Seamus Blackley, the Xbox co-creator, stated that VR in gaming has not gained mainstream success because it lacks a “killer app.” The Xbox co-creator stated that developers struggled to create engaging narratives due to the technology’s extensiveness. Blackley’s statements are backed by only a few games having had success in VR gaming.
VR gaming has remained a niche with unrealized potential since VR headsets gained popularity in the 2010s. However, despite technological breakthroughs, VR gaming has failed to maximize the sector’s potential. The bizarre state of affairs has led many industry players to ponder and speculate on what it takes to scale up the use of VR technology in gaming.
Xbox co-creator discusses VR in gaming
Seamus Blackley, the Xbox co-creator, gave his opinion on the state of virtual reality (VR) in gaming in an upcoming VideoGamer Podcast shared with PCGuide. Blackley reportedly said that “there is no killer app, and nobody can put their finger on what a killer app could be” when speaking on VR gaming.
Blackley went on to argue that the lack of a “must have” experience will relegate VR to a niche product as opposed to being a revolutionary element of the gaming industry.
The Xbox co-creator also discussed the challenges faced by VR gaming from the perspective of game developers. According to the Xbox co-creator, VR grants too much freedom, which limits its application in narrative control. Blackley said that VR does not offer the kind of structured storytelling that players typically expect from video games, resulting in a paradox where players either get stuck on testing the limitations or disengage after not feeling guided. Blackley added that while immersion is a great concept, it can often result in frustration rather than engagement for gamers and developers alike.
The Xbox co-creator also identified discomfort as another obstacle impeding the widespread uptake of VR in gaming. Blackley used the terms “hot, heavy things” to describe VR headsets, echoing a sentiment critics have for the VR headgear. He added that the characteristics of the headsets made gamers want to remove them after a short period, impeding their use by casual and mainstream gamers. Blackley finished by saying that without a compelling game, VR gaming would struggle to break outside its dedicated fanbase.
Blackley’s admission paints a grim picture of the VR gaming niche in the global industry. Only a few titles, such as Half-Life: Alyx, Beat Saber, The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners, Resident Evil 4 VR, Synapse, and Horizon: Call of the Mountain, have managed to properly showcase the potential of VR in gaming.
However, the VR gaming niche has experienced several drawbacks after many stakeholders rolled back the adoption of PS VR2. Renowned VR franchises such as Astro Bot did not make the jump to PS VR2, leaving gamers speculating on its future.
Gamers react to Blackley’s VR gaming comments.
Gamers online were quick to express their views after Blackley made his comments on the podcast. Some gamers agreed with Blackley’s outlook and said that the expensive VR headsets were not enough to retain gamers and keep them engaged.
Additionally, some gamers said that games such as Beat Saber were inadequate in showcasing the potential of VR and that if VR had a killer app, the niche would be as big as some of the multinational companies in tech.
However, another section of gamers disagreed with Blackley’s assessment of VR in gaming. The gamers said that Blackley’s views were largely influenced by Microsoft’s “hate” for virtual reality, which made them remove VR support from Windows.
Other gamers argued that VR already had a killer app and that it had been properly integrated into games such as Half-Life Alyx, Into the Radius, Blade & Sorcery, Clone Drone, Metro Awakening, Batman VR, and Lone Echo 1 & 2.
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