Microsoft reiterated that VR support for Xbox was not a focal point for the company, following reports earlier today that it was working on a VR headset compatible with the Xbox Series X / S.
The rumor only comes to light IGN Italy reports that some Italian Xbox users have received messages, which have been translated to “[a]an update for the VR headset is available ”and“[u]pdate VR headset, ”when pairing the newly released Xbox Wireless headset with their Xbox Series X or Series S consoles. My colleague Cameron Faulkner checked the Xbox Wireless headset and did not encounter this pop-up message while using the headset on an Xbox Series X console in the US.
A Microsoft representative said The edge that ‘the copy in this error message is inaccurate due to a localization error’, while reiterating that ‘VR for console is not currently a focus for us.’
Microsoft has not yet explored the VR space for its Xbox consoles. In 2018, the company withdrew from plans to support virtual reality chapters for Xbox in 2018, explaining that it “wants to focus primarily on experiences you would play on your TV.” At the end of 2019, Xbox boss Phil Spencer tweeted that although he played a number of amazing VR games, such as Half-life: Alyx, console VR was not Xbox’s focus before the Xbox Series X / S release.