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Microsoft ditches Xbox VR plans

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XBoxVR

When Microsoft first debuted the Xbox One X – then stilled called Scorpio – Phil Spencer stood on stage and said that the new machine would soon deliver high-end VR. Given the Xbox One and Oculus Rift partnership, the assumption then was that the new machine would come to support the Rift in some way. When the Xbox One X was released, there was no mention of VR compatibility at all, though it was still something in the system’s pipeline.

Later that year though, Microsoft released its own Windows “mixed reality” headsets with hardware partners like ASUS, Acer and Samsung. Spencer then said that those would eventually find a home on the Xbox One.

Now it looks like Microsoft’s Xbox One VR ambitions are dead.

Speaking to Gamesindustry.biz, Microsoft’s gaming chief marketing officer Mike Nichols said that “we don’t have any plans specific to Xbox consoles in virtual reality or mixed reality.”

“Our perspective on it has been and continues to be that the PC is probably the best platform for more immersive VR and MR. As an open platform, it just allows faster, more rapid iteration. There are plenty of companies investing in it in the hardware side and the content side, or some combination therein. Obviously on phones, augmented reality is a good scenario as well that’s going to grow. But as it relates to Xbox, no. Our focus is primarily on experiences you would play on your TV, and ultimately we’d like to make those experiences more broadly.”

While Sony has had its own middling successes with PlayStation VR, it’s safe to say that virtual reality hasn’t quite had the effect on the market that anyone had hoped. Microsoft ditching its own Xbox VR plans hardly come as a surprise.

Last Updated: June 21, 2018

30 Comments

  1. HvR

    June 21, 2018 at 15:47

    Sometimes MS hardware dev choices really has me baffled.

    Stopping emerging fields (still think the hololens was cool AF) and going back to established markets where they no market share. The utter failure of the buying of Nokia Mobile and pushing Windows mobile, laptop market using the Surface product name which has only had very negative connotations.

    Also remember couple of years back, think at the end of previous gen, they were considering dropping Xbox

    Reply

  2. HvR

    June 21, 2018 at 15:47

    Sometimes MS hardware dev choices really has me baffled.

    Stopping emerging fields (still think the hololens was cool AF) and going back to established markets where they no market share. The utter failure of the buying of Nokia Mobile and pushing Windows mobile, laptop market using the Surface product name which has only had very negative connotations.

    Also remember couple of years back, think at the end of previous gen, they were considering dropping Xbox

    Reply

  3. RinceThis

    June 21, 2018 at 15:34

    They are too busy working on the next 40 Gears of Bore.

    Reply

    • Geoffrey Tim

      June 21, 2018 at 15:36

      Dont you say a bad word about Gears. Dont you dare. Í’m even keen for Gears POP. 😀

      Reply

      • RinceThis

        June 21, 2018 at 15:37

        Hey, the first 3 games are legend man, the others, nope. Nope

        Reply

    • Original Heretic

      June 21, 2018 at 15:37

      Gears of War is one of the only games I actually missed in my transition to PS.

      Reply

      • Gr8_Balls_o_Fire

        June 21, 2018 at 16:05

        My miss is Forza Horizon. But not that much.

        Reply

        • Original Heretic

          June 21, 2018 at 16:07

          That’s the only other one I miss.
          No other racing game even comes close, IMO.

          Reply

          • Gr8_Balls_o_Fire

            June 21, 2018 at 16:16

            Your opinion is correct. Therefore its in your fact.

  4. Alien Emperor Trevor

    June 21, 2018 at 15:39

    Yet another Xbox One Eighty.

    Reply

  5. Original Heretic

    June 21, 2018 at 15:39

    I still maintain that the VR isn’t having the impact it should because developers don’t fully know how to make games for it yet. There have been a few gems, but apart from those, nothing that REALLY made it a “must get” item.

    Reply

  6. HvR

    June 21, 2018 at 15:47

    Sometimes MS hardware dev choices really has me baffled.

    Stopping emerging fields (still think the hololens was cool AF) and going back to established markets where they no market share. The utter failure of the buying of Nokia Mobile and pushing Windows mobile, laptop market using the Surface product name which has only had very negative connotations.

    Also remember couple of years back, think at the end of previous gen, they were considering dropping Xbox

    Reply

    • Original Heretic

      June 21, 2018 at 15:47

      But they also do awesome stuff like those controllers for disabled people.

      Reply

      • HvR

        June 21, 2018 at 15:48

        That is why it is so bloody weird, they clearly have the IP and talent to be one of the forefront hardware developers but choose to go for markets where they are doomed to fail.

        Reply

        • Original Heretic

          June 21, 2018 at 15:48

          And let’s not also forget that the XBOX One X (WHICH WILL FOREVER BE A STUPID NAME) is the most powerful console out there.

          Reply

  7. Pieter Kruger

    June 21, 2018 at 16:47

    Best News Ever! Focus 1st on games now, and making sure the next box is again the best and most powerful box, then VR or AR somewhere down the line! Current gen consoles are not beefy enough to run proper VR anything, not even the mighty XB1X, PSVR failed exactly because of the lack of power the PS4 & PS4pro had, developers had to cut too many corners and could never fully realise their projects! PSVR is the next Vita, now come at me fanboy! ?

    Reply

    • HvR

      June 21, 2018 at 16:52

      Do not think this will in anyway impact games development; resources will probably be used on other hardware projects like surface or their new generation network Azure rollout. Will actually agree with you on that last point.

      Rift and Vive experience miles better than the PSVR aka PS vomit inducer. Although the lack a proper new VR control system has a lot to do with it as well.

      Reply

      • Pieter Kruger

        June 21, 2018 at 17:30

        MS still investing a lot in VR & AR, just not pushing it on Xbox, which is a very good thing! PS5 and PSVR 2.0 will be much better at it, but current gen console VR is already doomed.

        Reply

    • RinceThis

      June 21, 2018 at 17:08

      I like how you isad ‘Now’ because they sure as shit haven’t up till now! hahahahaha

      Reply

      • Pieter Kruger

        June 21, 2018 at 17:36

        Yeah they could’ve done better but remember Sony had it’s dry spells too this gen! Then it was deemed “brilliant” by mainstream media to utilise 3rd party as best place to play due to PS4 being more powerful than XB1, remember? Anyway the roadmap since Phil took over was getting hardware and services to nr.1, then focus on games for this gen and going into next gen. That still rings true, more now than ever as the full might of the MS wallet is now focused on next gen console, even better services & games games games!

        Reply

  8. Andrew

    June 21, 2018 at 21:55

    Terrible news. Way to go Microsoft.

    Reply

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