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340°

GDC: Microsoft has Worked on VR 'For Quite a While'

During a conversation about virtual reality technology at the Game Developers Conference, Microsoft Game Studios' Phil Spencer said "I think the technology is really interesting, and it’s definitely something we’ve been playing with for quite a while."

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Irishguy954109d ago

Would expect them have too, same with Sony. VR is the future. Always has been. After VR comes brainwave VR.

8|

darthv724109d ago

VR has been something that has been toyed with for 20+ years by various companies. Looking at the tech then and now there has been huge advancements in making it not only better but more cost effective.

Hatsune-Miku4109d ago

This would put further strain on the xbox one that is already stretch thin trying to run games at 720p. VR with two 480i glasses wouldn't be good at all but I'm sure fanat-X would love to buy it.

christocolus4109d ago (Edited 4109d ago )

@Hatsune

Why are you so biased? You are in every xbx article with nothing reasonable to say? Dont you get tired of talking crap? If MS does release a VR headset im sure xbx fans would go ahead and buy it just as Ps fans would buy morpheus...so why the name calling? Its funny how some guys can have so much bias towards the choice of others.

MelvinTheGreat4109d ago

@hatsune

Whats you're deal dude? How bout you stop taking it up the butt from sony and be glad and happy theres competition between the two companies.

4108d ago
Volkama4108d ago

Phil spencer is quite right that convincing the masses to wear a headset is a challenge though. Look at stereoscopic 3D and the Hugh push within the TV industry to get glasses-free 3D working.

I don't think something like illumiroom or anything projecting images on your walls can be as immersive or high quality though.

Such a cool time for the games industry right now.

morganfell4108d ago

Microsoft and VR looks like a nice idea for some but then ESRAM rears it's ugly head.

Bandwidth, or rather the lack of it will haunt the X1 this entire generation.

FriedGoat4108d ago

@morganfell

Dunno why you're getting disagrees, The XBone is really going to struggle to output 2 720P images.

malokevi4108d ago

I imagine MS will go the AR glasses, as pet their "Fortaleza" patents.

The way I see it, they stopped working on Illumaroom because they realized that they could achieve the same effect with image-overlay using AR. They would also be cheaper than a full headset, and would augment the TV rather then replace it.

Remains to be seen. For now, I'm happy gaming on my TV. If morpheus turns out well, is well supported, and isn't overly expensive, I'm sure I'll end up getting one.

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 4108d ago
AngelicIceDiamond4109d ago

I bet VR will be cool and very unique but like I said I just want to play on a controller at the end of the day.

I just hope its not forced on us.

Muffins12234109d ago

Your still useing a controler,its not like wii or kinect,its a different way of seeing the game. ITs like going from pixels to polygons.

MorePowerOfGreen4109d ago

We already knew this. Seen this in the 2010 leaked docs almost 2 years ago. MSFT will obviously see if the tech flops due to its novelty and if successful, go big as they always do. Kinect 2.0 would be the only thing that would make this tech mainstream.

Eonjay4109d ago

That is a catch 22 you are describing. You said that they would join in if it doesn't flop and you said that only Kinect can keep it from flopping. There is no way to reconcile these opposing situations.

christocolus4109d ago

@morepower

My guess is that MS will go ahead with their VR plans irrespective of what Sony and Oculus are doing. Theyve been working on similar tech for some years now i.e fortazella and illumiroom..its just a matter of when now.

@majiebeast

Huh? You are funny.....lmao.

corvusmd4108d ago (Edited 4108d ago )

Exactly, MS has always been an innovative console company, that's why we now have Broadband, Achievements, Motion controllers, Massive dedicated server support, cloud computing and, game streaming as a mainstay. I'm sure MS will/is doing this right. They don't need to worry about anyone else. I like the AR aspect the seem to be taking...kinda like including the "illumniroom aspect into VR

Pay no mind to maji...based on his/her comments they're clearly new to gaming and lost as to what the facts are.

@fireseed. To be fair, Sony did originate the idea of massive network hacks and charging $50 a year for "free" games.

BlueTemplar4108d ago

@Corvusmd

You're crediting Microsoft with Broadband? Really?

I Know the original Xbox had a ethernet connection, but come on - do you really think the other platforms would be stuck in 1999 otherwise?

Also, motion controllers?? I think you're crediting the wrong company. Game streaming too.

Amazing.

ToxicSushi4108d ago

@BlueTemplar
Sega Dreamcast had a NIC add on module vs. the modem module. Now that was a technological machine ahead of its time :-)

johndoe112114108d ago

What the hell does kinect have to do with virtual reality???? Does oculus have kinect? Is that the logic you're using to justify that piece of sh!t accessory???

beerzombie4108d ago

Yes it dose it had to use a camera for motion tracking to be better. That's were the Kinect will be a plus because everyone has one not 20% percent like the ps4 which by all standards is freaking great.
also Ps4 will either have to bundle a camera that will raise the price where X1 can just sell the Vr cheaper because everyone has a camera.

MusicComposer4108d ago

@beerzombie The Kinect 2 refresh rate is only 30hz which is too slow to be used in VR. The PS4 camera by comparison is 60hz at 720p and is 120hz at 480p. It seems like Microsoft is pursuing AR instead of VR though.

majiebeast4109d ago

Microsoft the me too company.

MelvinTheGreat4109d ago

Its not like VR has been done before....oh wait it has...that means...sonys is copying too *gasp*

BG115794108d ago

Oh yeah, everyone remembers the Virtual Boy.

Old McGroin4108d ago

@ BG11579

Or a more recent example, Oculus Rift.

beerzombie4108d ago (Edited 4108d ago )

I think Sega and Nintendo did some of this too.

specialguest4108d ago

I've done it first before those companies. Made both hands shaped like a binocular and put it against my eyes and BAM! instant VR.

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Fireseed4108d ago

Oh totally, why do they always have to copy Sonys HYPER ORIGINAL ideas...
Like Morphe... Ohhh Oculus...
Oh I know Mov... Oh Wii (Also know by Sony as the "lollipop")...
Oh wait I got it Trophi... Oh achievements...
Hmm

4108d ago
Fireseed4108d ago

@gulash

My point being, everything is iterative.... and yes I'd accept that MS probably took that from Spyro. Along with a lot of others things, but that's how we get advancement.

MazzingerZ4108d ago (Edited 4108d ago )

Achievements and the whole XBL concepts and features for the X360 are rather taken from Bungie's MP ideas in Halo 2, including voice messages.

Bungie created XBL, it's amazing how after all that partnership Bungie kept free after all that, one must respect their ideals of being an independent developer.

Microsoft paid for XBL so I guess we can't call it copied, Bungie was behind it, but yeah, MSFT has mostly been the company that purchase others ideas and I have nothing against that if that help to make things better and reach more people.

You can't blame on everything on the buyer as there's also a seller, those buys out motivates small companies to innovate and someday make big money from that, so innovation is still on the picture, just not from big companies.

http://www.gamespot.com/art...

4108d ago
Gazondaily4108d ago (Edited 4108d ago )

@grim

what?? Oh please. That's some desperate spinning. A system wide system of achievements that is universal snd tracks your achievements and logs them online is the same as Spyro thr Dragon's skill point system?? Aha okay. Yeah because MS looked at that and came up wjth their system.

My days are some people delusional.

But MS are copying Sony with VR right?? Lol look at the double standards.

starchild4108d ago (Edited 4108d ago )

@grimlash

You're really grasping at straws there. I mean, that is a huge and absurd stretch. The idea of earning things in games goes much farther back than Spiro. Microsoft was the first one to systematize it across their entire ecosystem in all of their games and to have them all add up towards an online "gamerscore". Give credit where credit is due.

Edit: Haha it looks like Septic beat me to it by a couple minutes.

Angeljuice4108d ago

@Fireseed
Thought I'd make a few corrections to improve the accuracy of your bodged points;

" Oh I know Mov... Oh Wii" .....OH EYETOY (THE ORIGINAL)

" Like Morphe...(began 2010) Ohhh Oculus...(began 2011-2012)"

No need to thank me, it's a free service.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 4108d ago
Old McGroin4108d ago (Edited 4108d ago )

@ majiebeast

Sony is more of a "me too" company in many ways, they just do it a bit more stealthily. They see what new ideas are being implemented by other companies, gauge how the public reacts and then once everything has blown over, implement the exact same ideas themselves. Examples are the VR headset (Oculus), the Move controller (Nintendo Wii Controller), PS4 TV shows/capabilities (Xbox One TV Shows/capabilities), streaming games (Gaikai/Onlive), PSP/Vita (Nintendo handhelds), remote gaming on the Vita (Wii U remote gaming), Trophies (Xbox Achievements) and the list goes on. Maybe they should actually just change their name to Me Too altogether.

goldwyncq4108d ago

If last gen was the motion control gen, this gen would be the VR gen.

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260°

AMD CEO Shares Vision Behind Xbox Partnership and Next-Gen Chip Roadmap

AMD CEO Lisa Su talks about the Xbox AMD partnership, next-gen Ryzen + Radeon chips, and AI rendering tech coming to all Xbox devices.

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Obscure_Observer1d 1h ago

AMD is really building hype around their unique partnership with Microsoft to help and build an advanced and seamless Xbox ecosystem across all Xbox consoles and devices.

I wonder what she meant by "full roadmap of gaming optimized chips" though? Seems ambitious.

Next year´s Xbox Showcase already looks promising and exciting. Here´s hoping they deliver.

InUrFoxHole19h ago

They had best show 3yrs in a row. Heading for another

VenomUK12h ago

Obscure_Observer said “I wonder what she meant by "full roadmap of gaming optimised chips" though? Seems ambitious.” To me, I interpret this to mean rather than having a couple of X/S products for launch and a handheld there is a longer term plan to release new products with higher specs at timed intervals. I’m speculating of course, but this could mean a spec bump every year or two, so that even if the PS6 or Steam Deck Home is released a year after ‘Xbox’ Microsoft can release an updated model that has a higher spec.

Agent752h ago

But Microsoft forgot the games.

KwietStorm_BLM7h ago

It's X3D chips for console. Everyone knows this. And it's been rumored in the PS6 forever.

Ganif5h ago

Correct.

"Sony's PlayStation 6 reportedly will feature an AMD semi-custom APU with a Zen 5 CPU and UDNA GPU, capable of 4K 120FPS and 8K 60FPS gaming. The console will include X3D cache and advanced AI upscaling technology."

https://www.tweaktown.com/n...

Obscure_Observer2h ago

"It's X3D chips for console. Everyone knows this. And it's been rumored in the PS6 forever."

I doubt that AMD´s CEO would waste her time making this huge and important partnership announcement over a tech that will be 7 years old by the those next gen consoles will be released.

Notellin1h ago

You should have just lead this comment with the fact that you have zero understanding of technology in the consoles and instead have a Toms Hardware online forum level of education.

Agent752h ago

But Microsoft forgot the games

Obscure_Observer2h ago

@VenomUK

"I’m speculating of course, but this could mean a spec bump every year or two, so that even if the PS6 or Steam Deck Home is released a year after ‘Xbox’ Microsoft can release an updated model that has a higher spec."

Very interesting theory. Still not sure how MS would actually make it work.

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Fishy Fingers1d ago (Edited 1d ago )

Some odd, deliberate wording, no branding, not 'Xbox consoles, Xbox handhelds' specifically, feels and sounds like they're building towards hardware that anyone can be used or licensed to/by themselves and other manufacturers.

Multiplatform software and hardware 'Xbox/AMD APU'.

Obscure_Observer23h ago

I guess you missed Sarah Bond´s next generation Xbox announcement this week, were she clearly states:

"I´m thrilled to share that we´ve established a strategic multi-year partnership with AMD to co-engineer silicon across a portfolio of devices, including, *our* next generation *Xbox consoles*."

But hey, I don´t think you´re entirely wrong, maybe MS will build their own Xbox consoles while licencing other manufactures to build and sell their own Xbox branded consoles. Who knows

BeHunted19h ago(Edited 19h ago)

I think you watched the wrong video. It's below the description, or you can watch it directly on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/kprpRvsOua...

HyperMoused1d ago

Shares vision....we provide chips for money, this deal will sell many chips, we will make lots of money...good vision

Christopher23h ago

The marketing behind this is so heavy that I worry about the actual outcome. Why are they just not showing us the product, why all this talking in market speak?

Lightning7719h ago

Probably because the next xbox isn't ready to release yet?

The marketing and rumors seem to be heavy out of no where. The rumor was a 27 release but it maybe it could be 26 new console launch instead.

Who knows.

Eonjay7h ago

There PR is alrways super heavy handed. No one is acutally buying an Xbox as is.
Also it is very early to be talking so much about a next gen console.

Obscure_Observer1h ago

There´s a lot of people interested on Xbox Next and its ability to run games from major stores like Steam.

We know that the PS6 is just around the corner as well, but so far, no news on what it might improve over the PS5 or PS5 Pro.

However, Sony already made public that their priority and actual focus is the PS6. So its not "very early" to talk about next gen when the very console manufactures are talking about it.

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210°

Activision Forces Adverts into Call of Duty Black Ops 6 and Warzone Loadouts

With the launch of Call of Duty Season 4, Activision quietly put adverts inside loadouts for Black Ops 6 and Warzone, sparking a backlash in the process.

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lukasmain19d ago

Putting Ads in a pay-to-play Premium title? Well done Microsoft. Well done /s This is really scummy.

jjb198119d ago

This game will never change because these sweatlords love buying up all the skins and bundles that become obsolete the following year. They're the ones perpetuating Activision's greed.

VenomUK18d ago

If Microsoft introduces adverts into its other games I hope it can do them without disrupting the immersion of the game world. So for example in the new Fable game it would look out of place if there was a billboard advertising Cadillacs.

A far better way to do it would be to have a wizard conjure a 'dream cloud' in front of your character and then in the cloud you can see the Cadillac car and see the text with price and availability and hear a booming sales voice promoting the car. That would work so well as it wouldn't be a billboard and completely, 100%, fit in with your character's adventuring in Albion. Doesn't that sound so much better?!

crazyCoconuts18d ago

@venom, or how about our of 100 farts in Albion, 1 of them has a Cadillac pop out

VenomUK18d ago

@crazyCoconuts That’s undeniably off-beat - but it could really work!

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410°

Xbox's first-party handheld has been sidelined

Xbox's handheld ambitions continue unabated, but the focus is shifting towards improving Windows 11 for third-party handhelds — for now. The Xbox Series X 'Melrose' successor is safe, with development continuing at full pace.

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shadowT21d ago

Is there really a market for handhelds next to mobile?

Vits21d ago

If they run the same games as the main home console, then yeah, sure.
But if they need specially tailored games just for them? Probably not, unless there isn't a home console for comparison (see Switch).

RaidenBlack20d ago (Edited 20d ago )

I am kinda low-key happy this happened.
Dont want another Series S situation (games to be designed from 4 to 12TF scale and not 10 to 12TF).
Hope PS follows suit as well. Tablet SKU sharing with console for 10th gen, will just continue the cross gen -esque development/design phase/nature.
Want a proper 20+ only TF rasterized next-gen plz (+ frame-gen and the lot).
If anybody wants to continue the cross-gen, the Series S|X, PS5 will remain for that. And Switch 2, if you gotta go even lower in the TF range.

ABizzel121d ago

Yes and No. All of the PC handhelds combined have struggled to sell 7 million units, which would be a flop for any “console”. So the market is extremely niche because of price and target market (the informed hardcore gamer / casuals aren’t picking these up).

These handheld PCs are $500 or more, and offer at best Xbox Series S performance levels, so it’s best for MS specifically to just partner with ASUS, instead of investing millions if not billions.

Sony can make their own with custom AMD hardware due to their partnership, and stronger global brand for hardware. But even then it brings the question, of being a lower resolution PS5, and what does that mean for PS6 cross-gen (likely another generation where the first 3 - 4 years are just upgraded last-gen games).

Kosic21d ago

Imagine a Wii U style console, where the tablet doesn't rely on the console it's self, you download the game on the console under the TV and play in 4k glory, then you can remote play, get some unique game features if using both console and handheld in tandem. Then you can download the games in 720-1080p to play on the go, continue your progress, and continue on the TV when you get back.

Sony could get away with this due to exclusives, and that would be a reason for sales. Look at the portal.

I can picture seeing new hardware having some sort of GPU dock, where the handheld runs 1080p, and the dock has additional hardware to bring in 4k/60 specs.

I do think handheld gaming is going to be a strong future, imagine Nintendo release a new upgraded GPU dock for the Switch 3, every 2 years. More frames, sharper graphics on the same game for an extra £150 for a dock with a built in GPU chip. Console cycles doesn't have to be renewed, just the hardware can be improved by them reselling docks to us again and again with small/yearly upgrades like mobile phones.

GamerRN20d ago

Did you just imply that Sony can make a better stronger handheld than Microsoft? You do realize we are talking about Microsoft, the tech giant, right? If Microsoft can't make one that's cost effective, Sony definitely can't...

Brand and market share means nothing when you are a trillion dollar company

ABizzel120d ago

@GamerRN

It has nothing to do with what company can do it, or what company can spend.

For anyone taking a basic business class there is a term called ROI, and Xbox home consoles are selling at an all time low, meaning their ROI on a handheld is a risk that doesn’t make sense, even if they can afford it. Businesses are there to make money and it doesn’t make sene for MS to invest in a handheld that’s a companion device when their current home consoles they’ve spent 20 years working on are at an all time-low, when they can invest with little risk with what ASUS already has to offer.

This is why Sony can build a better device, because they have less risk involved, meaning they can invest more in their own product, and they already have an exclusive partnership with AMD on creating features and hardware. So in this specific case, YES Sony can built a better handheld, due to custom hardware, customer tools, low level APIs, compared to an off the shelf product running Windows or a Window Xbox kernel =.

TheEroica21d ago

I play steam deck primarily... Don't play consoles or mobile. The deck covers it all.

badz14920d ago

@shadowT

The Switch is a handheld, so will the Switch 2. what are you on about?

Cacabunga20d ago

To run native games offline? Anytime

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CrashMania21d ago

Funny to see the alt already damage controlling and having a meltdown with multiple accounts in the comments already.

Sad for MS if true, a dedicated handheld would go down a lot better than a rog ally 2 with an Xbox sticker on it I think.

crazyCoconuts21d ago

It couldn't have succeeded for a number of reasons. Now they've retreated to the Windows front and trying to keep that relevant for gaming. How long before Windows Central realizes there won't be a real console successor to Series X either?

Lightning7721d ago

Except there is. That project is reportedly full speed ahead.

Outside_ofthe_Box21d ago

@Lighting77

So was the handheld until today...

Lightning7721d ago

@outside obviously not since they sidelined it and they wanna see how the Asus does. Are you saying they're gonna cancel the next console?

crazyCoconuts21d ago

@lightning - I'm admittedly trying to box you in here - Do you think the next Xbox console will have Steam on it?

Outside_ofthe_Box21d ago (Edited 21d ago )

@Lightning

Here we go with having to spell everything out.

If I told you yesterday that Xbox was going to sideline the handheld console what would your response have been? Probably something along the lines of "I doubt that since Phil has been talking about it for some time now"

My point is just because they are "full speed" ahead now does not mean that will not change in future. As we have seen with the handheld. Do you understand what I'm trying to say now?

Lightning7720d ago (Edited 20d ago )

Box me in? No you said the same thing you've always been saying for years now. Those are the rumors to have Steam integration.

What about it

If you told me they were gonna cancel it tomorrow it would nothing more than fanboy talking points. I only wait for credible sources not what someone else says.

Also this is the handheld not a full blown new console. The Asus is yet to release and they're waiting to see how that thing does. Critical thinking is my strong suit you should try it some time if you can. But Ok cool well you hang your hat on that I guess. Main New console is gonna get cancelled even though the handheld is a different marketing device than the main the console itself.

__y2jb20d ago

I think there is a 75% chance there will not be another Xbox. There is zero reason to buy one now. No way it can possibly sell more than 10m units after Xbox went third party.

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BLow21d ago

That's what they do. Goalposts shift like the wind.

I'm really confused on why they are making a "first party" device and also have a Rog Ally with their sticker on it. Make this make sense. How is their own device going to be any different?

Your console doesn't sell and they expect a handheld to?

RaidenBlack20d ago (Edited 20d ago )

The Rog Ally one is gen agnostic ... as you deciphered, it was to be the updated Rog Ally but just with Xbox branding. PC handheld with some Xbox features.
The handheld Xbox is/was supposed to be sharing the same gen/ecosystem with the next-gen (10th gen) Xbox. Think Series S but handheld ... it'll run the Xbox OS or whatever the next Xbox will run.
...
As for anybody wondering/confused why MS is doing another Xbox console ... coz mainly its the 10th gen of home consoles next, which started wayy back in 1972 for the 1st gen. And MS wanna be part in it, in the 10th anniversary gen of consoles. If they gotta bow out, they can't do that at 9th i.e just before 10th. They wanna stick around till the 10th or the X-th gen and check what the fuss happens.

Outside_ofthe_Box21d ago

Curious as to what excuses the spam was saying. Because prior to this news, the Xbox handheld was used as proof that Xbox is still committed to the hardware space. This handheld being scraped is not a good sign...

21d ago
Outside_ofthe_Box21d ago (Edited 21d ago )

@Spam
You can replace scrapped with pushed back if you like. It's not a good sign either way.

21d ago
1Victor21d ago

asq3= obscured: “ What’s your source on the handheld being scrapped? “
Read the article from Microsoft own website and one of your favorite quotations site when it’s something bad about Sony.
Oh BTW good luck with your next SPAM account.

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