Microsoft Opens Up on Mixed Reality on Xbox Platforms-Including Scorpio

So, I know of VR, and even AR, but thanks to Microsoft, I now have to worry about mixed reality (MR?). I’m losing track of all these realities. Whatever the case may be, Microsoft is working on it and they have a plan to bring it to the Xbox.

According to an official Microsoft blog post, the company has grand plans for mixed reality. In the near term, those plans are planted firmly on the PC platform, but they do have designs on taking the technology into gaming.

We’re also excited to share that Windows Mixed Reality experiences will light up on other devices over time, beyond desktop and Microsoft HoloLens. Our plan is to bring mixed reality content to the Xbox One family of devices, including Project Scorpio, in 2018.

So, this could mean practically anything. Will there be an actual Xbox headset? Perhaps.

[Source: Microsoft]

Microsoft Announces Xbox Game Pass Service

Microsoft has announced today via the official Xbox Blog, a new service called Xbox Game Pass, that will give gamers access to hundreds of titles for $9.99 per month.

At Xbox, we put gamers at the center of everything we do and remain committed to giving you the freedom to play the games you want, with the friends you want, on the devices you want. This year is shaping up to be an exciting one for gamers. As we prepare to launch Project Scorpio this holiday, bringing the most powerful console ever made to the Xbox One family of devices, we continue to make platform improvements to connect the growing community of players on Xbox Live and add to a robust and diverse portfolio of games across Xbox One and Windows 10.

Today, we’re continuing our commitment to give you more options to diversify and expand your library of games with Xbox Game Pass, a new gaming subscription service coming later this spring. Xbox Game Pass gives you unlimited access to over 100 Xbox One and backward compatible Xbox 360 games – all for $9.99 per month.

Sounds like a Microsoft version of EA Access or a gaming version of Netflix, if you will.

An interesting concept, and at one time, this would’ve resonated with me. I love gaming (obviously), but I can’t see myself using this service to its full potential to justify the cost. I also have concerns over the size of library and quality of the library.

Microsoft promises that new games will be added every month and that subscribers will get additional discounts if you want to purchase game add-ons or DLC. You don’t need to be an Xbox Gold subscriber to sign-up for Game Pass, but you won’t be able to play multiplayer games, which is a bit of a bummer.

Xbox Game Pass is slated for launch Spring 2017.

[Source: http://news.xbox.com/2017/02/28/introducing-xbox-game-pass/#8h280JBK6Rbhe3bw.99%5D

[Source: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/xbox-game-pass%5D