First iteration of Microsoft’s HoloLens won’t focus on gaming
The first version of Microsoft HoloLens will be “more about developers and enterprise scenarios” instead of gaming.
Gaming remains a long-term objective for Microsoft’s HoloLens, but it will not be the focus for the very first iteration of the augmented-reality device. Sorry, Minecraft fans.
This is according to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who talked about the company’s vision for HoloLens in a recent interview with ZDNet.
Nadella believes the initial demand for the first version of HoloLens is “going to be more about developers and enterprise scenarios.” The CEO did take time to reiterate that the HoloLens has huge potential when it comes to gaming applications.
The reason behind Microsoft’s $2.5 billion purchase of Minecraft was because the property has huge HoloLens potential.
“I did buy Minecraft to create a new genre of gaming for mixed reality,” Nadella said. “We bought Minecraft for many reasons: because it’s the number one PC app; it’s the number one console app; it’s the number one paid mobile app on iOS and Android.”
“I wanted a hit game even for a new medium of mixed reality. And we will have that. Gaming will always be a scenario and there will be other entertainment broadly. But, with the V.1 of HoloLens, I want to push a lot more of the enterprise usage.”
Capitalising on a massive title such as Minecraft is a smart move by Microsoft. It could easily provide the nudge that HoloLens sceptics need to try it out – or even buy the device when it launches.
Minecraft is the only gaming demonstration we’ve seen thus far for Microsoft’s device, and to our knowledge there are no other titles currently in development for it.
Microsoft’s live E3 demo showcasing the device blew people’s minds back in June, displaying the true capability of HoloLens.
It’s unclear as of yet how developers may end up utilising the HoloLens for gaming, since the technology is limited to the space around the player and the environment in which they find themselves.
Regardless, the potential of this device when it comes to gaming is undeniably exciting. The stunning examples we’ve seen so far hint at some fantastic things to come in the future.
Microsoft has yet to announce any kind of release window for the HoloLens.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
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We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
