Xbox Two: 8 Rumours And Details You Need To Know
6. Virtual Reality Is Dead
A sensationalist title maybe, but for all intents and purposes, virtual reality technology for consoles is deader than a doornail in Microsoft's eyes. At the close of 2017, Sony recorded sales numbers of two million units for its own VR headset - a drop in the ocean when tallied against the 70 million mark for total PS4 sales - which, while relatively modest, at least suggested healthy interest.
However, further analysis paints a different picture. Ownership of VR headsets grew by a measly 1% between 2016 and 2017 in the U.S., cementing fears that virtual reality had fallen into the category of being a fad.
Based on those troubling statistics alone, it's hardly surprising that, despite Phil Spencer proclaiming last year that the Xbox One X had the capacity to integrate with VR headsets, Microsoft has made a total U-turn.
Speaking to Gamesindustry.biz, Microsoft's Mike Nichols told the site that there are no longer any "plans specific to Xbox consoles in virtual reality or mixed reality," in the works, so whatever the Xbox Two's big selling point turns out to be, VR won't be one of them.
Considering the fate that befell Kinect, it's a wise decision on Microsoft's part.