Virtual Reality Insights from Xbox Co-Creator

Seamus Blackley, the co-creator of Xbox, is quite vocal about his lack of enthusiasm for virtual reality. Though he’s been out of the Xbox loop for over two decades, his thoughts on VR seem to resonate with some of Xbox’s past statements on the topic.

In the world of console gaming, there’s a divide over the pursuit of virtual reality. Sony ventured into VR with its PS VR headsets that tap into the horsepower of PlayStation consoles. Meanwhile, Meta has scored wins with its Quest series, and even Nintendo had a go with a simple VR setup for the Switch. Yet, Xbox has steered away from the VR craze, a sentiment echoed by Blackley, one of the original minds behind Xbox.

During a chat with the VideoGamer Podcast (referenced via PC Guide), Blackley shared his take on the state of VR. He attributed its shaky popularity to two main factors: the absence of a standout, “killer app,” and the awkwardness tied to how VR games are experienced. According to Blackley, VR conjures up grand expectations, but in reality, wearing a headset can feel “hot, heavy… weird and disappointing,” leading users to want to ditch it. He candidly apologized to VR enthusiasts, pointing out that both VR and AR have yet to make the impact some hoped for.

Despite Blackley’s views, the gaming industry landscape is shifting. Xbox fans have long wondered if the brand would dip into VR. Xbox leader Phil Spencer has previously remarked that “no one is asking for VR,” hinting at their reluctance. But things might be evolving, as Microsoft is now teaming up with Meta to develop a VR headset for Xbox users. Moreover, the Xbox Cloud Gaming app extends to Meta headsets, enabling playing Xbox games on a virtual screen.

Meta has been thriving with its VR endeavors, marked by the successful sales of the Meta Quest 2 and the latest Quest 3S. Meta Reality Labs, responsible for these headsets and other innovative tech like Ray-Ban smart glasses, touted its best financial quarter in Q4 2024, grossing over $1 billion. While the company isn’t entirely in the clear financially, VR’s fanbase continues to swell.

Of course, VR gaming still yearns for a definitive “killer app” to rival the widespread adoption of non-VR games. Nevertheless, titles like Resident Evil 4, Half-Life: Alyx, Beat Saber, and VR Chat have made their mark. While it’s uncertain if VR can garner the same audience sizes as mainstream consoles and PCs, the industry remains hopeful and far from giving up on VR’s potential.