Yesterday, Jim Sterling came at you guys with news that Sony had officially announced their PlayStation Bluetooth headset.
Today, Sony Computer Entertainment of America have confirmed the headset’s October 14th North American release; the headset will bundled with SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation for $59.99, and soon afterwards, you’ll be able to pick up the headset alone for $49.99. Looks like you just got yourself a $10 copy of Confrontation, folks!
Additionally, the sexy new headset will usher in a PS3 firmware update that enables the following features:
- High-Quality (HQ) mode – This delivers high quality online voice chat and high bandwidth voice recording and playback, which is currently not available with any other Bluetooth Headset. For future PS3 games, HQ Mode also can enable or enhance advanced in-game features:
- Voice command (the ability to direct AI characters using voice
- Voice animation (your in-game character mimics you during voice chat)
- Proximity chat (high quality voice playback in full surround sound to match all of the sound effects and voiceovers in the game)
- When docked in the supplied charging cradle, the Headset works as a desktop microphone while charging
- Automatic pairing of the Headset with PS3 system via a USB cable
- Exclusive PS3 on-screen indicator displays connection status, battery charge level, speaker volume level and microphone mute status at a push of a button
Who’s on board for this hotness? Some additional info can be found in the press release below the fold.
Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) today announced that the Bluetooth® Headset for PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) system will be available in North America beginning October 14. Designed exclusively with the PS3 system experience in mind, the Headset leverages superior voice technology and other advanced features to enhance voice chat during intense online multiplayer gaming. The Bluetooth Headset will be available initially as part of the SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation bundle for $59.99 (MSRP). It will be available as a standalone peripheral shortly thereafter for $49.99 (MSRP).
Featuring innovative features and advances in voice technology, the Headset brings next-generation voice chat features to PS3 system and expands on SCEA’s legacy as one of the first companies to popularize Voice-over-IP (VoIP) technology within a console videogame through SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs for PlayStation®2 system. With a gamer-friendly design, the Headset is compact, sleek, and ergonomic, fitting comfortably on each ear and featuring an easily accessible mute button. The included charging cradle allows for convenient charging and storage of the headset. The Headset also is compatible with most Bluetooth-enabled cell phones and audio devices.
A PS3 system software update slated for release this fall will unlock several advanced features that will differentiate the Headset from any other products currently available.
The key feature enabled by the firmware update is High-Quality (HQ) mode*, which utilizes advanced wireless technologies and the Headset’s dual-microphone design to enable clear and wide-band wireless voice communication with the PS3 system.
Following is a list of Headset features that will be added following the PS3 firmware update.
- High-Quality (HQ) mode – This delivers high quality online voice chat and high bandwidth voice recording and playback, which is currently not available with any other Bluetooth Headset. For future PS3 games, HQ Mode also can enable or enhance advanced in-game features:
- Voice command (the ability to direct AI characters using voice
- Voice animation (your in-game character mimics you during voice chat)
- Proximity chat (high quality voice playback in full surround sound to match all of the sound effects and voiceovers in the game)
- When docked in the supplied charging cradle, the Headset works as a desktop microphone while charging
- Automatic pairing of the Headset with PS3 system via a USB cable
- Exclusive PS3 on-screen indicator displays connection status, battery charge level, speaker volume level and microphone mute status at a push of a button
