We tried Sony's new XYN headset: a game-changer for 3D content creators
Over the past few years, the market has been flooded with VR headsets, including the Meta Quest, Apple Vision Pro, and numerous other contenders, as companies race to establish themselves in the space.
At CES 2025, Sony unveiled the latest addition to this landscape — a brand-new VR headset and an entire line dedicated to spatial 3D content: Sony XYN.
What sets the Sony XYN headset apart from the competition is its focus. Unlike other VR headsets aimed at consumers for gaming or media consumption, the XYN line is designed specifically for creators working in 3D content development.
You May Also Like
Mashable had the exclusive opportunity to preview the Sony XYN headset at CES, where it explored the headset's cutting-edge spatial capture solutions and got a first look at the company’s latest motion capture studio.
The Sony XYN headset
Sony already has a presence in the VR space with its PlayStation VR line, so introducing a new headset might surprise some. However, the Sony XYN headset isn’t aimed at the average consumer — it’s designed specifically for creators working with 3D spatial content.
Equipped with 4K OLED microdisplays and advanced video see-through capabilities, the XYN headset allows content creators to fully immerse themselves in 3D worlds. This makes it easier for them to interact with and manipulate 3D models in a platform optimized for spatial content development.
The headset is lightweight and comfortable, making it suitable for extended use — ideal for creators who need to work for long periods of time. However, it's important to note that the Sony XYN is still in the prototype phase. For instance, Sony has indicated that the controllers will likely undergo a complete redesign before the final version is released.
XYN Spatial capture
While the Sony XYN headset certainly received attention, Sony's XYN Spatial capture solution was the real standout at CES.
This innovative tool allows users to easily create 3D models of real-world objects. The XYN Spatial capture solution can transform those images into photorealistic 3D CG assets by simply taking a few photos with a mirrorless camera.
It was fascinating to see how seamlessly the two products — XYN headset and Spatial capture — work together. You can capture images of a physical object, convert them into a 3D model, and then interact with the model in VR, all within a streamlined workflow.
Sony is also developing a mobile app that will allow creators to use their smartphone cameras for the same process, enabling even more flexibility and accessibility for 3D content creation.
XYN Motion Studio
Out of the three products Sony unveiled in its new XYN line, XYN Motion Studio was, without a doubt, my favorite.
Sony already offers a motion capture product called mocopi, a set of 3D motion capture sensors that users wear on their bodies to track movement. However, Sony has taken its XYN Motion Studio a step further by offering full-fledged motion capture studio software.
The XYN Motion Studio uses 12 mocopi sensors to capture and integrate the user’s movements into a comprehensive editing suite. Creators can then fine-tune these movements and apply them to 3D models of their choice, giving them precise control over the captured animation.
The app is designed to make motion capture more accessible, allowing content creators — whether in animation, gaming, or virtual production — to use this advanced technology without needing access to a large-scale, physical motion capture studio.
The most impressive feature of XYN Motion Studio is its ability to fill in motion gaps. For instance, if the mocopi sensors miss a specific movement in a 3D model's running sequence, the software can intelligently generate a realistic motion based on the surrounding movements to fill the missing segment. This feature makes the motion-capture process smoother and less reliant on perfect, uninterrupted tracking.
Topics CES Virtual Reality
