Sony launched a gaming hardware brand called Inzone aimed at PC gamers. The company announced its new brand with two 27-inch screens and three different types of gaming headsets.
Inzone has been in development since 2019 – before the pandemic – when Sony executives noticed growth in the video game and esports industry.
We are entering the gaming equipment industry with screens and headphones,” said Kazuo Kei, President of Sony Home Entertainment and Audio Products. Games and esports have become more popular over the past few years. We take advantage of Sony’s high-quality display and audio technologies to deliver products that allow gamers to immerse themselves in the world of gaming.
The brand name is meant to indicate the immersive feeling players get when they are in the area.
After its late entry into the PC gaming market, the Japanese company plans to attract gamers with competitively priced products.
The company plans to sell a 4K monitor with a refresh rate of 144Hz for $899. Another $529 display has a 1080p resolution with a 240Hz refresh rate.
The Japanese conglomerate hopes that PC gamers – especially first-person shooters – will give Inzone a chance, and not associate Sony primarily with gaming platforms.
“We’re not saying we’re not focused on PS5 users,” Key said. But since we’re lagging behind in monitors and headphones for the gaming sector, we think we have a chance to catch up.
He added that he hopes the company can catch up by attracting and promoting the best players and influencers who might use Inzone’s products to their fans.
While Sony hopes to attract PC gamers, it hasn’t given up on PS5 users. Monitors and headphones are designed to integrate with the PS5, if users own one.
Both monitors work with the PS5, which improves screen colors once connected. The monitors also have a switch feature, allowing users to connect a single keyboard, mouse, and headset to a PC and PS5 at the same time, and switch between the two.
Sony accelerates its gaming efforts with InZone
Sony’s approach to gaming headsets is to try to figure out which of its options resonate with consumers. The company offers a wireless headset for $299 with noise cancellation and synthetic leather, along with a wireless headset priced at $229 without skin or noise cancellation, as well as wired headphones priced at $99.
And the speakers are equipped with the feature of the spatial sound field. Players can hear how far and where opponents are, based on audio cues.
The headphones are also designed to be less tight around the ears so gamers can comfortably wear them for hours.
The launch of the new brand comes shortly after Xbox announced in early June that it was trying to attract Japanese developers, who have worked more with PlayStation.
While Inzone targets the gaming community more commonly associated with Windows PCs and Xbox, Key denied that the brand’s launch was an attempt to compete for the Xbox audience, saying that many gamers use multiple devices to play.
Inzone builds on Sony’s existing features of noise-canceling TVs, monitors and earphones, and customizes this technology to appeal to gamers.
The company is still hesitant about whether it plans to offer devices alongside monitors and headphones under the Inzone brand.
Inzone is provided with software called Inzone Center to allow users to access and change settings such as lighting and bass.
