One of the features included with PlayStation VR is Cinematic Mode, which lets you view the PlayStation 4 system UI and nearly all non-VR games and applications on a virtual screen while wearing the headset. The screen size varies from Small (117 inches) to Medium (163 inches) to Large (226 inches) and is placed virtually at 6 – 10 feet away, though the size of the screen may feel different depending on the person.
In their PlayStation VR FAQ, Sony explains that certain games like The Playroom and Tearaway Unfolded won’t work in Cinematic Mode because they use the PlayStation Camera:
Yes, PS4 games will work using Cinematic Mode, which is used to view the PS4 system interface and non-VR games and applications on a virtual screen. Non-VR games which use the PS Camera like the original non-VR PlayRoom and Tearaway Unfolded are not supported by PS VR Cinematic mode. When playing non-VR games during Cinematic Mode, you’ll be able to use all of the Share features, as long as they’re supported by the game. Also, since the Processor Unit provides Cinematic Mode, you won’t notice any frame-rate or performance drops with PS4 games or apps.
Here’s what they said about Cinematic Mode’s resolution:
PS VR presents images from a single 1920 x 1080 display split between both eyes, so the content can have a maximum resolution of 960×1080 in stereoscopic 3D. The actual resolution of the Cinematic Mode screen depends on the screen size and the ...