PlayStation VR will work with all existing games and video content in 'cinematic mode'

The $399 PlayStation VR platform isn't just for gaming content, Sony announced during its press conference for the virtual reality hardware. You'll also be able to play games and watch movies that weren't designed for virtual reality.

The system also has a cinematic mode, which "lets users enjoy a variety of content in a large virtual screen while wearing the headset," the press release stated. "Supported content for the Cinematic mode includes standard PS4 games and videos as well as variety of PS4 features including Share Play and Live from PlayStation. Users will also be able to enjoy 360 degrees photos and videos that are captured by devices such as omnidirectional cameras on PS VR via PS4 Media Player, which will let them feel as if they are physically inside the captured scene."

How big will the screen look? That's up to you, but Sony gives some idea. "Users can enjoy content on a virtual screen up to 225 inches (5 meters in width) at a distance of 2.5 meters," the release explains. "The size of the screen will feel different depending on individual users."

The cinematic mode will allow you to play existing PS4 games and use video features, and the player will be able to select small, medium or large sizes for the virtual screen. We were able to try the feature during Sony's event, and the software places the viewer in a black space watching a floating screen; there is no surrounding environment. Nearly all UI elements of the PlayStation 4 will function in this mode, although Sony didn't detail which features wouldn't be available.

PlayStation VR launches this October for $399, and requires an additional camera accessory to function.