size in cinematic mode
Once you’ve set the display size to your liking, it’s important to position the display slightly higher than you normally would when playing a game. This makes it easy for you to shift slightly during the movie so you don’t try to reset the image while watching. To make this adjustment, lift your chin a little higher than normal and hold down the Option button until the new value appears on the display.
Once you launch the movie, you’ll be able to control the movie just like any other movie you’re watching through your PlayStation 4. Whether you prefer a separate media remote, DualShock 4 controller, or voice commands, you’ll find each of these features still exist in the headset. However, since you’re going to be sitting still for a while, you’ll need to make sure you’ve chosen a control method before you hit play.
