Xbox head: The ‘final destination’ for VR gaming should be a HoloLens style headset

Xbox head: The ‘final destination’ for VR gaming should be a HoloLens style headset

Microsoft is expected to launch its next-gen gaming console, Project Scorpio in about a year. The company is apparently building the most powerful console ever that brings true 4K gaming to the Xbox, along with high-fidelity virtual reality experiences. In a recent interview with AusGamers, Microsoft Xbox’s head, Phil Spencer answered some questions regarding the company’s plans for Project Scorpio and more. In the interview, Phil revealed that the software giant ultimately wants to bring untethered virtual reality experiences.

Phil said in the interview that he previously tried out virtual reality headsets such as the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and he’s also getting the PlayStation VR. In the interview, he stated that all the cords that come with these headsets and the setup add up to a clumsy experience. Here’s his full statement:

“A device that can go from fully opaque like we see in current VR to overlaying information in the real-world — I fundamentally believe that’s where we’re going. I’ll also add ‘untethered’ is where we’re going. Like, the fact we’re all going to walk around… I mean, you’ve played all of these right? With cords hanging off the back of your head? It’s cool, I have a Vive, I have an Oculus, I’ll get a PlayStation VR, but the setup is for some specific tech enthusiasts — it’s just not a normal thing to shield myself from the world with a cord hanging off the back of my head and play games. I think it has to evolve, and I love the evolution that is going to happen.”

Phil Spencer also added that he personally sees a mixed-reality device such as Microsoft’s own HoloLens as the “final destination.” Everything that’s happening and will happen over the upcoming years are all “great learning opportunities for the industry.”

What Microsoft will bring to the virtual reality and gaming industry in the future will be quite interesting to see. An untethered virtual reality headset does sound quite ambitious at the moment, but that may not be the case in a few years time. As Phil mentioned in the interview, technology is evolving and even consoles are getting more and more powerful every year. Microsoft did do (and is still doing) some really amazing things with the HoloLens, so a mixed-reality device may not be that ambitious in a few years time as it is right now.

All these add-ons are so annoying. Stop wasting time and resources on stupid shit and give me a truly powerful system that has legs. Instead of doing research for some stupid ass screen, why can't they make some prototype hardware like they used to? Its the only way to not be outdated before the system was even out.

@silversix_: HoloLens isn't stupid shit. It's revolutionary technology that will shape the future of computing. Microsoft is right on focusing on MR vs VR. Because they know that MR will eventually replace VR down the road. Sony won't be able to replicate something like the HoloLens as they won't have the OS, Oculus, Vive are miles behind in getting Inside Out tracking at a $300 headset level that Microsoft set.

You're very foolish to dismiss HoloLens' tech

yeah yeah people told me the same thing about VR and not in one occasion. better spent money to revolutionize console controllers because we haven't really gotten any advancements in that department in a very very long time.

Hololens seems pretty cool and is what I would consider the end direction for all of this VR/AR related technology, the only concern I see with it is one of price. If they can get this stuff to consumer acceptable pricing standards it could be the next step in gaming, professional and educational environments.

Imagine using something like this in school or at work, what an exciting time we live in.

Your definition of excitement is ?

If you can't see the professional or academic applications for a device like this then I don't know what to tell you, I personally find it exciting and a big step towards the natural order of the world to come.

oh but i can see it, just like i see the use for VR and porn. that does nothing for me as a gamer, tho. these companies invest money on gimmicks but forget what's the most important aspect of a console, power, which will allow developers to optimize their games at over 22fps and dynamic resolution that goes below what was present during the 7th gen.

Personally I love both, holoLens and VR. I just imagine VR leading towards "Matrix" and HoloLens leading towards the next smart phone. I don't think one replaces the other and I don't see why they would have to

@dynamitecop: bro you can't explain it to simple people that have no logic.

They can't imagine working on something that's not there to learn. Engineering, surgeries, architecture, home designing, automotive repair/engineering. Hololens is amazing tech and not a gaming peripheral and they don't understand that. Yes Hololens can be used for gaming, and yes MS is moving closer to having tech like their Xbox in the movie "The Island" lol. There is way better reasons to want Hololens and fanboys will never see it.

While AR is a pretty cool tech I see it being more practical for applications outside of gaming.

Having tried all of the current iterations of VR, I personally still think that a set up something like this is still as immersive and more practical than VR in its current state:

http://www.simpit.co.nz/

Scorpio + HoloLens + Cloud are the next evolutions in gaming.

In terms of a productivity tool, I can see Hololens being a huge technological leap. In terms of entertainment, I think it is limited. VR is better in terms of immersion and creative freedom with the user experience.

Again, I like the direction of the technology, so don't take this as my typical post to kick sand in Microsofts face. When you consider what surgeons could do with the tech alone, it's an unquestionably beautiful thing.

In terms of entertainment, it's a lot like saying the plugin external speaker will replace the headphone. Not happening.

Everyone else is doing it, so I wouldn't be surprise if Microsoft and Nintendo does it too, just to show that their machines are VR/AR capable. Hololens is so much more advanced than PSVR and the cost shows this too. I doubt if they ever have a consumer level Hololens that it'll change the landscape of gaming. VR/AR is still a novelty experience.

Isn't final destination that movie series where people die in horrible ways?

LOLOLOL Lems said the same about Flopnect. Learn to avoid ownage for once lems!

Lemmings going towards their final destination. MS is trying to give a hint or make fun of them. Either way, thanks MS.

I don't see VRs potential, for gaming it seems gimmicky outside of bringing you more into a survival horror maybe. I've never really seen anything substantial, just tech demos.

Also seems to have some possible unhealthy path, like that sex VR thing in Demolition Man. Suddenly people want VR porn. The point of this example is that it's another thing to take people further from going outside and doing things for real.

No one will really bother with the risk anymore after Kinect and the Wii controllers. MS has no plans on releasing Hololens for the Xbox for that reason. The only reason people are risking VR, is because a lot of companies are moving in that direction together.

When you have a new type of controller, you need to risk it on a new console and it has to be dedicated to that, it must be the primary controller so that the markets aren't separate and developers feel they can risk being really creative with them.

After Nintendo's problems, they won't try it for a while and the same for MS. And we know how little effort Sony puts into their new peripherals. They just throw it out into the wild to see if it can fend for itself. Everyone who could make a go of it won't because the consumer doesn't put their money where their mouth is. They ask for creative games and peripherals, but outside of a phase or a fad, everyone goes back to the CoDs.

On VR I think developers will only make proper games for PSVR in the beginning. If it doesn't turn into a big enough deal straight away, developers will just have a tacked on VR experience to their normal games and others will make some indie like games for it. Imo it'll need to become cheaper and sell in the tens of millions to be taken really seriously by developers.

For me, the only game that looks interesting is Ace Combat 7, but I bet it'll be a bit limited with VR. Either way, it's ridiculous, I can't buy an expensive PS4 Pro, then buy an expensive PSVR, a PS Camera, and then games. Too much just for some entertainment. Spending that much on a PC is different, because a PC does pretty much everything.

Kinect 2.0 had a lot of potential with it's tech. Hololens is great outside of gaming. Kinect 2.0 could have been very useful outside of gaming to. Inside of gaming it's probably the more affordable and closest thing to Intels new camera tech. But it needs support from consumers.

That's why I have little faith in VR. It needs to sell A LOT and be more affordable, so people outside of the early adopter will get it, then developers will take it seriously and invest more. It's an expensive risk to consumers right now I think. I've learnt my lesson from early adopting so it'll be a long time before I get any of this stuff.

Incoming 2021 Hololens VR MonsterBox launching with Halo 7 Forza Horizon 5 and Gears 6...... . I'll take two please. :P

@silversix_:

This is one of the few times I completely agree with you. They need to stop with all these stupid add-ons and work on making a console that actually play games at the frames and res they advertise. Work in making a console that can play games at 1080p 30 to 60 frames without and drops, once you master that then go into expanding the experience.

The tech of hololens sounds neat. But I have a hard time seeing it's practicality when it comes to console gaming. Withholding final judgment ofcourse.

Enjoy paying out the ass again lems when u can get a PC at better value