Sony: 3D "could become the norm"

Many believe stereoscopic 3D TVs are too expensive and having to wear glasses to use the tech is a pain – but Sony reckons 3D "could become the norm" in just a few short years.

"We're seeing 3D as a staple part of the cinema experience now and that will transfer into the home – as it's already started to do," Sony Computer Entertainment UK boss Ray Maguire told The Guardian.

"It's estimated that by 2014, 40 per cent of homes in the UK will have a 3D-capable device, whether that's a laptop, a TV or something else.

"Soon, when people begin to replace their flatscreen televisions, they will probably buy one that just happens to have 3D capabilities built in. That opens up an environment for content providers to invest more money into 3D material.

"Sony has a lot more games coming in 3D this year, and it does enrich the experience. It'll be a reasonably long haul to get there, but I think it could become the norm."

More and more games are launching with stereoscopic 3D support across multiple formats, although Sony has been its biggest cheerleader.

PlayStation 3 exclusives Gran Turismo 5, Killzone 3 and MotorStorm: Apocalypse all output in 3D.

In November last year Sony said over 50 stereoscopic 3D-enabled PlayStation 3 games were in the works – with 3D being applied to 20 of them in-house.

But not all are convinced. EA Sports president Peter Moore told Eurogamer last year that 3D was unlikely for the all-conquering FIFA series. "Is cool good enough in our world where this is not an inconsiderable expense, and in a world where you expect us to deliver FIFA every single year?" he asked. "Do I have to hire more people to do 3D, and then can I sell more copies of the game?"