While virtual reality support was one of the major things highlighted for the Xbox One X back when Microsoft officially announced the higher specced console at E3 2016, it never seems to have materialized since. That may be because, as it turns out, Microsoft changed its plans, and no longer plans for VR to be a pillar for its Xbox One X strategy.
A lot of that may have to do with the relative failure of VR on consoles to take off, as well as with Microsoft already having a stake in the VR market thanks to its mixed reality and virtual reality initiatives for Windows 10 PCs.
“We don’t have any plans specific to Xbox consoles in virtual reality or mixed reality,” Microsoft’s chief marketing officer of gaming, Mike Nichols told GamesIndustry.biz. “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.”
I mean, I suppose that makes sense, especially given that VR as a whole doesn’t seem to be quite there yet. On the other hand, I kind of wish they had come clean with this before- if there was anyone who bought an Xbox One X specifically for high end console VR, they have to be feeling disappointed now.
