Dolby Laboratories Senior Manager of Games Business Spencer Hooks explains how the company is enhancing how mobile games sound in this exclusive interview from CES 2014.
Yesterday, a post on the French Xbox Wire website mistakenly claimed that Microsoft had a two years console exclusivity for Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision for Gaming.
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Does anyone else have problems with Dolby Atmos and wireless headsets on PC through the Xbox adapter?
My Xbox Wireless Headset from MS cuts in and out with Virtual Surround on. Metro & Village both have that happen, but only with that setting
To be honest, this was approved pretty quick. If it was any other console, it would take a couple of days to be approved.
Sounds like you don't want the truth to be known otherwise you wouldn't be annoyed about this article getting approved
@Gamer75
I don't really care. Just going by what I've saw over the years. If it's truth, then the truth should be approved as fast for every console. But, we'll go with your opinion.
"C'mon N4G.
Pile onto this article like you did the one saying the opposite."
I can not see that happening, it does not paint Microsoft in a negative light, so this article will be smoothed over like a fine delicate sunflower spread.
If they do have it exclusive it's anti-consumer and bad business. If they don't have it exclusive they're lame because Xbox has zero exclusives. You losers be clownin'.
If you've yet to experience Dolby Atmos, then you're going to want to check out the RIG PRO Compact controller for Xbox. This new controller from Nacon is
Yeah, theres nothing like having fake dolby atmos playing with your stereo headphones. Especially considering you have to pay to get dolby atmos on the console which is f***ing absurd!
MS- Thanks for buying our console that supports Atmos BUT only if you fork over another $15 sucker!
I guess 4 people have no issues paying for something that should already be available after forking over $500 and a $100 headset if you want it utilized right. Its cool you don't have to pay for it if you buy this controller. but why is it a 3rd party company offering this and not MS?
Dolby decide the price, its propriety software - the access for Dolby atmos through speakers system is standard.
People are disliking your comment because you made an assumption with no prior research.
@Alex
Would be nice for them to correct me if I am wrong. I have no problem being corrected.
MS could have easily made a deal with them to make it available for all consumers without the fee with all those deep pockets everyone says they have.
I do agree I jumped to conclusions with part of that first post. But I still think it's dumb that MS of all companies being one of the richest ones in the world couldn't include this with the purchase of the console or the Xbox headset with a lifetime license just like this 3rd party company managed to be able to do. Instead the most they can offer is half a year of free dolby atmos access with their headset? If they really want you to experience the full capabilities of their console, why keep a feature behind a paywall like that? They have advertised it but not once have I ever seen them state you need to pay until I went to try it out myself.
Microsoft has Windows Sonic, which is free, they don't own Dolby, they have no control over the pricing lol
And why would they potentially take on bigger losses per console sold, for a feature that not everyone will use, especially when they have their own free solution already?
You realize MS doesn't own the software, right?
I paid the $15 or so they wanted on PC with no issue.
Stop acting entitled.
@Zeref
"And why would they potentially take on bigger losses per console sold, for a feature that not everyone will use, especially when they have their own free solution already?"
Because more choices the better? Also their free solution is nowhere near as good as Atmos which is much more accurate and they don't even advertise windows sonic on the XSX/S box but they do have Dolby Atmos listed on there so the average consumer probably wouldn't even know the free solution was an option.
They have no issues pushing Game pass at a loss over the past few years but this would be a concern to them?
A $15 license for us is much higher in cost than if MS made a contract with them to have licenses available for the systems from the start. They can still charge on Windows users but make the Xbox include it. 🤷🏻♂️
@Ted
No entitlement here bud. Just my opinion is all...
IDK dude, this is my opinion on it and its clearly hated on here but idgaf. This is how I feel about it.
You are acting entitled, honestly. Not trying to annoy you, but a lot of what you're saying doesn't make sense.
You're blaming MS for not advertising free software they automatically implement.
You call out them as advertising a 3rd party software, when it's obvious that's a paid agreement to bring visibility to said software.
You think MS should just take on the cost of offering this 3rd party content because, yes, apparently you feel entitled to it.
With that said, where does that logic stop? Should companies just license and offer every single audio software on offer, considering tastes vary?
@therealtedcruz
Yeah I’m still waiting for Microsoft to buy me watch dogs legions because the trailer said it can play it. I didn’t realise I had to pay for software made by other company’s for the Xbox! I mean I’ve paid £450 so surely they can include any and all software going forward.
These greedy company’s.
Why should people have to correct you when you go around making false assumptions to begin with
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"MS- Thanks for buying our console that supports Atmos BUT only if you fork over another $15 sucker!"
Wha---t? For real?
Dolby Atmoss an independent serves company just like other Netflix , amazon , Spotify .. etc
if the hardware says it supports Netflix , does that mean you expect Netflix and others to come free .
I see where you are coming from but comparing a streaming service to an audio format isn't the best example.
But apparently this controller supports Dolby Atmos and the license comes "free" aside from needing to pay for this specific controller. So if you think of it as just another controller to have, then dolby is a free bonus. Even this companies headset includes a license for Atmos but MS can only come up with 6 months. Its probably because MS wants people to pay so they get a cut of the cost since the license is purchased through their store.
Dude, no worries. Read your last response below. At the end of the day, this is N4G. Everyone here is just ranting on the internet, using the comment section as a personal soap box. Everyone on here just wants to feel like they're right lol.
Sometimes both sides are. Sometimes neither side is.
I agree 100% I almost cant play without it. If you buy the Astros A50s, you get Dolby Atmos for 2 years thats how Ive been using it. The difference is incredible. For example, when you go to a Destiny 2 vendor and they talk, it feels like their right next to me. Hard to explain, but it's something like that. It's a huge difference.
I have 2 headsets. Astro A 50, and the HyperX Cloud Revolver.
Atmos works fantastic with both, and easily warrants the small buy in they ask for.
Don't get me wrong, Atmos is worth the cost but my point here is the fact that this company I've never heard of includes lifetime licenses with their controller and their headset. They don't own the software just like MS doesn't but they can include it with the purchase while MS is only giving out a 6 month trial with their new headset.
Am I crazy or do you see how this just seems odd especially considering this company most likely wont sell nearly as much of their hardware compared to MS?
At the end of the day, it comes down to business.
A business is simply there to make money. Both Dolby, and the creators of the controller, obviously came to a deal and found this inclusion financially beneficial to both parties.
The creators of the controller also don't have their own proprietary audio software on offer as an alternative.
At some point, MS spent a lot of money developing Sonic, which comes free within the MS ecosystem. Whether or not it matches Atmos, they've invested a lot of money for their own, personal, alternative to it.
To then spend a bunch more money to license a 3rd party solution for spatial audio makes absolutely no sense on the business end, and I can't fault them for not doing it.
"You are acting entitled, honestly. Not trying to annoy you"
Not taking it personally. I've had the license on my PC for over a year at this point. I admit I jumped the gun with my very first comment but it's too late to take it back now lol. Sorry for coming off entitled but I just seemed off to me. I didn't realize you could even act entitled when you pay for something and have an option about how it's offered in other ways.
10 dollars extra for games per Sony exclusive to enjoy those games, and 10-15 extra for dolby atmos support depending on if you get a discount, which i did on atmos for Xbox. It does suck that you have to pay for it, but at the same time its only 10-15 bucks one time to get the most out of the expensive sound system you paid a ton of money for. Losing out on 10-15 one time is not that big of a deal to me. Paying 10 dollars extra per exclusive each time is definitely a bigger deal. Just my opinion though, I have both a PS5 and Xbox and my PS5 doesn't even support atmos, so the only way i can take advantage of the 3D audio is to have the game support it which not many do, and to wear my 3D Pulse headset while the game i am playing is supporting it. Each console comes with its own gripes in the end.
I get that and I respect that but as the years continue, more and more games will support Sonys 3d audio as well just like with Atmos on Xbox.
Either way, my point here is why a company I've never heard of is able to include Atmos licenses with their controllers and headsets but its not possible for MS to do so.
I’ve not read the full story, but maybe the 15 is added on top of the price of the controller …. Would the same controller without the licence be 15 cheaper ??
Your comparison is pointless. You have no idea why or how the company has included the Atmos licence but they have most likely factored in the cost of the licence with the price. Microsoft have their own software to run with their headset. Sony also do not include atmos with their headset and run their own software however it seems you are slating Microsoft allowing choice for their users.
Insanity
Except PS5 does support 3D audio, it's just their own version of Atmos, Tempest 3D AudioTech, and may arguably be even better with headphones on. This has already been proven as a non-issue.
https://www.tomsguide.com/f...
Hey STARS,
Not saying that Sony doesn't support 3D audio, what I am saying is that their implementation of 3D audio is only supported by Sony Headsets. For instance, my receiver does not allow me to use Sony's implementation of 3D audio because that isn't supported. When i plug my PS5 into my receiver, none of the Dolby Digital options are available, just multi-channel stereo audio. So what i am saying is, the only way i can get 3D sound from my PS5 is to use the Pulse Headset, otherwise if i don't want to wear a headset, all i get is multi channel stereo from my PS5. Which is essentially just replicating stereo sound to each speaker, instead of giving me true surround sound. On my xbox i can use all variations of Dolby and get true surround sound not being only limited to multi-channel stereo like i am with my PS5..
by the way, your new headphones doesn't come with sound, that will be extra
this is an outright scam
PlayStation has 3D sound for everyone, while very few will pay for it on xbox
Andrew M writes: "Microsoft is teaming up with Dolby Atmos to bring Xbox users the best sound experience possible. Find out more about the collaboration inside."
It really is incredible. Not sure why you have dislikes. Must be from people that haven't had an opportunity to truly experience it in all its Glory.
Sound imaging is amazing. Playing battlefield Hardline on my lg sound bar with 3D sound turned on literally made me look upwards to my ceiling every time an in game helicopter flew over my head. It was astonishing. Dolby vision and Dolby atmos combo unbeatable!
Good to hear. Have had Atmos speaker setup for a while now and Atmos content always sounded bounds above the standard 5.1 so seeing it expanded into more content is good.
Btw if anyone decides to google more on this. Its spelt spatial not spacial.
So having speakers in or attached to the ceiling is a necessity for an atmos setup correct?
There is also Atmos for headphones which is a software solution that works lile a codec to accept the atmos metadata.
Fpr home speakers you either need an atmos reciever and speakers in the room or an all in 1 solution lile the samsung Atmos soundbar series which has top firing speakers.
No you can get Dolby Atmos through your headphones. I've purchased the licence on my Xbox already it's sounds amazing.
You can bounce sound off the ceiling and get atmos that way (you can even get atmos speaker attachments for your floor standing speakers and surrounds).
you can, but front height speakers work well also.(up on the front wall close too the ceiling) thats the way I have mine
Directional speakers exist which bounce the sound. Depending on what front channel speakers you have, you can fit them on top. Klipch has a good set which are pricey, but not as bad as some other higher end speakers. I believe Polk has a good set which are reasonably priced and they're generally pretty good. If you have the receiver that can support Atmos to make those work properly, then you don't need this feature from Xbox. But it may be good for headphones, and possibly soundbars if they can't do this same thing in hardware. Atmos receivers will have the ability to do this, and it won't induce lag between the sound and screen. The directional bouncing speakers don't work on a vaulted ceiling, but otherwise, with a flat ceiling, reports say they work pretty well.
