Microsoft Game Studios: No Plans for the VR and AR Markets

According to hollywood reporterMatt Booty, head of Microsoft Game Studios, has said that the company has no plans to enter the virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) markets as they are still in the early stages of development and the size of the market is gaming. Does not meet Microsoft’s criteria for success.

According to Booty, for Microsoft games to be considered successful, they need to attract an audience of around 10 million players, which VR and AR currently lack. He also noted how fortunate Microsoft is to have well-established intellectual properties (IP) that can support ongoing franchises and huge communities.

Also read: Amazon VR/AR headset may arrive sooner than expected

This view contrasts with the strategies of the likes of Sony and Meta (formerly Facebook). Sony launched the PlayStation VR2 in February and is said to have sold 600,000 units in six weeks, more than its predecessor. Sony president Hiroaki Totoki has expressed optimism that the PS VR2 will outsell its predecessor, which sold 5 million units by the end of 2019. Meta said earlier this year that its Quest VR headset had sold nearly 20 million units.

Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft’s gaming division, sparked outrage in November 2019 with comments that some saw as dismissive of VR technology. He viewed virtual reality as a more limited and “silent” form of entertainment, which did not fit his concept of gaming as a shared entertainment experience. He also said that Xbox customers haven’t shown a strong desire for VR. Spencer later corrected his statements, noting that while he respects the gaming industry’s exploration of new areas, VR is not currently a focus of Xbox. He expressed hope that VR would one day become so important that Microsoft would be forced to participate. The following year, however, Spencer confirmed that Xbox had no plans to produce VR devices.

According to hollywood reporterMatt Booty, head of Microsoft Game Studios, has said that the company has no plans to enter the virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) markets as they are still in the early stages of development and the size of the market is gaming. Does not meet Microsoft’s criteria for success.

According to Booty, for Microsoft games to be considered successful, they need to attract an audience of around 10 million players, which VR and AR currently lack. He also noted how fortunate Microsoft is to have well-established intellectual properties (IP) that can support ongoing franchises and huge communities.

Also read: Amazon VR/AR headset may arrive sooner than expected

This view contrasts with the strategies of the likes of Sony and Meta (formerly Facebook). Sony launched the PlayStation VR2 in February and is said to have sold 600,000 units in six weeks, more than its predecessor. Sony president Hiroaki Totoki has expressed optimism that the PS VR2 will outsell its predecessor, which sold 5 million units by the end of 2019. Meta said earlier this year that its Quest VR headset had sold nearly 20 million units.

Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft’s gaming division, sparked outrage in November 2019 with comments that some saw as dismissive of VR technology. He viewed virtual reality as a more limited and “silent” form of entertainment, which did not fit his concept of gaming as a shared entertainment experience. He also said that Xbox customers haven’t shown a strong desire for VR. Spencer later corrected his statements, noting that while he respects the gaming industry’s exploration of new areas, VR is not currently a focus of Xbox. He expressed hope that VR would one day become so important that Microsoft would be forced to participate. The following year, however, Spencer confirmed that Xbox had no plans to produce VR devices.