Lean Xbox One eyes gamers as PlayStation VR turns heads

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 13: Phil Spencer, head of Xbox, announces the
new Microsoft Xbox One S game console during the Microsoft Xbox news
conference at the Galen Center during E3 Gaming Conference on June 13,
2016 in Los Angeles, California. The One S is slated to launch in
August. Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images/AFP
Microsoft on Monday unveiled a leaner Xbox One model and a lineup of
coming games as it strived to make up lost ground on Sony's
market-leading rival PlayStation 4.
Xbox team head Phil Spencer used a Microsoft press event on the eve of
the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) video game extravaganza to
introduce an Xbox One S that will be priced at $299 when it hits the
market in August.
"This is just the beginning," Spencer said. "We see opportunities on
the horizon."
At a separate event later in the day, Sony put the spotlight on a
line-up of big, beautiful games and announced that a keenly-awaited
virtual reality headset that works with PS4 consoles will be released
on October 13 a price of $399.
Sony late last year cut $50 off the price of PS4, making the console
available for $350. Microsoft had earlier made a similar move,
lowering the Xbox One price to $350 by unbundling it from a Kinect
motion-sensing accessory.
Xbox One S was described as being about 40 percent smaller than its predecessor.
With an eye on the future, Microsoft is also working on a powerful new
version of Xbox One designed as a platform for exquisite virtual
reality and ultrahigh-graphics games, according to Spencer.
"Delivering the world's most powerful console is exactly what we want
to do," he said.
The upgraded Xbox One model, dubbed "Project Scorpio," will be
released at the end of next year, in time for the prime gift-giving
holiday season, according to Microsoft.
Scorpio was announced early to provide game makers and other software
savants time to create content or experiences for the beefed-up Xbox
One.
Spencer promised that the Scorpio version of Xbox One would enable
virtual reality experiences without any sacrifice of performance.
– Play anywhere –
Microsoft also announced that players would be able to hand Xbox One
games off to Windows-powered computers due to a new "Play Anywhere"
capability.
"Gamers have never had more choice in how and where they play," Spencer said.
Despite trends toward play on smartphones, tablets, and personal
computers, industry heavyweights are not giving up consoles which have
long ruled the lucrative sector.
Sony heads into E3 as a market leader, having sold more than 40
million PS4 consoles since they launched in late 2013.
While Microsoft has not released current sales figures for its Xbox
One console that debuted in the market at nearly the same time,
industry estimates are that they are roughly half those of PS4.
– Grand games galore –
Given that PS4 and Xbox One are in their third year on the market, and
the Nintendo Wii U is in its fourth year, console makers will be out
to fuel interest with big new games and enhanced features, according
to analysts.
Sony provided glimpses at coming PS4 titles including a new "God of
War," along with "Spider-Man," and "Days Gone."
Revered game maker Hideo Kojima appeared on stage to reveal his new
studio's first project, a game called "Death Stranding."
Sony promised more than 50 games for PlayStation VR will be available
within months after the launch, among them zombie-shooter "Resident
Evil," one based on the iconic "Star Wars" franchise, and another on
the comic book dark knight "Batman."
Xbox One game announcements included exclusive blockbusters "Gears of
War" and "Halo" titles, and an intriguing new "We Happy Few" by
Compulsion Games studio.
Virtual reality, streaming play and titles tailored for smartphones
are expected to be hot themes at E3.
Demonstrations of content for Facebook-owned Oculus Rift headgear are
once again expected to draw crowds on the show floor, which opens on
Tuesday.
Oculus began selling its Rift virtual reality headsets earlier this
year for $599, a price which does not include the cost of a computer
that can handle the processing and graphics demands of the technology.
HTC set a price of $799 for Vive VR gear, which also requires computer
systems that can handle the rich experience.
In this article:
Microsoft
Phil Spencer
PlayStation
Xbox One
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LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 13: Phil Spencer, head of Xbox, announces the
new Microsoft Xbox One S game console during the Microsoft Xbox news
conference at the Galen Center during E3 Gaming Conference on June 13,
2016 in Los Angeles, California. The One S is slated to launch in
August. Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images/AFP
Demonstrations of content for Facebook-owned Oculus Rift headgear are
once again expected to draw crowds on the show floor, which opens on
Tuesday.
Oculus began selling its Rift virtual reality headsets earlier this
year for $599, a price which does not include the cost of a computer
that can handle the processing and graphics demands of the technology.
HTC set a price of $799 for Vive VR gear, which also requires computer
systems that can handle the rich experience.