430°

Phil Spencer: Xbox One X supports virtual reality

The head of Microsoft's video game unit tells CNET the new console is VR-capable. Spencer told CNET on Tuesday that the Xbox One X fully supports virtual reality and that their commitment to it hasn't changed.

gangsta_red2922d ago

I'm certain that it's all in the wording. MS Is pushing Mixed Reality so that is why the marketing guy said no to VR.

darthv722922d ago

Obviously they didnt talk about it during the show because there was nothing to talk about. Yes the hardware supports it, hell I'd be surprised if the base model didnt support it as well (just at significantly reduced quality).

They dont have anything solid as far as partners and head gear goes so why get people's hopes up.

modelgod2921d ago

VR is wack, bottom line! !

Babadook72921d ago

Kind of a half hearted commitment to VR. Was hoping there would be more. Oh well.

Skull5212921d ago

After finally getting to experience Oculus it's clear VR is a gimmick so I don't really care if the XBOX supports it or not. I encourage everyone to try it out but don't blindly purchase it. I think VR has real potential for other applications, but gaming isn't it, at least as of now.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 2921d ago
MegamanXXX2921d ago (Edited 2921d ago )

More lies. It is what it is

TheCommentator2921d ago (Edited 2921d ago )

Cough... cross play... cough, cough.

Sorry, I'm not feeling well after the lies I heard from Sony the other day, I'm sure once they "make it safe" enough to protect their users from danger I'll be playing some Minecraft with you though.

MegamanXXX2921d ago (Edited 2921d ago )

Great I have a PC too. See you in Minecraft

Kiwi662921d ago

But if they nothing ready to show why not wait until they do

TheCommentator2921d ago

Right! MS believes more in MR headsets, not VR headsets, and they said they'd talk about MR for 2018. MS is saying that MR is coming to all XB1's in 2018 too, not just XB1X.

dcbronco2921d ago

That's weird to hear you say that. I'm pretty sure those headsets made to Microsoft specifications include headsets made for both mixed and virtual reality. Not sure where the idea comes from that Microsoft doesn't support one or the other.

TheCommentator2921d ago

Um, a Mixed Reality headset is BOTH VR and AR combined. They support MR on XB1 because it's all inclusive.

Yetter2921d ago

Honestly, its probably going to support one of the many Win10 headsets made by third parties like acer. Who knows how good they'll end up being

rainslacker2920d ago

Yeah. MS already indicated there were deals in place with VR providers. They changed the marketing term because they're also invested in AR, and it'd be better to not try to market two separate products and just put the two together. While both AR and VR are different conceptually, they still share a lot of basic tenants of implementation, and for the most part AR and VR can both achieve the same as the other if the set up is right.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 2920d ago
KingKionic 2922d ago (Edited 2922d ago )

Microsoft should just say there waiting for mixed reality headsets.

Avoid any form of confusion.

Bigpappy2921d ago

Phil said previously in an interview that he is waiting for VR to mature and the best place for that to happen is on the PC. He also said picking a headset no isn't helping the industry that do should all compete on PC.

nix2921d ago

that's MS, right there. not take any chances, see what's gaining market, throw loads of money to win the technology. if they can't win, buy the company or bring down the industry. when Aaron was asked about what he has to say about Google coming out with their own mobile OS, he simply said "welcome to our world". what a turn of tide from that day to now it has been.

dcbronco2921d ago (Edited 2921d ago )

Nix, you're right. Look at what they did with Hololens. They waited and bought companies and designed chips and have virtually created the forward momentum on AR. All by sitting on the sidelines. Imagine what they could do if they just tried.

They have tons of videos under Microsoft Research on YouTube where you can see all types of stuff they are spending 10-12 billion a year waiting on.

Funny you would bring up Android. Android device manufacturers pay Microsoft a couple of billion a year in royalties for stuff they use of Microsoft's. Stuff discovered sitting around waiting.

Death2921d ago

@nix,
Could you imagine if Microsoft would have waited for Rift and Vive to launch and then came out with their own proprietary format almost a year later? Then imagine what would happen if they brought inferior tech at a lower MSRP to try and undercut the competition.

Microsoft needs to innovate more like Sony did when they bought out Gaikai so they could create a streaming service out of their technology. At the very least Microsoft could start paying to keep games off other platforms like Sony has this gen very successfully. Maybe then they won't be viewed so poorly among enlightened gamers.

Lennoxb632922d ago

I think they aren't trying to promote because they won't be making games for VR. But games for mixed reality.

ElementX2922d ago

The marketing guy was probably told to keep things under wraps until an announcement is ready.

Anyway, it was funny on the latest bombcast Jeff Gerstman said it was rough going back to psvr after playing Vive and Rift. Lol

TankCrossing2921d ago

The marketing guy pretty much read from the same script Phil Spencer has been using for the last year. He just fluffed his lines a little.

Death2921d ago

The marketing guy never said VR wasn't supported. He said that PC was the current focus for mixed reality and he had no comment on consoles at this time. Someone not very bright jumped to the conclusion that "no comment at this time" meant VR wasn't ever going to be supported. Soon after a huge flock of sheep that can't think for themselves rushed to the edge of the cliff and jumped off without knowing why. I can only guess it's the wolf that is launching in November that has them scared.

ApocalypseShadow2922d ago (Edited 2922d ago )

It's actually pretty easy to figure out what's going on at Microsoft when you look at it objectively sans what console you support.

While everyone else is doing VR (oculus/vive/psvr), Microsoft wants to play the middle with MR. But, no one else is doing AR. So, it would have to be VR ports to the MR headset. Would there be enough game sales to justify developers porting games and make back a profit on a small user base? You think it's bad waiting for developers to make big games for VR(and that's about 2 million with oculus/vive/PSVR), do you think they'll spend money porting games for a headset just starting out at zero? Similar example would be Xbox one Japanese support in Japan.

Microsoft needs to gather support for it first. Sony waited a year and tested it at multiple functions before saying "let's go for it." Same with HTC/Valve and Oculus/Facebook. They built a following, then went for it. What's the potential market on Xbox? Is Microsoft gathering that data? Maybe they did and decided to just go with PC for now. If 1 million out of 60 million have PSVR, what's the potential number of headset sales for a smaller Xbox One X base *without* Xbox One S getting it?

What about Vive? Could definitely work. But, is Microsoft really going to support a headset that they don't own and can't control? Not likely. And as for Steam VR game support, do you think Microsoft is interested in HTC/Valve getting all the VR game profits on Xbox one x? Do you think HTC/Valve will share Steam VR profits? Nope.

Oculus? Could work. If it survives the lawsuits with Zenimax. You can see Zenimax already smacking Facebook/Oculus in the face with lack of Bethesda Doom VFR and Fallout 4 VR being on Oculus. But they're coming to PSVR(Doom vfr) and Vive. Does Microsoft want to jump into the middle of a Hatfield's and McCoy's dispute when it might not end well? Nope. Not even with that Xbox controller support they did.

So instead, Microsoft are going to to flood the PC market with MR headsets that do both AR and VR with windows 10 support and supported by most PC hardware manufactures. Which are cheaper than Oculus and Vive. If they can take the lead on PC since sales aren't that far ahead, they will not only be in driver's seat in leading both markets, it will have their OS and developers would have no choice but to choose their headsets going forward. Which would dwarf PSVR sales overtime. And help future Hololens support. Which would help any future Xbox VR in support.

It's what I'd do if I were a monopolistic company like Microsoft. It's a chess game. Reasonable. Logical.

freshslicepizza2921d ago

"But, is Microsoft really going to support a headset that they don't own and can't control?"

Windows 10 already does.

The reality is this, Sony still only has 2% of its userbase conformed to VR. That's not a lot of customers to sell games to. Xbox has less than half of the amount as Sony so that number is now even smaller. We just witnessed E3 and PSVR hardly made a dent in that hour. Microsoft will enter when it makes financial sense to do so. The system is more than capable and it's not like Sony built the PS4 around VR.

Microsoft already got sucked into motion controls as did Sony but Microsoft went way too heavy. No wonder they want to now take a wait and see approach, it's not like they are really missing out on a wealth of software or heaps of profits right now.

mcstorm2921d ago

VR as it stands is a flop if you look at the numbers. No one is rushing out and buying PSVR for the ps4 and it is also not getting the support from 1st or 3rd party's.
Ok people say it needs time but we all know in the tech world things don't get time.
Yes xbox one x supports VR so the sony fan boys need to retract their rants but in the grant scheme of things who really cares about VR not to many gamers at this point in time. For me ide rather have 4k games at 60fps than a vr game that takes a rez and item drop like we have seen with things like DC.

modelgod2921d ago

These kiddies can't accept the fact that VR is just a phase. It's not practical for the millionth time!

uth112921d ago

The Atari 2600 was released in 1977, but didn't really take off until Space Invaders released in 1980.

Likewise the NES released in 1983 originally it took several years to become a massive hit in the west.

New technology categories take time. I dont understaND this rush to bury VR after only a few months. It hasn't had time to find its Space Invaders/pacman/ super Mario yet

mcstorm2921d ago

@uth11 you do know vr is not a new technology. It's been around in a form since the late 18th century but vr like we have now had been around since the 90s so it's had plenty of time to grow.

It's a nesh technology just like 3d. People don't have a need for it. Yes vr is good for some games like a Racer when in cockpit mode of a FPS but do people really want to play games with a headset? The answer has been shown with VR just over 1.5 million sold. 1millon psvr on a console that has sold over 40 million. If it was at 10 million then people might take it seriously but it's not even close.
It's like saying windows mobile is ahead of its time and needs time to come together as continuum was way ahead over anything else on a phone but developers can't make £ from the is with its small install base and are pulling their apps.

@modelgod is spot on vr is not practical. The only one I see working would be ar but again for that to work we would need the technology to get down to the size of current glasses for it to become main streem but AR had many more uses than vr in a business world but like I said it needs alot more rnd to make it main stream.

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70°

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 devs praise games like Space Marine 2 for "lowering the barrier"

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 developers discuss the huge success of Space Marine 2 and its effect on the series as a whole.

Read Full Story >>
videogamer.com
Jingsing20h ago

How about an official level editor for Boltgun?

220°

Phil Spencer Teases 2026 As A "Really Special Year" For Xbox

2026 will mark the 25th anniversary of Xbox, and Phil Spencer has teased it as a "really special year" for the games division.

Read Full Story >>
twistedvoxel.com
TheEroica1d 11h ago (Edited 1d 11h ago )

You got downvotes by pathetic gamers for feeling hopeful about good games coming out next year. Imagine how small your brain must be to downvote someone excited for future gaming joy? It is pretty neat to see people's world view blow up in front of them as they realize Microsoft has put themselves in a driver's seat that Sony hasn't been able to touch all generation.... What's even more pathetic is the same people downvoting you are the same people wishlisting Microsoft games on their ps5s 😂

P_Bomb1d 8h ago

“Imagine how small your brain must be to downvote someone excited for future gaming joy?”

My dude your post history shits on EVERYTHING. You never have a good thing to say about anything lol! 🤣

PanicMechanic23h ago(Edited 23h ago)

“Getting ready for those GaaS reveals! Sony is a shadow of themselves this gen.”

You literally said this a couple of days ago. Start applying the clown make up, you hypocritical jester

derek1d 8h ago

Yep we'll see, they have alot releasing next year.

RaidenBlack1d 5h ago

NGL, next year might be one of the best years in gaming ... starting off with RE9 and GTA VI ...
and then all the good games that's been cooking
Pragmata, Sands of Time, Saros, Gears E-Day, 007 First Light, Blood of Dawnwalker,
Mortal Shell II, Onimusha, Marvel1943: Rise of Hydra
current-gen only Infinity Ward's CoD, Duskbloods
+ My guess: Wolverine, Exodus, Mudang, Crimson Desert, Clockwork etc ...
~ seems like it might get too stacked

1Victor1d 3h ago

@rokos:”Hopefully “
I downvoted you not for been hopeful but because I have seen the same “NEXT YEAR WILL BE SPECIAL “ comment for the last 10+ and hasn’t seen anything special from Microsoft.
I hope next year will be the one that everyone been waiting for since the last 3 years of the Xbox 360, it have to be after over $80 billions spent on acquisitions.

Lightning771d 3h ago

So the new excuse is they don't count because it's from the ABK now huh. I guess all those 3rd party games count even less because they don't own them. According to your always crappy logic.

InUrFoxHole18h ago

Lol. You haven't seen anything special? Do you even game?

OtterX1d 14h ago

Always with the "next year..."! 😂

neutralgamer19921d 13h ago

I don't know they have delivered this year and even last year. And they have a lot more content in the pipeline right now than anyone else. We can't just keep hating on MS

Indiana Jones
South of midnight
Avowed
Flight simulator
Hell Blade 2
Minecraft update
Gears of war reloaded
Indian Jones:expansion
Gears E day
Clockwork revolution
Fable
Doom the dark ages
The outer worlds 2
Grounded 2
Call of duty

OtterX1d 13h ago

How many of those titles were just buyouts of companies that were going about making their games anyways? *Throws cash - "Oh look what we made!"

dveio1d 13h ago (Edited 1d 13h ago )

This list, that's been posted again, and again, and again in every single topic like this, contains almost nothing, literally almost nothing from Microsoft's own creational thoughtprocess.

It's a bunch of former 3rd party IPs.

Now even slowly returning to Playstation in some cases like Indiana, Hellblade, probably Starfield soon too, after they were made exclusively to Xbox on purpose.

Due to Microsoft's lack for own IP material except Halo & Forza. Which, the lack of, was the sole reason for all of it to happen in the first place anyway. Please don't pretend it wasn't.

And just look at all the games that come from Obsidian alone.

You really think Obsidian wasn't already working on Avowed and South of Midnight even without Microsoft buying Zenimax?

Microsoft delivered nothing but cheques.

OtterX1d 13h ago (Edited 1d 13h ago )

@dveio THIS. Lol, this dude thinks Call of Duty wouldn't exist without Microsoft! smh 😂

neutralgamer19921d 12h ago (Edited 1d 12h ago )

Common narrative I see often — that Microsoft shouldn’t get credit for the games its studios release because they “just bought them.” But this viewpoint ignores key context and sets a double standard that other platform holders aren’t held to

No one is saying these games wouldn't exist at all without Microsoft. But let’s not pretend that having a trillion-dollar company backing a studio doesn’t make a massive difference. Obsidian never had AAA funding before the Xbox acquisition. Pillars of Eternity was crowdfunded, and their resources were always stretched thin. Now they’re working on Avowed, with proper support behind it.

Ninja Theory’s Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice was made by around 20 people, using borrowed equipment and doing mocap in a boardroom. It was a passion project held together by tape and willpower. Today, Hellblade II exists because they were given resources, time, and freedom — something many developers don’t get unless they’re owned by a company that believes in their vision.

ZeniMax (Bethesda’s parent company) was in real financial trouble before the Microsoft acquisition. Reports and insider accounts have pointed out how much they needed a cash infusion. And while some people want to write off Xbox’s ownership of Bethesda titles, they forget the alternative could have meant layoffs or even closures.

The same goes for Activision Blizzard. Would you really prefer the company to stay under Bobby Kotick, after all the documented workplace misconduct and toxic leadership issues? Say what you want about Microsoft, but their acquisition brought accountability and change to a company that desperately needed it.

At the same time, Xbox gets hated on for doing what every major company does. Sony bought Housemarque, Bluepoint, Insomniac — but no one says Spider-Man 2 “doesn’t count” because of that. Why does Xbox get treated differently for acquiring struggling or undervalued developers and giving them a chance to thrive?

And the idea that Xbox locks games away is outdated. They're pushing cross-platform releases, cloud gaming, Game Pass, and backward compatibility more than any other platform holder. They're not forcing all studios into live service. If anything, their upcoming lineup is less GAAS-heavy and more focused on narrative and creativity — Avowed, South of Midnight, Clockwork Revolution, Fable, Perfect Dark, Towerborne, and others show real variety.

Whether people like it or not, Xbox is now the biggest publisher in the industry and owns the most gaming IPs. But what matters more is how they treat their studios. Most of these teams were previously stuck making AA games with limited scope — now they’re getting the tools and support to aim higher.

So when people say “Microsoft didn’t make those games,” they’re missing the point. It’s not about who started the studio — it’s about who enabled them to do their best work. You don’t have to love Xbox to admit they’ve helped a lot of developers and are taking a player-first approach.

Instead of writing off everything they do, maybe try recognizing the good they’re doing for both devs and gamers. At the end of the day, we should want more studios to succeed — no matter who owns them

BeHunted1d 12h ago

I'm surprised Clockwork Revolution (BioShock meets Dishonored) isn't getting more media attention. The game looks interesting and reminds me of the old RPG games.

anast1d 11h ago

The only good game on that list is Flight sim. The rest are either average or will be average. It's not a good look for MS.

TheEroica1d 11h ago

My god.... Look how many comments are upset about microsoft's successes... 😂 This may be my new favorite thread. Not one gamer saying thanks for all the goodness coming their way, just bitter anger and downvoting the very games they themselves will purchase throughout 2026.... Sony really worked you guys over this generation.... Condolences.

DivineHand1251d 10h ago

@neutralgamer1992 You said what needed to be said.

I have heard for years from older gamers that fanboys are the biggest issue with any fanbase. They will defend or gloss over negative news as long as the correct logo is on the box and they bash the competing platform no matter how much good they are trying to bring.

Right now their advocacy for PlayStation is elevating that platform so high that Sony no longer believes they need to do anything to satisfy their loyal fanbase like they did in the PS4 days.

I just hope most of them will eventually start advocating for themselves and encourage others to do the same. No one should blindly support one platform because these companies do not care about anything other than profit.

neutralgamer19921d 10h ago

Hunted

And first proper game done by the studio with proper AAA budget and saying it will be released when ready

Anast

I believe we went through this before that you are objectively wrong. Meta critic, user reviews, game sales. In Playstation top 10 best selling games were 5 from Microsoft studios

Otter

No this dude is saying so many other studios wouldn't be thriving without MS money and people would be getting abused physically and mentally with Bobby kotick and his side kicks

Also maybe look up how the original founder of Bethesda and zenimax was kicked out of his own company by his best friend lawyer. So that was always a shady place and had been struggling financially before MS paid a premium of almost 7 billion

Eroica

I use to be a die hard Playstation fan and now I only have a Pc. I see how these fans are so toxic. They just can't handle any positive news regarding Xbox. When the best selling games on playstation are Xbox titles. Look at Forza horizon being best seller and that's years old game by MS. I guess ms don't deserve credit for that success too since they are the only company in gaming making acquisitions

Forget the fact Sony paid 3.6 billion for bungie and MS 6.9 for zenimax. Which investment has turned out better

Destiny and marathon with a lot of controversy

While zenimax output is nothing short of amazing compared to what bungie has released

crazyCoconuts1d 9h ago

Yeah it's tricky. "Xbox" has morphed to mean different things to different people.
Console, now Windows, GamePass, and the cross platform games. There's a mix of attitudes towards all those things individually, and maybe an overarching attitude towards MS. But can't argue that the game companies MS recently bought continue to flourish, and GamePass PC has been a great value over the last year.

InUrFoxHole18h ago

@OtterX
You're the dude mad at your exes new guy. She's with someone else... get over it.

+ Show (8) more repliesLast reply 18h ago
Lightning771d 11h ago (Edited 1d 10h ago )

They've had good output so far. So waiting for those games shouldn't be a problem.

Who cares if they're buy outs of companies or whatever excuse you want to make. They're games that are being distributed to other console. Play the games and enjoy it instead of fanboying or complaining.

ocelot071d 12h ago

They going to be a he best and biggest publisher on Xbox, Playstation and PC next year. They not really said anything about Switch 2 though spite claiming to be big supporters.

quenomamen1d 12h ago

If you call making one last Xbox before going full Sega, as Great. Then yea.

TheEroica1d 11h ago

Doesn't feel like you're paying attention to what's happening.

RhinoGamer881d 12h ago

It will be, his net work will hit 50 million and he plans to buy a new mansion in Cape Cod. Thanks everyone! #failup

Show all comments (39)
80°

The Witcher 3 Immerse Gamepack — Product Introduction with Marcin Przybyłowicz

Join Marcin Przybyłowicz, Expert Composer at CD PROJEKT RED and the mind behind The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt OST, as he sets up Immerse Gamepack on PC and dives into Geralt's adventures like never before — with spatial audio powered by Embody.

3d ago