Yesterday, we received a note from Astro Gaming (whom we’ve recently spoken with about next-gen audio) indicating that their headsets will work for chat at the PlayStation 4… just not instantaneously. This prompted us to dig a bit of deeper and discover what gaming headset owners can expect on November 15.

The answer we received from Sony is complicated. When you have a Sony-branded PULSE gaming headset (or the elite edition of that product), it is very important look forward to a system update coming sooner or later. It appears those is not going to work in any respect at launch.

Any other headset that will depend on bluetooth for chat cannot work in any respect. When you’ve got something that depends upon USB for chat (just like the Astro mixamps and Astro A50 wireless system), you’ll eventually be capable of use those. An update would be coming at some point.

Any headset that is dependent upon digital optical for game audio will continue to offer that out of the box. You only can not chat yet.

The situation is identical for the Xbox One. The connector at the controller is totally different, and until Microsoft delivers the adapter it has promised, you will not have the ability chat using legacy devices. Both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 will include a headset within the box, and there is always the choice to take advantage of the Kinect as a microphone (but when you’ve dogs or kids, please don’t).

Our Take
While it’s good that these headsets will eventually work, it is a shame that both platform holders won’t have the ability to support them at launch. Gaming headsets are significant investments that could cost hundreds of greenbacks.  

I know that technology moves on and changes are required to enhance the whole experience. That does not make me any happier that my $300 headset won’t work with my new consoles instantaneously.