Microsoft’s cancelled Xbox Watch prototype reportedly leaks online
A prototype version of Microsoft’s cancelled Xbox Watch has made an unscheduled appearance online.
A Twitter user posted images on Monday, showing off the firm’s purported plans to enter the smartwatch game.
The images show the user interface, which includes a workout mode, while also showcasing built-in GPS and a heart rate sensor.
The UI isn’t too dissimilar to the Microsoft Band, which actually made it to market, but was relatively short-lived.
Related: Xbox One games 2018
It’s also reminiscent of a very old Xbox UI, which suggests the prototype is probably quite old.
Although it was only a prototype version of the device, @Hikari_Cayl (via Windows Central) complained about the “terrible” resolution. We’ll never know if this is something Microsoft planned to improve upon before bringing the device to market.
More details my be revealed when a forthcoming video is posted, but there’s no sign of any gaming-specific features at the current time.
Perhaps Microsoft had planned to use it alongside fitness apps for the Xbox console itself? There was a time when the discontinued Kinect sensor allowed enabled people to workout at home while precise movements were tracked.
Perhaps wisely, given this prototype, Microsoft decided against pursuing a smartwatch release.
The company clearly has no plans in the wearable market at present, despite a shift in strategy towards selling its own hardware.
Would you like to have seen an Xbox smartwatch? Or was Microsoft correct to ditch this one. Drop us a line @TrustedReviews on Twitter.