“There is no standout application”
For a long time, Xbox has been hesitant to develop a genuine VR headset akin to the PlayStation VR 2, and Seamus Blackley, co-creator of the standard console, firmly believes it was the right choice – at least according to his recent interview.
Blackley discussed his views on the VideoGamer Podcast (thanks, PC Guide & Eurogamer), where he stated that his experiences with VR have been “strange and unsatisfactory”, and he believes the technology still lacks a “killer app”.
“VR and AR have not really taken off, and if you’re an avid enthusiast, I apologize, but it’s simply the harsh truth. There is no killer app, and nobody seems to agree on what a killer app might be.”
“Everyone has a unique personal vision, and then, at least in my experience, when you’re placed in the scenario you’ve imagined, you think ‘Alright’ and just want to remove the headset because it’s this hot, heavy device. It’s peculiar and unsatisfactory.”
Blackley’s remarks came shortly after the announcement that the PSVR2 will be receiving a significant price cut in March, dropping from its original RRP of £529.99 / $549.99 to just £399.99 / $399.99.
This is undoubtedly important news for gamers, but it clearly indicates that Sony has encountered difficulties achieving success with the PSVR2, as many initially anticipated – and it further suggests that Xbox made the right decision by staying away from creating a headset this generation.
According to Blackley, part of the issue is that VR almost offers too much freedom to players:
“If you decrease the direction enough for the player so that they’re in the headset and can look around everywhere, it sounds fantastic in theory. However, in practice, when we want to be entertained, we prefer a storyteller to guide the narrative and entertain us.
To some extent, you desire [developers] to dictate what you’re observing. You want them to restrict you to the story, which isn’t something you will achieve.”
So, if you weren’t already aware, it seems increasingly unlikely that Xbox will be producing any sort of significant VR headset in the foreseeable future – aside from a collaboration with Meta that appears to be for an Xbox-branded Meta Quest 3 software.
Xbox chief Phil Spencer has consistently expressed his disinterest in creating a dedicated headset, suggesting back in 2021 that he did not want to follow the PSVR path, and this decision seems to have worked out well for them.
What are your thoughts on this? Share your opinions in the comments section below.
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Fraser serves as the News Editor at Pure Xbox, where he dedicates his time to reporting