Kaz Hirai Believes Handheld 3D Has Limitations

There are two companies that bet big on three-dimensional gaming at the recently finished E3 convention, Nintendo and Sony, although the two take decidedly different paths towards it. The latter is making the PlayStation 3 home console compatible with 3D and aims to deliver the experience using new television sets and glasses, while the former is pushing the handheld Nintendo 3DS as the future, with its technology that does not use glasses, and portability.

Apparently, Sony executives are not too impressed with the way Nintendo is using 3D. Kaz Hirai, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Sony Computer Entertainment, told Sankei Biz that “Based off internally conducted research, naked-eye 3D for portables does not have high precision, and at present there are limitations.”

The comment seems to point to the fact that Sony was trying to create something similar to the screen of the new Nintendo 3DS for its own unannounced handheld but saw the solution as being less than ideal for games.

Kas Hirai was quick to talk up the technology the company is using, “With such things as a strengthened 3D-compatible software lineup, we aim to increase hardware sales.” In addition to playing three-dimensional games, the PS3 will also be getting a firmware patch allowing the platform to play 3D movies from Blu-ray.

Rumors that appeared before the E3 show were dealing with Sony preparing to show off a new handheld, called the PSP 2, which was set to include touchscreen capabilities and even 3D tech, but the company chose to focus on the PlayStation 3 and on a new push to make the old PSP interesting to gamers. Most industry watchers believe the firm needs an answer to the new features of the Nintendo 3DS as soon as possible or it could be forced to abandon the fight for the mobile gaming market.