Report: Microsoft May Reveal Xbox One VR Plans at E3

[Steven Bogos]

Report: Microsoft May Reveal Xbox One VR Plans at E3

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An "Xbox One Virtual Reality" filter for E3 has popped up on its official website.

Last year, what we thought was going to be Microsoft's E3 Website [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/139178-Microsoft-to-Announce-Xbox-VR-Headset-at-E3].

Currently, four companies are using the filter: Rebellion, Maximum Games, Readily Information Company and 3DRudder. It's worth noting that there are separate filters for "Virtual Reality PC" and "Virtual Reality PS4", so it's not simply a case of these devs working on Xbox One games, and also Virtual Reality games.

Earlier in the week, we heard reports that Microsoft was working on a graphical upgrade for the Xbox One [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/167541-Microsoft-Xbox-One-Graphical-Upgrade-2017]. What's interesting about this report is that Polygon's insider said that while this new "Xbox 1.5" would technically be able to support the Oculus Rift, Microsoft's relationship with the VR company hasn't changed. So, this suggests that the company may be working on its own headset.

A double reveal of both a VR headset and new hardware to support it certainly looks like something that's on the cards for Microsoft this year, but we will just have to wait and see.

We've reached out to Microsoft for comment.

Source: NeoGAF [http://67.227.255.239/forum/showthread.php?t=1224711]

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[dragongit]

Yes, let's continue to hop onto this bandwagon while it's tires explode and careens towards a cliff, and is on fire. Plenty of seats left.

 

[Vigormortis]

Assuming MS is, indeed, prepping their own VR HMD, I have two questions:

1: Can the new Xbox hardware render two HD screens at a minimum of 90fps?

2: Does the HMD have roomscale?

If the answer is no to either of those, I'm not interested in the slightest. And, moreover, their endeavor is likely to receive about as lukewarm a response as PSVR has.

VR is at the very edge of cutting-edge graphical technology. You need to achieve a certain minimum of performance before the experience becomes stable, intuitive, and doesn't become nausea inducing. Likewise, to really create the immersive experience VR offers, you HAVE to have roomscale. You just do. It's why I keep hearing tales of Rift users already being bored of their HMDs while Vive users tend to use and share theirs daily.

Personally, I hope Microsoft doesn't produce their own VR HMD. While Hololens is (currently) a joke, AR technology is the next logical step, or addition, to VR. I would prefer MS continue their work on AR and allow companies like Valve, HTC, Sony, Samsung, and Oculus to continue with VR.

Yes, let's continue to hop onto this bandwagon while it's tires explode and careens towards a cliff, and is on fire. Plenty of seats left.

Sorry, did I miss something? Was there some massive VR market crash already? I've been out of the loop for the past few weeks. I lose track of time when using my Vive.

Dat Audio Shield sure is fun, doe. Shame I'll have to get rid of it as, if I'm interpreting your comment correctly, it's now considered gauche to like VR.

 

[Hairless Mammoth]

I really thought MS was getting friendly with Oculus. I've been expecting the Rift to be announced as the VR hardware supported by the Xbox Eins since Hololens was revealed to augmented reality, not virtual reality. It seems smarter to not spend the extra money developing tech when they can partner with another company and share the research both have done. Although, working on the Hololens probably has given them substantial data to develop VR on their own.

It will be interesting to see if they bring out there own VR system (to the annoyance of many), or if they'll just add a Rift in the box with the new Xbox 1 and Three Quarters. The latter could be why Rift supplies are so limited that preorderers are still waiting (or were before getting a Vive).

 

[Baresark]

Eh, I'm not too trusting of MS. I wonder if they are going to try and release their own API's for VR like they did with DX. I don't know if I see this being successful unless they a.) bring something new to the table or b.) have a much better price tag with comparable hardware as compared to the current market of available units.

I can see it now. They are going to release VR games only on their dreaded Windows 10 store that ONLY supports their VR. When will MS learn.

 

[Callate]

Right. The company whose console is having difficulty rendering 1080p at 60fps is going to support two high resolution screens, projecting slightly different angles on the same scene, along with real-time accelerometer and gyroscopic control, at 90fps.

That's quite the graphics upgrade! Especially given the XB1 sports an eight-core AMD CPU at 1.75 GHz, and the Occulus wants a PC with a 3.3GHZ i5 Intel processor as its minimum spec.

Can't wait to see how this turns out! Could be the new Kinect! Possibly even the next Ouya!

 

[TwoSidesOneCoin]

Yes, let's continue to hop onto this bandwagon while it's tires explode and careens towards a cliff, and is on fire. Plenty of seats left.

Seems like I wasn't the only person to think this. We all remember how well the kinect fared, well maybe not Microsoft, but I'm sure they'll get a nice reminder.

 

[flying_whimsy]

I liked the idea of the psvr as possibly giving me a mid-range vr experience I could use with my computer (once some clever person hacked it). This, though, this has kinect written all over it:

"Yeah, buy the new xbone.5 (or halfbone, whatever stupid name we come up with) for this mandatory vr tech that we'll stop requiring within six months. Sorry early adopters."

 

[Eri]

Yes, let's continue to hop onto this bandwagon while it's tires explode and careens towards a cliff, and is on fire. Plenty of seats left.

Seems like I wasn't the only person to think this. We all remember how well the kinect fared, well maybe not Microsoft, but I'm sure they'll get a nice reminder.

I'm not sure I'd say Kinect is a total failure though. For gaming? Sure. But it is quite useful for other areas.

 

[MatParker116]

Right. The company whose console is having difficulty rendering 1080p at 60fps is going to support two high resolution screens, projecting slightly different angles on the same scene, along with real-time accelerometer and gyroscopic control, at 90fps.

That's quite the graphics upgrade! Especially given the XB1 sports an eight-core AMD CPU at 1.75 GHz, and the Occulus wants a PC with a 3.3GHZ i5 Intel processor as its minimum spec.

Can't wait to see how this turns out! Could be the new Kinect! Possibly even the next Ouya!

6 teraflop XB1.5 should be capable.