Microsoft Exec On VR Gaming: “We Learned Our Lessons From Kinect And Wii”, Didn’t Want To Distract Developers

With Xbox, Microsoft is choosing to focus on 4K gaming while also providing backwards compatibility. In an interview with the Wired, Microsoft’s Shannon Loftis, general manager of publishing at Xbox, spoke of their focus on improving the Xbox One X’s technological capabilities to an extent that a game’s visual experience itself can emotionally impact the player.

Microsoft will soon be launching their Mixed Reality headsets (a combination of Virtual Reality Augmented Reality tech) and with it a free to play Halo experience. However, they have made it clear that VR isn’t their main focus as of now since there seems to be a lot left to do before VR gaming becomes a viable experience.

Speaking on the subject, Albert Penello, senior director of product management and planning at Microsoft stated that, “We learned with Kinect and the Wii that just translating a typical game experience to VR is not a winning strategy. It’s the oddball VR-specific stuff that makes it sing. It wasn’t something we wanted to distract developers with this year.”

As of now, Microsoft’s main focus is simply to bring the best technology possible to their fans, and to also allow fans to play beloved classics on their consoles.