Xbox VR to be Unveiled at E3?

A post on the official E3 2016 website suggests that we might see Microsoft unveiling a new virtual reality system for Xbox One. Spotted by NeoGAF user 00ich, the E3 site has added an Xbox One Virtual Reality category, under which developers Rebellion, 3DRudder, Maximum Games, and Readily Information Company have already registered.

The Xbox VR news tracks with rumours, first broken by Kotaku, that Microsoft has struck a deal to bring Oculus Rift support for the new, more powerful Xbox One (codenamed Scorpio), purportedly due for release in 2017.

“The 2017 Xbox, which is codenamed Scorpio, will have a more powerful GPU, according to three people familiar with this model, speaking anonymously because they were not authorized to speak about Microsoft’s plans,” Kotaku’s Keza MacDonald and Jason Schreier reported. “We hear that it will also be technically capable of supporting the Oculus Rift and that Microsoft is pursuing a partnership with Oculus.”

Ars Technica’s Kyle Orland also revealed that “at least one major developer is currently planning to release a new virtual reality game on the Xbox One in 2017 and plans to show that game at E3.”

“The information was provided to Ars directly by the developer as part of pre-E3 planning and was confirmed by a PR representative,” Orland added. “Ars isn’t at liberty to discuss the name of the game or the specific developer, but we can say that a well-known European studio is planning “a new VR game” set in the universe of an established, long-running franchise.”

While these reports are still rumours – and, as such, are unconfirmed – it makes sense for Microsoft strike a VR deal with Oculus, considering the incredible pre-sales of PlayStation VR and the lukewarm response to the Microsoft HoloLens.