Xbox Scorpio and PlayStation 4 Pro facing a big new rival?
THE XBOX Scorpio is set to be revealed at E3 2017 and it appears Microsoft's new console upgrade is set to face more than just the PlayStation 4 Pro as competition.
The Xbox Scorpio is set to launch with upgraded hardware that will make it the most powerful console ever released.
Gamers will have access to new console 4K support, as well as an array of other visual features that were not part of the original Xbox One setup.
And one big selling point will be the new console’s Virtual Reality compatibility.
“Our plan is to bring mixed reality content to the Xbox One family of devices, including Project Scorpio, in 2018,” Microsoft pledged earlier this year.
The PlayStation 4 Pro also benefits from having the support of the PlayStation VR, which has sold well, despite competition from other headsets.
It will certainly be a strong point that the Xbox Scorpio can draw from, having the hardware to run new experiences at a good level of quality.
Some developers agree, with Jean-François Fiset from Parabole telling Gamingbolt: “The lack of exclusives can hurt a little, but if the full VR support is there on release, it will most likely make up for it.”
The problem is, the Virtual Reality space now has other alternative VR platforms starting to be announced.
And the latest could certainly prove a big rival to that of the PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift and the Xbox Scorpio.
A new standalone HTC VIVE headset has just been announced that will run on Google’s Daydream platform.
Like the Xbox Scorpio, it will be a premium device, but unlike the new console, it will not need a PC or TV to run it.
“Google announced that the Daydream platform is expanding to support a new category of VR devices, standalone headsets,” a statement from HTC explains.
“They don’t need a phone or PC to power them, and they’re easy to use, comfortable, and immersive. Everything you need for the best portable VR is built right into the headset.
“We have been working closely with developers and consumers to define the best VR experiences over the past few years, and we are perfectly positioned to deliver the most premium standalone headset and user experience.
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“Vive’s standalone VR headset will provide a deeper and more immersive portable VR experience than ever before.
“More information on Vive’s standalone VR headset will be made available soon, but rest assured it will be simple, easy-to-use and with no cables to connect. Just pick it up, put it on and be fully immersed in your new reality.”
If Virtual Reality is indeed going to prove a major selling point for the Xbox Scorpio, going head-to-head with an easy-to-use competitor will be far from ideal.
It could provide just another piece of competition the Scorpio could do without, although it’s currently unclear just what the new VIVE VR device will be capable of.
The relatively new Daydream platform could see a big gaming expansion with the new device in mind, or Google may have other plans for their new platform.
It may all rest on just what kind of new experiences Microsoft have planned for the Xbox Scorpio and just how serious they are to build a competitive VR platform.
