Well, the VR glasses was in Microsoft's very own document, one now confirmed as being real, and quite a few things from that document, although not everything, seem to conveniently be lining up.

Vgleaks and others that clearly have access to that Microsoft document relating to the Durango conference from last year, while not perfect, have certainly been on the money on quite a number of things. And with all the other information that vgleaks has provided on the ps4 and that certain forum posters confirmed well before they were ever posted on vgleaks, Sony's reveal only served to increase their credibility, as much as I hate to say it.

Among all the rumors and speculation out there with some shred of evidence or seemingly credible source to support them, a tablet controller on the new xbox is either the least among them or entirely non-existent altogether. In all the leaks that we have, leaks confirmed more or less legit even if old, a tablet controller is the one thing that doesn't appear in any of it. Kinect AND tablet controller sounds bizarre, even by Microsoft standards.

And, yes, I admit, the speculation that I'm entertaining right now involving multiple companies making xbox consoles is crazy, but I never said that it would happen, only that I think it could work given the right circumstances. And, yea, Korn is right. No point discussing something that is more than likely bs anyway. Microsoft has a good thing going with xbox, I don't see them wanting to share that.

I think the tablet rumours stem from them registering the domain xsurface or something. I don't remember. Was in like, november last year i think. Also, VR glasses? As in what? We talking something akin to oculus rift? Or some sort of augmented reality glasses? Or are we actually talking proper virtual reality?

In my mind it's more then just a screen in front of your eyes with a gyro and accelerometer. I already don't much like the way in which occulus rift works, your "vision" is welded to your aim/gun. I want them to be indipendant. That would be more VR to me.

Good points, Grift. Then again, that's probably why they may sell it separately and not with the console like they intend on doing with Kinect.

Those vr glasses may not need to have specific game support, but may simply just be designed by Microsoft to work a certain way with the new xbox, irrelevant of what developers do. The display planes certainly seem ideal for the task, I think.

Also, some seem to be of the belief that the image on this page is Microsoft's way of trying to signal that the vr glasses are happening. It's probably nothing, but you never know.

http://www.rightnowatmicrosoft.com/xboxbeyond

Couldn't find another picture, so I grabbed this one someone made on gaf.



Separately ps4 may have oculis rift support, as I think I remember somebody pretty high up at Sony name dropping it with regards to PS4.

It wont have a VR headset or tablet controller. They are already gouging a huge chunk of the value proposition with bundled kinect, no way are they gonna bundle in more proprietary shit with limited use unless the console itself is more akin to ouya than ps4. Also 3D has died a death in the home as most users refuse to wear glasses and they are one more thing you need to keep charged.

Hate all these rumours about novelty shit, just put as strong hardware in the box as possible and it will be used every second a game is playing by every user. It's like one of those polystations or other HK knockoffs where you get a lightgun, a controller and the console has a mini lcd screen. Absolutely no use for it.

Sure, we saw the document but it was more a brainstorming thing or idea that may happen than being the vision for what the home user will actually do with it. It was also created at the height of 3D when Sony was pushing it for their games etc, that is no longer the case. Sony sees it as a dead end, you would think MS would be equally as savvy.

Haha, I'm just saying what the speculation is. Some interpret the eyes being the controller, along with the appearance of those icons emanating from that cube as somehow a subtle tease from Microsoft regarding the vr glasses.

You never know. Whatever they are going to ultimately end up doing, though, Microsoft certainly has a surprise lying in wait somewhere. I just hope it's a surprise we like as opposed to hate. :)

Even as I sit here now, my biggest hope for when they reveal the new xbox is that they announce another blue dragon title. That would make my day.

According to that MS document, they aren't planning on bundling it with the machine, Tomaru. They are planning on selling this accessory separately, which is what they should do, because it would be suicide trying to bundle it together with Kinect. I still think Kinect as a bundled part of the next console is going to surprise some people. Who knows what its gaming potential is, if anything at all, but I think it'll be hit as a bundled device with the next xbox.

VR is still only a peripheral, you still need the hardware to power it and for the mass consumption of consoles its a poor fit.

The glasses themselves would be the hardware and the new xbox has dedicated hardware that seems a perfect fit for the vr glasses, the hardware display planes. One is reserved by the system. All 3 have scalar capability, all 3 can be different resolutions and at different frame rates.

You still have to render 2 distinct views each with synced frame rate. Think current gen 3d game issues, think how badly the ps3 does 3d. The 720 and ps4 still aint powerful enough to render 2 720p30 images nevermind 1080p images.

I agree, but I believe Microsoft themselves will handle the necessary software coding for a basic one size fits all implementation of the vr glasses on the next xbox, sorta like they've done consistently for some other xbox accessories, such as the xbox live vision camera, controller keypad attachment, Kinect, HD DVD player etc. Who knows how well it works for gaming, if at all, but they may just want it to be apart of the console's entertainment and general user experience functionalities, and are willing to dedicate the resources to support it.

One size fits all, as in the game doesn't have to be coded for it, it just works like another television, only with certain unique elements about it, I don't know I'm not an expert on the subject. There have been gaming style glasses released that have done this before, albeit at different levels.

Who knows how they plan on doing it, but maybe they want to connect it with Kinect somehow, I don't know. I believe Nvidia has released stuff like this over the yearas.

Hmm, that just might be the first honest statement you've made since the next-gen console discussions have gotten started. And congratulations, you're finally getting it all out, everything before now has been an excessive gripe to counter anything Optimus (also excessively) evangelizes. lolYeah, but it's still coming though. Everyone has to come to grips, this is going to be the generation of props and gadgets. We're not just going to be gaming anymore, the room has to be spinning, our hands have to wave about, lights will be blinking in our faces, and we'll have devices strapped to our heads that either augment our perception or completely isolate us from the rest of the world. Everyone from Microsoft to Carmack is convinced that gaming can't stand on it's own anymore, our games need gadgets. Hell, even our gadgets now need gadgets.

I will say this though, Microsoft's patent for VR is a great deal more complex than what Oculus Rift will be offering. So it will be interesting to see what the final product will look like, regardless of whether I intend to actually buy one. But I've already surrendered to the idea that unwanted junk is going to be invading our gaming space.

All I want out of Microsoft Xbox Reveal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUjxPj3al5U

That's totally how they should make the announcement. Just blast this in the speakers and then show a picture, screenshot, anything.

My reaction to a new Blue Dragon would basically be.



Or this would do, although it's less likely :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmR3AALCPzo

WHAT??????!!!!?????!???!?!?!?!

Lol grim, you sound more forgiving of this nonsense than I am. The average consumer HATES peripherals long term, they dont mind it when its new and shiny but it dies VERY quickly. Recharging shit is the bane of everyones existance, charging your controller is painful enough any time you take a notion to play something. Having to charge your headset, your controller, your tablet, your headset and whatever other peripheral shit they want to use just puts a strain where it becomes too much hassle and the result is everything stays in a corner and collects dust. I know thats half the reason I can't be bothered with my consoles, used my 360 last night for the first time in 6 months and the controller wouldnt hold charge, just kept the charge kit plugged in.

It also devalues your TV, all of a sudden you're wearing a headset that obscures your lovely big flatscreen. People just wanna sit on their couch with a controller in their hand, turn on the machine, play a bit, turn it off. The more hoops they have whether it's several pages of the OS, updates, needing extra peripherals the less likely the consumer is to use it for any extended period of time.

As for framerates, sure, if the games looked like pong or something they would do 2x720p30 but they struggle to do that with the likes of uncharted or killzone, they already drop the resolution, struggle to hit 20fps per eye and reduce effects qualities / remove shadows. Sure next gen will give a bit more juice and the ps4 might just be able to do current gen games at 720p30 per eye but thats about it. Just look at nvidia 3d vision, usually need 2 cards to do 1080p60 and even then its a struggle with balancing image quality and vsync and those cards are vastly more powerful than whats in either next gen machine.