Developer Turns Headphones Into Real-Time Head Tracker for Games

A developer has created a free Windows application that turns the motion sensors inside compatible Sony headphones and earbuds into a real-time head tracker for PC games.

The open-source project, called Sony Head Tracker, was developed by Nicholas Slattery. It works with OpenTrack, allowing head movements to control the in-game camera in racing, flight, and other simulator titles.

Using Existing Sensors

Modern premium headphones often include motion sensors for head-tracked spatial audio.

These sensors monitor the direction and movement of the user’s head so that virtual sound sources remain fixed in position as the listener moves.

Compatible Sony headphones already expose their motion data through the Android Head Tracker protocol. However, Windows does not normally make that information available to PC games in a useful form.

Sony Head Tracker acts as a bridge between the headphones and OpenTrack. It reads live orientation and gyroscope data over a normal Bluetooth connection before sending yaw, pitch, and roll information to OpenTrack.

I made Sony headphones work as a free head tracker for 200+ PC games
byu/NSlattery43 inpcmasterrace

Works With PC Games

OpenTrack can transmit head-tracking information through protocols supported by hundreds of games and simulators.

The setup can therefore work with titles that support OpenTrack, FreeTrack, or TrackIR-style input, including Microsoft Flight Simulator and racing simulators such as Assetto Corsa. Actual compatibility depends on the head-tracking support available in each game.

Head movement can allow players to look around a cockpit, check mirrors, or follow corners without using a mouse, controller stick, or dedicated tracking device.

Supported Sony Models

The project currently confirms support for the following Sony products:

• Sony WH-1000XM5
• Sony WF-1000XM5
• Sony WH-1000XM6
• Sony WF-1000XM6
• Sony ULT WEAR (WH-ULT900N)

Sony LinkBuds models that support head tracking are listed as possible candidates, but they still require further community testing with the Windows application.

Older models, such as the WH-1000XM4, are not compatible because they do not expose the required Android Head Tracker sensor protocol.

No Additional Hardware Required

The application does not require a webcam, infrared tracker, phone, firmware modification, or custom Windows driver.

Users only need to pair a compatible Sony headset with a Windows 11 computer, run Sony Head Tracker, and configure OpenTrack to receive the movement data.

The software can also automatically reconnect if the headset temporarily disconnects or switches to another device.

Apple Headphones Not Supported

Apple’s AirPods and Beats devices also contain motion sensors, but they do not use the standard Android Head Tracker protocol.

Instead, Apple sends head-tracking information through its proprietary accessory protocol. Windows does not provide normal applications with access to the required Bluetooth channel without a custom kernel driver, which the Sony Head Tracker project does not install.

Free and Open Source

Sony Head Tracker is available free of charge under the MIT open-source licence.

The project is unofficial and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sony. It provides an inexpensive head-tracking option for people who already own compatible headphones and play simulator games on a PC.