During GDC 2014, Sony unveiled Project Morpheus, a virtual reality headset of their own making. This was followed shortly after by Facebook announcing the acquisition of Oculus VR. There have also been talks about Microsoft entering the VR space as well and with all this attention, it definitely sounds like VR could be on track to become the next big thing in gaming.
There are some, like Ubisoft, who expressed some reservation regarding the wide appeal of VR headsets and it seems that they’re not alone in that reservation. Speaking recently at a Yabbly “Ask Me Anything” session, the Xbox’s co-founder, Ed Fries, expressed his own skepticism that virtual reality could have a wide appeal.
When asked what he thought about Facebook’s purchase of Oculus VR, he replied by saying, “Hardcore gamers love new technologies and experiences and are willing to do almost anything to get them so that’s a good market for Oculus.” However he later adds, “General users however are a different crowd. Given how little success the consumer electronics companies have had with 3D TVs with glasses, I am skeptical that general users are going to be strapping this thing onto their face any time soon.”
We have to admit that he has a point regarding 3D television. In fact even without the need for glasses, 3D televisions and smartphones (remember the HTC EVO 3D and the LG Optimus 3D?) haven’t exactly taken off in a big way either. Then again we are moving into an age where wearable tech is starting to catch on and could possibly be a way we use technology in the future, but what do you guys think? Are you equally reserved about the possibility of VR catching on in a big way?
Filed in . Read more about Sony and Wearable Tech.