PlayStation creator Kutaragi ‘can’t see the point’ of the metaverse or VR headsets

PlayStation creator Ken Kutaragi has said he’s not interested in the metaverse or virtual reality headsets.

The former Sony executive, who is often referred to as ‘The Father of the PlayStation’, has been working at Tokyo-based Ascent Robotics since August 2020.

The AI startup, which recently raised $8.7 million from Sony and SBI Holdings, is developing technology designed to turn real-world objects into computer-readable data, with the aim of making affordable robots that can safely do physical work alongside humans in factories and logistics centres.

In an interview with Bloomberg, 71-year-old Kutaragi was dismissive about the metaverse and VR headsets as a means of tapping into it.

“Being in the real world is very important, but the metaverse is about making quasi-real in the virtual world, and I can’t see the point of doing it,” he said. “You would rather be a polished avatar instead of your real self? That’s essentially no different from anonymous messageboard sites.”

Kutaragi, who is best known as the architect of the original PlayStation, PS2 and PS3, also said he’s not a fan of head-mounted VR displays.

“Headsets would isolate you from the real world, and I can’t agree with that. Headsets are simply annoying.”

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