According to industry analyst Lewis Ward, Microsoft’s next Xbox console may have increased VR functionality thanks to Microsoft’s Mixed Reality headset.
“Microsoft wants to be more of an enabler for other Win10-based hardware and software providers,” stated Ward. “There’s no reason Xbox One X can’t play Windows Mixed Reality games right now. I’m not sure why Microsoft hasn’t pulled that trigger on that, but they’ll very likely be in this space with their next-gen console. The bottom line is that while a lot of people are still down on VR, I expect 2018 global spending on off-the-shelf software, which is primarily games, on all platforms (consoles, PCs and mobile devices), to roughly double up 2017’s spending total, and wind up in the $1 billion range this year.”
Microsoft has been on an acquisition spree in preparation for the release of their next console, and may be trying to have all their bases covered in every possible niche. Virtual Reality gaming isn’t entirely mainstream yet, but some VR headsets such as the Oculus Rift have been picking up momenteum. VR has a few standout titles, such as ‘Superhot VR’ and ‘Subnautica,’ and the sub-genre is getting better and better with each passing year.
The question that remains, is how much emphasis will be placed on VR? Virtual reality is not for everyone, and some gamers just want to keep playing with a controller or mouse and keyboard. When it comes to overall sales, Xbox One has been soundly bested by the PS4. A heavy investment in VR might not be the best idea for Microsoft’s next console.
