With Mocopi, Sony has announced a motion tracking system for the home that transfers the user’s movements as accurately as possible to a virtual avatar in the metaverse. The total of six sensors for hands, feet, back and head cost the equivalent of around 360 euros, but Mocopi has only been announced for Japan at the moment.
Start first in Japan
Pre-sales in Japan will begin in mid-December this year, and the motion tracking sensors will be delivered by the end of January 2023. It is not yet known if other markets will soon receive the product. Color-coded sensors attach to the arms, legs, back, and head with straps and a clip. They must be connected to a smartphone with their own app and use proprietary technology; Sony has yet to reveal any details about it.
Real-time motion tracking with few sensors
With Mocopi, videos of a virtual avatar can be recorded and an avatar can be directly controlled in real time in the metaverse. Metaverse apps like VRChat can be used for this. Although only six sensors are used, Sony promises a high level of accuracy when it comes to detecting movements with Mocopi. This is aimed at saving time and space when creating the corresponding video content, for example by “VTuber” (virtual youtubers). However, Sony will also provide a software development kit (SDK) starting December 15, for example, to import motion data into animation apps and link tracking data to Metaverse services.
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Sony Mocopi sensors (Image: Sony)
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Also for filmmakers
With Mocopi, Sony is not only targeting the Metaverse, but also wanting to win over filmmakers and creative people. Sony claims that existing avatars in VRM file format can be used for Mocopi and recorded videos can be exported in MP4 format. This requires an Android device running Android 11 or higher or an iOS device running iOS 15.7.1 or higher.
Also for PS5 and PS VR2?
It is not yet clear which products the sensors can be used with in the future and whether they can also be used in conjunction with the PlayStation 5 and the PS VR2 VR headset, which will be released in February 2023.