Microsoft Shoots Down Talk of Xbox Series X VR Support

Microsoft has been quick to shut down rumors that the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles might be getting VR support soon.

The rumors started when a message was spotted that referred to a VR headset when using Microsoft's new Xbox Wireless Headset.

How Did the Xbox VR Rumors Begin?

A report from IGN Italy claimed that when it plugged in the pre-release version of the new Xbox Wireless Headset, the Xbox displayed a message that translated to "An update for the VR headset is available".

Speculation began that this message suggested that VR support could soon be coming to the Xbox consoles, and that the message had been incorrectly applied to the wireless headset.

However, Microsoft has now made a statement to dispel these rumors.

In a statement to VGC, an Xbox spokesperson told the site that:

The copy in this error message is inaccurate due to a localization bug. VR for console is not a focus for us at this time.

Will VR Ever Come to Xbox?

Unless something drastic happens, it seems unlikely that the Xbox Series X/S will get VR support any time soon.

In February 2020, before the consoles launched, executive vice-president of Xbox Phil Spencer said that while he loves that the games industry is pushing the boundaries of technology, he believes that VR is niche, isolating, and that it's not a focus for the company.

In a later interview with Gamertag Radio, Spencer clarified his position:

I wanted to be clear with our customers on where our focus was. So that if somebody was waiting for us to bring out a VR headset for Series X, at the launch or something… we’re not going to do that.

Nevertheless, he noted that Microsoft as a whole is never going to dismiss "where things are going", and that he hopes VR continues to flourish and innovating, adding that he hopes "it's something so important that it would be a no-brainer for us to go support it."

On the Sony ship, the company previously said that it had no plans for PSVR games on the PS5. However, it recently surprisingly announced that a new VR system is in development for the PS5, though gave no clue as to when this would arrive, except to say it wouldn't be in 2021.

Clearly VR is a bigger concern for Sony than it is for Microsoft, though it's fair to say that neither company really considers it a primary focus right now.