440°

Microsoft patents VR mat, motion controller, and stylus possibly for Xbox

According to a few patents that appeared online — which were first spotted by Twitter user WalkingCat — it seems like a stylus, VR boundary mat, and motion controller are in the works.

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windowscentral.com
Obscure_Observer1687d ago

Microsoft should leave VR to Sony.

Ricegum1686d ago

And Nintendo. And Oculus. And HTC & Valve.

1686d ago
RangerWalk2671686d ago

NOOOO. Microsoft is welcome to the space. Because they are more open to allowing 3rd party companies to use their products with Xbox. Sony is like Apple in the sense that they want EVERY penny they can get. Plus, competition is healthy for the consumer.

rainslacker1686d ago (Edited 1686d ago )

Wow....I actually agree with you. But would extend it to anyone with an interest in bringing VR to the market.

Although I'd say that if they have some good ideas, they should patent them, as that's what companies who come up with ideas do. Then if its a good idea, they can still profit off it.

CaptainCook1686d ago

Microsoft already has a VR headset. It's called "Windows Mixed Reality". They've created the software.

Pickledpepper1686d ago (Edited 1686d ago )

Why?
@obscure

timotim1686d ago (Edited 1686d ago )

Microsoft is already in VR. They have built an entire platform to support it. They just having added it to their consoles yet.

https://www.microsoft.com/e...

UltraNova1686d ago (Edited 1686d ago )

Agreed somewhat since they already left VR to Sony on console for years now. That said, MS should enter the console VR scene at some point, to inject new DNA and bring some healthy competition.

DerfDerf1685d ago

Whe? The PSVue is low budget VR garbage compared to everything else on the market.

1685d ago
Profchaos1685d ago

No the more VR is adopted into the mainstream the more money will get out into developing games which benifits all headset owners

+ Show (9) more repliesLast reply 1685d ago
1686d ago Replies(1)
iplay1up21687d ago

Nice! Can't wait for next gen. Including Switch! That will be awhile though.

indysurfn1686d ago

A LOT of people are in for a surprise once again when it comes to Nintendo. Just read the Nvidia financial report and use deductive reasoning as to which company Nvidia is talking about when it comes to next gen console revenue.

Donnie811685d ago

There’s only one company currently using Nvidia chips so it’s not that hard at all to figure out who they would be talking about

iplay1up21685d ago (Edited 1685d ago )

I just read the breakdown. It isn't the Switch that is losing them potential sales, its the PC market, according to the breakdown. Switch is still selling well, with Switch lite not selling as many at the launch. It still sold 250,000 that was back in Sept 27th. This Holiday season will tell where Switch is headed. This should be its last strong Holiday, as its getting older now. Switch 2 will probably launch in p in November 2021. At least I hope so. It should be capable of 4K!

IRetrouk1687d ago

Nice!! The more companies that invest in vr the better, will help with adoption, sales and public perception plus the more devs working on vr the better the games will get.

mesojovo1687d ago ShowReplies(2)
ApocalypseShadow1687d ago

Saw this a couple of hours ago. It's very interesting. Not sure how the mat works but any way to improve locomotion besides analog sticks is only a good thing . And, having a stylus that would allow you to draw with pin point accuracy can be beneficial.

Do it Microsoft. We need more competition in the console space to elevate the amount of one-upmanship that will make VR better overall.

Your turn Nintendo. Let's see some more patents hopefully leading to more hardware. Said this yesterday. Microsoft needs to get their hands dirty making their own hardware and from this patent, there's a possibility that this will be the case.

rainslacker1686d ago

These motion things are always interesting, but they end up taking up so much room in a real world living room setting. Even if they have a small footprint, there is not easy way to store them, and they always take more set up than I feel is suitable for easy and quick play.

The headset itself will probably end up becoming easy enough to throw on, but everything else is just extra set up.

sprinterboy1686d ago

My thoughts exactly, the patent image has the mat all spread out across the living room? That ain't gonna work with kids or the wife wanting to relax and do other things in the living room.
Plus isn't that a massive trip hazzard with a vr headset on?

ApocalypseShadow1686d ago (Edited 1686d ago )

Their best bet is a new mixed reality headset version 2 like Hololens got. They have the tech and let others build off that template. Just make one themselves.

Make it light. Make it comfortable. Make it wireless that lasts at least 3-4 hours without the optional plug in long wire.

Basically, if developers on PC can make their games compatible with Windows like they did from Vive or Oculus, they can easily port to Scarlett and meet certification.

That would give them an advantage at matching PSVR and surpassing it in other areas by having a shared PC/Xbox ecosystem. With also, better tracking and setup.

They just need to do it. Then, the war begins making VR better.

DJStotty1686d ago

The mat could always be disguised as a kind of living room rug/mat combo, so no need to setup/takedown.

New tech is always interesting

Profchaos1685d ago (Edited 1685d ago )

I can easily store my psvr and accessories they are not that big and seperate cleanly from the base station for storage.

The mat however cool it is will be a nightmare to store unless it can somehow go underneath a living room mat without being obvious. I think it would be better to use more headset mounted room space tracking like the occulus quest does which maps out a play space including walls, stairs and furniture

Necr0philiac1685d ago

@DJStotty and Profchaos
I'm sure a mat of this size we be able to be folded or rolled up. I could be wrong though

rainslacker1685d ago

@Apocolypse

Sure. There are lots of options. No one solution is going to be perfect for everyone. At the same time though, every time a patent comes along, there is this furor about how it's definitely going to be a thing, and more often than not, things aren't things that ever see the light of day.

@DJ

Never said it wasn't interesting, but consider the make up of the average living room. Decor isn't something easily disguised without lots of options to personalize it, because decor is always personalized. While that's possible, that adds to the cost of something that supposedly needs to be within the budget of the mainstream to ever become something that is utilized by devs.

@Prof

I have no problem with the headset myself, other than the camera wire being too short for where I keep my electronics, and the working distance from where it works with games being too small to be useful for where I sit when playing games. Sometimes, this is dependent on the game, and despite motions still be registered, I get the damn "Out of play area" box which you can't remove. Otherwise, yeah, it's easy enough for me to store and get out the headset itself, but I do have to fuss around setting up the camera on a tripod in the middle of the room, and turning my PS4 around to make the camera cable reach. A mat would require me moving more furniture out of the way, and really setting things up, although, in my set up, I could actually not be playing in front of the TV, so it could be more convienant. My wife would certainly have something to say about leaving it out all the time though. Even if I had a game room like I used to, I wouldn't want ot leave it laying on the floor all the time.

Unfortunately, with things like this, there are so many situations within the real world environment that have to be considered, and most companies never bother to consider anything more than people will adjust everything around their products, instead of making their products around people's own needs.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 1685d ago
Neonridr1686d ago

the mat is designed to basically lay out your floor space. Say it's an 8' x 8' mat, then you know when you are reaching the boundaries of your play space.

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440°

New PlayStation Handheld Reported Again, Supposedly Runs PS4 Games

Another leaker has claimed that a PSP/PS Vita style PlayStation handheld is in the works, and it'll supposedly support PS4 games.

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playstationlifestyle.net
anast1d 15h ago

If this is true, it will crush everything for the price.

VenomUK1d 2h ago (Edited 1d 2h ago )

Needs to be a PS5 portable.

Cacabunga1d 1h ago

PS4 native with PS5 remote play capabilities. Would be sweet.

And let PS Portal support cloud streaming for all PS+ games.

anast1d ago

Going off all the pricing behavior of Sony to this point. I'm willing to bet it will be cheaper than the Steam Deck. And when the price is revealed and I am right, send me a message.

Cacabunga1d ago

Could be an attempt to counter switch 2 which will have PS4 power.
Imagine all the PS4 third party re releases switch 2 is going to get.. “PS4 portable” could get the exact same games once again and publishers can resell software ..

If this portable has provides PS5 remote play on top then it will have a nice argument and exclusive feature.

DarXyde6h ago(Edited 6h ago)

Cacabunga,

Possibly, though I think any attempt to win against Nintendo in the handheld space is hopeless.

I loved the PSP and I still enjoy my Vita, but there's something about a full scale Mario and Zelda in your hands that makes it clear Sony should share the space, but never dream of taking it.

It's a very safe bet from Sony to have it run PS4 games too because then neither you nor developers are on the hook to make dedicated games for it.

Time will tell. I hope it's real. I'm willing to bet that it is—this is an inevitable strategy for Nintendo and the Surface team is allegedly handling Microsoft's next hardware stint. Sony wouldn't be the only one without portable hardware.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 6h ago
crazyCoconuts1d 1h ago

It would be a niche product like Portal. Not bad, but not mainstream. It's legacy PS4 right?

Kneetos1d 1h ago

The switch 2 and next steam deck will be out by then and will likely be way more popular

anast1d ago

The switch 2 will be a handheld Series S for kids and the next steam deck will be ridiculously over priced for a bunch of aging CRPGS and F2P mobile style games.

Kneetos16h ago(Edited 16h ago)

@Anast the switch 2 will Fortnite dance on the new Sony handhelds grave
Playstation can't compete with Nintendo there

With playstation porting all it's games to pc and by extension steam deck it pretty much makes the new pshandheld system irrelevant

Especially since all I ever hear from the Sony crowd is "I NEED graphics or I can't enjoy the game" a handheld PS4 is going the same way as Sony's handheld ps3

Hypertension14015h ago(Edited 15h ago)

If the switch 2 isn't backwards compatible, it will fail.

If this is true, then it will already have a large of games to play from the start, add ps1,ps2,psp,vita games to the mix, and it can be massively popular.

anast4h ago(Edited 4h ago)

The switch is a Mario machine and for kids, they have their own space. Tell me where I am wrong here.

The problem is that Sony isn't porting all of the games to the Steam Deck specifically. The Steam Deck can't play every game. It even has a verified category with games that run the best and a "playable" category that can barely run games. So, the best option to play would obviously be a Sony product.

The last point is inane. I can't respond to comments that use caps. the point should be able to stand on it's own

NotoriousWhiz3h ago

It doesn't matter hiw popular the Playstation handheld is if it shares the same library as the PS5. It just brings more people into the ecosystem and provides them with more ways to play their games.

Kneetos2h ago

@anast Nintendo is competing with Sony and no amount of backpedaling will change that
They were competing during the GameCube era and the Wii u era, coincidentally the 2 gens they lost to Sony, but we're suddenly not competing during the ds, Wii and 3ds era because they beat playstation, but of course we can't have that can we so "Nintendo isn't competition Sony auto wins"

The switch is more then a mario and even a first party machine these days as there are plenty of games, specifically Japanese and indi games that are doing better on switch then their ps counterpart
It's irrelevant that Sony isn't specifically porting to steam deck, the games will end up on there and people will wait for a pc port just like how playstation fans wait for a playstation port of games, you aren't unique

Playstation fans constantly brag on graphics, so a handheld that only plays PS4 games isn't going to entice a lot of them, like the vita before it, and Sony has a history of just dropping unsuccessful projects, the vita psvr and it looks like the portal isn't doing too hot either

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 2h ago
Vits23h ago

They literally charged people $199 for a bottom-of-the-barrel tablet with a DualSense controller bolted on. So I really can't see them releasing a powerful yet affordable native handheld.

Ps5conehead20h ago

I love my portal I’m handicapped and the portal lets me play on days I’m not at my best. It’s great .and the screen is admazing even though it’s not oled

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 2h ago
-Foxtrot1d 13h ago

If you had every PS1, PS2, PS3, PSP and PSV game then sure but I mean if it's just the PS4 why not just get a Steam Deck?

anast1d 3h ago

You might be correct, but it depends on the price point. Also, most PC gamers wait years for Sony releases, so it might be better just to get the PS4 handheld.

crazyCoconuts1d 1h ago

I'd be surprised if Sony reversed course and continued to put new releases on PS4. It would cannibalize their PS5 sales

MrBaskerville1d 2h ago (Edited 1d 2h ago )

If it supports your library, some people own more ps4 games than steam games. I know I do.

crazyCoconuts1d 1h ago

I might buy something like this to play my old library but man those old games are cheap on steam. This console would have to be cheap to make sense. I don't see it happening

MrBaskerville1d ago (Edited 1d ago )

@CrazyCoconuts
I also think it sounds a little off. I would probably buy if it could run Ps5 games, but that sounds expensive. Being ps4 only is a little limiting I think.

But if it ran all ps4 titles and new stuff created for the handheld. then it could be interesting. Basically a Vita that just happened to come with a huge ass backlog of existing games.

FinalFantasyFanatic3h ago(Edited 3h ago)

My libraries are roughly equal in size for both, maybe if I could play more classics games on the Playstation one I could consider it. But it's a tough selling point for people who aren't already heavily invested in the Playstation ecosystem.

SegaSaturn6691d 1h ago

Deck is very viable option given how good PS3 and switch emulation have become. Even new releases are chugging along at 30fps.

Lexreborn21d ago

To be fair, I have a lot of ps4 games I don’t have on steam that is can play on my ps5 but I choose to play ps5 games on my ps5.

I also haven’t rebought any of my PlayStation exclusives on PC because I own them on my ps4/5 and even the upgraded ways that rival the pc version. So, if I wanted to play them on my steam deck I would still have to buy them again which if I bought the 6 top games Spider-Man 1,2, mm, horizon, fw , GoW and ragnarok and GoT with LoU1,2. It would more then. Likely be the cost of this device.

So, instead of double dipping I would buy the handheld and if it has a playable sf6 that actually works online (steam deck is not functional) I think I would want it for myself

Vits23h ago

If you have them in digital form, for sure. Because I don't see Sony giving you a digital copy of your old physical PS4 games. That doesn't sound like them at all.

And also, Steam doesn't depend on PS4 games. PC got more games that generation than all the consoles combined. The ports of PlayStation games are just one of the cherries on top of the cake.

Lexreborn218h ago

@vits I do have them in digital form which is why I said from my perspective. I also have a steam deck but that doesn’t mean everything runs on it which not everything is playable. And as I am also stating the perks of why people WOULD want them even while having a steam deck it’s weird to see people disagreeing purely because I wouldn’t want to double dip financially.

But even in the event you have physical copies of games, if you have ps plus most if not all of the ps4 games are there. So, it’s not like the options are non existent and people can’t find VIABLE reasons to purchase the device.

If people are justifying the portal, they can justify a dedicated portable. The desire to make it seem like people can only own one thing these days is an odd occurrence.

Vits17h ago

@Lexreborn2
Then for sure, if you already have your library in digital form, something that can tap into it is definitely a good deal. That's basically the same reason why the Steam Deck is popular with PC and Steam users in general, because their library is available on it.

PS Plus is an extra cost though, and those games aren't yours. So I get where you are coming from, but that is a different discussion. As for the Portal, I don't get how people justify that piece of crap either, but they sure did so I can see a PS Vita 2 being sucessful. I don't see it being cheap or better value than the Steam Deck or any Windows Handheld, unless Sony really makes some radical changes.

As for why people want one device to rule them all instead of a bunch of them, it's likely because most people here are adults. If I recall correctly, the N4G user base is around their mid-30s. At this point in life, the issue is not usually owning things but actually having time to use them.

FinalFantasyFanatic3h ago

@Vits,
I don't think a new PS handheld would be worth it for me after owning the Steamdeck, assuming there will probably be a lot of overlap of both libraries in my case, so just having the one device is fine for me (I don't need the clutter or devices with too much overlap). I'll probably just stream the PS4 games I don't have on Steam to the Steam Deck via Chiaki, I would probably need the PS handheld to have its own exclusives to entice me.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 3h ago
Profchaos18h ago(Edited 18h ago)

Because if you already have a large digital library of PS4 titles and this plays PS4 games you don't need much more than the system. It's also rumoured to play some ps5 games.

If you buy a steam deck you have to re buy your library.

Eonjay12h ago

If you are already in he PS ecosystem you probably have hundreds of digital PS4 games. Especially if you are on PSPlus Extra. These folks, of which there are millions upon millions would probably rater have access to the games they already own vs buying them all again on Steam.

FinalFantasyFanatic3h ago

This is the question, might be nice for the Playstation exclusive games from previous generations, but Sony's Playstation Classics lineup is seriously lacking, especially from their PS1 catalogue, I don't think the PS2/PS3 catalogue are that huge either.

A Steam Deck is already somewhere between a PS4 and a PS4 Pro in terms of power. Without those exclusive games from Sony's previous consoles, I don't see how you could convince anyone a new Playstation handheld to be better value than a Steam Deck. I can also literally put previous Playstation's libraries onto it without too much trouble.

-Foxtrot3h ago

“ Without those exclusive games from Sony's previous consoles, I don't see how you could convince anyone a new Playstation handheld to be better value than a Steam Deck.”

Exactly and this is a prime example of why exclusives matter

Without them Steamdeck just looks like the better choice overall

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 3h ago
MeteorPanda1d 3h ago

I still play my vita. The oled screen was too good for it's time. I obviously had to home brew it but playing my old snes/ps1 games on it is so good.

Barlos9h ago

So many times I've been tempted to hack my Vita but I just can't bring myself to do it. I kind of want it to be as originalas possible. Also, for emulation I have my steam deck.

FinalFantasyFanatic3h ago

I was tempted to hack my Vita, but I couldn't bear to risk it, something about having the original software/experience on the handheld.

I'll happily emulate on the Steam Deck, especially the games that weren't available on the Aussie store or ones I just missed out on.

Skuletor1d 2h ago

How many people will buy this at launch? As a Vita owner, I'd definitely hold back after how Sony's support for that turned out.
Also, PSP played near PS2 quality games, PS Vita played near PS3 quality games, shouldn't the next Playstation handheld be aiming for near PS5 quality?

MeteorPanda1d 2h ago

the sadest thing on vita support for me was the removal of Close? The app that let you see local players and what they were playing. i made friends back in the day for co op that way lol.

I think it was privacy breaching? such a shame.

Skuletor1d 1h ago

Vita had so much promise, I wonder what it would have taken for Sony to have been more supportive. GTA: San Andreas Stories would have probably brought more sales alone, if they could have gotten that. I was disappointed we never really got anything on the same level as Killzone: Mercenary after that game, which looked amazing running on the Killzone 3 engine. Would have loved to see new entries of PS IP like Infamous, God of War etc, Sony really dropped the ball and using proprietary memory cards that were ridiculously priced didn't help, if they were smart, they'd have sold them cheaper since they were mainly being used to store stuff people were paying for in their store anyway, lol.

anast1d ago (Edited 1d ago )

The people that remember the vita are in the minority.

Skuletor19h ago

So are the amount of people that bought it

Einhander197223h ago(Edited 23h ago)

The point would be that it plays PS4 games, PS4 is still getting games constantly.

Everyone here including yourself presumably already has a library of games to play on this.

The success of the Portal shows the value of not needing to have a separate game library.

Skuletor20h ago

I don't think it will have native PS4 support

FinalFantasyFanatic3h ago

@Skuletor,
Why not? The PS5 plays PS4 games fine (because the tech is similar), one could assume that if Sony is using AMD hardware, then they will probably have native PS4 support.

MeteorPanda12h ago

Honestly the amount of games you could get on these cards was better value than what the switch was offering per cartidge. Cartridges got no slack from these same people.

The games for vita were very cheap, 30 dollars on average in store.

FinalFantasyFanatic3h ago

I'm still salty about the proprietary memory card prices, I don't remember those ever getting cheap.

Eonjay11h ago

I mean how mich more support does the PS4 really need. It's not a new system... just a portable PS4. There are over 10 000 PS4 games available. Sony doesn't need to support it.

There are some crazy rumors out there but we don't have the technology to run a Series S in Portal mode let alone a PS5.

Skuletor11h ago(Edited 11h ago)

How many people that have a physical PS4 library will be willing to buy their games again to download these rumoured PS4 games to this rumoured portable? Until it gets officially revealed, none of us really know how this thing will operate but I will point out, Sony usually sell their consoles at low profit with the intention of making more money later in software sales. People that will be mostly playing games they already own, won't be their largest target market, most likely.

Also, hopefully it would have it's own exclusives to highlight the portables strengths too and not just games from a last gen system

FinalFantasyFanatic3h ago

Even if we did have the technology, imagine how terrible the battery life would be! You'd have to be more tethered to a power outlet than any of the other PC handhelds.

Barlos9h ago

Yeah same here. The way they handled the Vita has left me burned. I don't trust them to give a handheld the support it needs and so I'll not buy it at launch. I need to see their commitment first.

FinalFantasyFanatic3h ago

No, I don't think the technology would be near enough to give us PS5 quality, not unless you're okay with 20 mins battery life (then there's heat dissipation and weight to think of too). I feel like that's the mistakes PC handhelds like Rog Ally, MSI Claw and Lenovo Legion Go make, they over power the Steam Deck, but you pay for it in battery life, I'd rather have more battery life when I'm using a handheld.

To be fair though, with the race to beat climate change/reach net-zero, they're developing new battery tech all the time, maybe in a few years we could have a battery that adds a stupid amount of playtime to a powerful handheld.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 3h ago
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90°

PlayStation Store Being Investigated for Anti-Competitive Practices in Poland

Polish headquarters of Sony Interactive Entertainment were raided by government authorities as part of an investigation into their anti-competitive practices.

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playstationlifestyle.net
PapaBop1d ago (Edited 1d ago )

This is precisely why discless consoles are a terrible idea. I made my money back on my disc based ps5 within the first two months when comparing the cost on the PS Store to what I paid for my physical disc versions. The last game I bought was Armoured Core 6 for £43.85 on ShopTo, still costs £59.99 on PS Store. Those savings soon add up.

TheColbertinator20h ago

Sony is becoming exposed for who they really are.

19h ago
fsfsxii19h ago

shit-tier countries wanna make it look like they're working for the consumer's benefit, meanwhile they leave apple alone, the mobile market is actually something that affects people, not psn lmao

gold_drake11h ago

yea, its really odd how they pick and choose, when theres Nintendo and Microsoft and Steam ha.

70°

Helldivers 2 is now on the Game Boy Color, sort of

Helldivers 2 is now on the Game Boy Color, sort of.

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videogamer.com