Microsoft says they’re not willing to talk about virtual reality on its upcoming Xbox One X console. Instead, Microsoft is pushing mixed reality on Windows PCs.<\/b>
\nAfter originally touting the powerful new Xbox One X (formerly Project Scorpio) as a VR-capable console last year, Microsoft backed way off during its formal E3 2017 launch\u2014not even mentioning virtual reality.
To be fair, Microsoft previously signaled that virtual reality was not going to be a priority for the Xbox One X at first. Microsoft already said that it would add VR capabilities to Windows 10 PCs and the Xbox One X in 2018, and then revealed to Polygon that it would not be showing off VR technology at E3.
But while Microsoft representatives said that the company is committed to delivering great mixed reality gaming experiences, they added that they have nothing to say as far as virtual reality goes for the Xbox One X. Instead, the company is throwing its weight behind the PC.
\u201cMicrosoft is committed to delivering great mixed reality gaming experiences, \u201d a company representative said in an emailed statement. \u201cWe believe that right now a Windows PC is the best platform for mixed reality as its open ecosystem and enormous installed base offer the best opportunity for developers, and Windows offers the most choices for consumers. Therefore, our primary focus is making our Windows Mixed Reality experiences a success.\u201d
You\u2019 d be forgiven, though, if you at thought that Microsoft would at least mention the technology. A year ago, Xbox chief Phil Spencer told The Verge that both 4K and VR were the two key focal points for Scorpio: \u201cAs we saw 4K gaming and really high-end VR taking off in the PC space, we wanted to be able to bring that to console, \u201d he said.
But when it came time to reveal the Xbox One X\u2019s hardware, Microsoft began focusing more on the 4K capabilities of the new Xbox console than its VR capabilities. Publications became suspicious when the Xbox One X only appeared to have a single HDMI port.
[Further reading: Microsoft at E3: Meet the Xbox One X\u2019s legion of games (that are coming to PC, too)]
Microsoft certainly touted the Xbox One X\u2019s capabilities as part of its official Sunday launch. Spencer touted it as the \u201cmost powerful console ever made, \u201d with 6 teraflops of graphical horsepower powered by an AMD chip under the hood. But all of that, according to Spencer, was in the service of 4K: 4K textures, 4K assets, 4K Blu-ray playback, with support for high-dynamic range visuals.
If we chart the progression of video games from Spacewar and Zork all the way through to 2016, then the HTC Vive is the next logical step towards realism. Read PCWorld’s full review
It\u2019s possible that Microsoft isn\u2019 t willing to hitch its new console to a VR technology that has been slow to take off. Sony said earlier this spring that it was closing on a million units sold of its PlayStation VR accessory (and has surely passed that number by now) . But Oculus was forced to discount its Rift and Touch controller bundle down by $200, to $600. Unofficial, unconfirmed third-party calculations based on surveys by Valve\u2019s Steam service also suggest that HTC has sold roughly a quarter million units of its $800 Vive VR system. Though some research suggests that the PlayStation 4 is dramatically outselling the Xbox One, Microsoft is at least selling millions of consoles.
On the PC, meanwhile, Microsoft is working with hardware partners like Acer and Lenovo in developing mixed reality devices, showing off Acer\u2019s new mixed-reality device at its recent Build conference.
Right now, Microsoft is focusing its VR gaming efforts on Windows, not its new Xbox One X console.
\u201cWe have games from Microsoft Studios in development for Windows Mixed Reality, and several game developers are working closely with us to bring their titles to Windows Mixed Reality, \u201d the Microsoft representative added. \u201cWe\u2019 ll have more to share on specific games and content experiences coming to Windows Mixed Reality later this summer, after E3. Because of the opportunity with Windows Mixed Reality, and because we believe the user experience will be best on PC right now, that is where our focus is.\u201d
Microsoft has already put in place the \u201cXbox Play Anywhere\u201d program, where a Play Anywhere game purchased for the Xbox can be played on Windows 10, and vice versa. Unfortunately, Microsoft isn\u2019 t saying whether the same program will apply to Windows 10 mixed reality devices and Xbox One X VR, if and when it arrives.
\u201cWe have nothing to share about [mixed reality] for console at this time, \u201d the Microsoft representative said.<\/p>\n

\n

Similarity rank: 1.1<\/div>\n

Sentiment rank: 0.8<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n