As anyone who has paid attention to the gaming industry knows, VR is a big deal right now. There are already millions of VR headsets out there, and the industry is growing at an exponential rate thanks to games like Final Fantasy XV and other quality VR titles.
It’s fair to say that VR is a big focus for most console manufacturers, but there’s a catch. Most of them have their own VR headset that can be used with their respective consoles. Microsoft isn’t one of those companies, and that’s because they’re not really focusing on VR. In this article, we’ll explain why Microsoft Reiterates VR For Console Is Not A Focus, and we’ll also discuss some of the cool things they’re doing with mixed reality.
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Microsoft Reiterates VR For Console Is Not A Focus
VR is a big deal right now in the gaming industry. There are already millions of VR headsets out there, and the industry is growing at an exponential rate thanks to VR games like Final Fantasy XV and other quality VR titles.
It’s fair to say that VR is a huge focus for most console manufacturers, but Microsoft isn’t one of those companies. They don’t have their own VR headset that can be used with their respective consoles like Sony does for the PS4 or Nintendo does for the Switch. That’s because Microsoft isn’t really focusing on VR. In this article, we’ll explain why Microsoft’s VR for console is not a focus, and we’ll also discuss some of the cool things they are doing with mixed reality.
Microsoft Mixed Reality
Microsoft is betting on a new type of technology called mixed reality. Unlike VR, which creates an entirely virtual world, mixed reality overlays digital content onto the real world. This means that you can still see the computer monitor that’s in front of you while you’re playing a game or interacting with virtual objects.
Mixed Reality is nothing new to Microsoft. The company has been developing its own version of this technology for years and has already released two different headsets as part of its Windows 10 Mixed Reality program: The HoloLens and the Microsoft MR headset. And don’t worry about not having access to these headsets: You can purchase them from Microsoft’s website or major retailers like Best Buy and Amazon, though they’re fairly expensive at prices ranging from $300-$500 per device.
Cortana Is Built Into Mixed Reality
It’s not uncommon for Microsoft to have a competitor in the market, but with mixed reality, they may have an edge. Mixed reality allows people to mix their digital and physical worlds together, giving them the ability to create, collaborate, and communicate between virtual and physical spaces.
Microsoft’s mixed reality has a couple of different features that make it stand out from other VR headsets. Cortana is built into mixed reality, so you can talk to her just like you would your phone or computer. With mixed reality, you can even walk around your home or office while still viewing your digital world. If you’ve ever dreamed of stepping onto a battlefield in World of Warcraft without leaving your living room couch, this is the next best thing!
Microsoft Beam
Beam is Microsoft’s take on the livestreaming service. It’s similar to Twitch, but it’s designed specifically for their console and Windows 10 devices. Users are able to broadcast themselves in 360 degree and interact with other gamers through chat. They can also play multiplayer games like Minecraft, Sea of Thieves, or Halo 5 while they stream themselves playing the game.
Microsoft’s Xbox Adaptive Controller
Microsoft is doing some really cool things with mixed reality, but one of the coolest examples of this is their adaptive controller. A lot of gamers are disabled, and Microsoft wanted to make it easy for them to play games without a physical controller. The Xbox Adaptive Controller allows anyone who needs a little help to play games on the Xbox One. This controller has 18 programmable buttons, three analog sticks, four directional pads, and two switches that allow you to use your thumbs or forefingers.
In addition to being an inclusive piece of tech, it also adds a level of accessibility to video games that wasn’t there before. The Xbox Adaptive Controller might be the most important new product that Microsoft has released in years.
Windows 10 gaming
Microsoft’s recent gaming announcements have been pretty cool. They unveiled a new Xbox One X console, which is the most powerful console ever made. It boasts 6 teraflops of graphical processing power, 12GB of GDDR5 memory, and 326GB per second bandwidth. Microsoft also announced that the Xbox One library is now available on PC via the Xbox Game Pass service.
In addition to these announcements, Microsoft is doing some really cool things with mixed reality. The company has their own VR headset for Windows 10 (Microsoft HoloLens) and they announced that they’ll be bringing Minecraft to virtual reality with the help of Samsung Gear VR and Oculus Rift headsets.
Summary
Microsoft’s VR for console is not a focus. In this article, we’ll explain why Microsoft’s VR for console is not a focus, and we’ll also discuss some of the cool things they’re doing with mixed reality.
