First Version of HoloLens Won’t be Game-Centric at Launch – Microsoft
The highly anticipated launch of Microsoft’s entry into the VR and AR world has become a hot topic for the purpose of its existence. There goes the questions about its hardware capabilities, support for third-party experiences, and so much more.
When the HoloLens finally becomes a reality, it will not be focusing on gaming at first. Sorry, gamers: this isn’t your HoloLens time yet.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said in an interview with ZDNet that the HoloLens will be primarily aimed at professionals in its first consumer version. When Nadella was asked about the demand for HoloLens at launch, he said, “For sure in the first version, it’s going to be more about developers and enterprise scenarios.” He added, “With the Version 1 of HoloLens, I want us to push a lot more of the enterprise usage.” Nadella says that the interest around HoloLens is greater in industries such as healthcare and retail, and that Microsoft is going after these industries for the HoloLens.
But fear not, HoloLens gaming fans. Nadella strongly looks forward in the future of gaming with the futuristic holographic computer. In a question regarding why Microsoft bought Minecraft, Nadella said that this move was to “create a new genre of gaming for mixed reality,” among other reasons. He adds that he wanted to have a “hit game” that’s intended for the mixed reality medium, highlighting the HoloLens. Nadella associates Minecraft’s success in mixed reality from the game’s incredible success on mobile platforms such as iOS and Android, as well as in PCs.
It can be recalled that the HoloLens was first unveiled during the Windows 10 event back in January. Close followers of Microsoft as well as the VR and AR community, among others, were greatly impressed by the variety and useful capabilities of the HoloLens when it comes to creative and collaborative work.
In the immediate future, Microsoft is betting its HoloLens on the business sector. It is true, without a doubt, that the HoloLens will have its own portfolio of games in the near future. But for now, Microsoft puts the HoloLens as a “work, then play” kind of device.
For more information on the HoloLens, please visit the following websites:
http://www.virtualrealitytimes.com/2015/03/08/microsoft-will-bring-xbox-games-to-hololens/
http://www.virtualrealitytimes.com/2015/02/24/hololens-seen-to-be-integrated-with-xbox-one/
http://www.virtualrealitytimes.com/2015/02/04/microsoft-hololens-everything-you-need-to-know/
