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Xbox Boss Phil Spencer: 'I Don't Think VR's Landed Yet On What It Is'

VR has been the talk of the video game landscape over the last few weeks, seemingly encompassing major player after major player. There is one entity that has remained ever silent on the technology though. Xbox thus far have not committed to a VR unit yet. Of course, there is Microsoft's HoloLens, but that feels more like the corporation's venture and not Xbox's. I struggle to see the VR like application for the headset.

Speaking to Eurogamer (via VG247) at GDC, Xbox Boss Phil Spencer said that the HoloLens existence didn't mean that VR wouldn't happen at Microsoft.

I don't think we've locked ourselves out. We've looked at a mixed reality space that we could do with Hololens and think about it as a unique set of features and technologies to enable, that doesn't preclude us from doing anything in the VR space either from a first-party or partnership perspective. I've used Morpheus, I've used Oculus, I'm going to see more of the demos here.

However Spencer mentioned concerns for the tech and its place in the market.

I don't think – and this isn't a shot at VR in any way – I don't think it's landed yet on what it is and how it's gong to go to market, but the innovation work is amazing, and it's something the games industry has always done, whether it's AI or voice. The games industry is always a place for innovation.

I can't imagine that Spencer will keep this stance if VR ends up storming the market, which it has a decent chance of doing. With PlayStation already committed to VR, if it's successful, I don't see how Team Xbox could sit out for too long.

Perhaps this is a wild prediction, but I could see Oculus and Xbox partnering by the end of the year. I think it would be beneficial for both.

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