Being apart of the team, and running the whole team are two entirely different things. Phil had a boss at that time, and his boss had a boss, and neither of his previous bosses are with the company anymore. That's a huge difference. Phil and current CEO Satya are both behind gaming 100%, that's a major difference. And since taking over, the Xbox/gaming division has been elevated amongst the top of the company in importance, that's an astronomical difference.

Phil was head of first party studios. He may not have had as much input into those decisions as one may assume. It really wasn't his job to work on that stuff, although I'm sure he sat in on quite a few of the meetings about it. He obviously would have been required to do what ms wanted. And publicly, he'd be expected to support whatever they came up with.

@ rain

Phil was head of 1st party studios at a time when his bosses didn't want to open up the checkbook to deliver the games. Things have changed much within the company since then.

Timotim,

Last resort.... What do I mean? You have completely forsaken Xbox's (console) existence and MS's obligation to support those customers who bought one and of course keep their promises to them, one of them being Xbox console VR(via Phil's own mouth) in the sake of blindingly defending your favorite company's risk-avert straight up lying policies.

Yeah you are lost.

Well said! Phil is that compulsive liar that every group of friends have (mines ironically called Phil as well) Theyll say anything to climb up the social ladder, because to those who don't know him well it all sounds too good to be true... But as his friend you smack him back down to earth, because that's what good friends do...

Don't let Phil pull a Phil, smack him back down to earth for the greater good of the brand.

Xbox VR games:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Many more. These are Xbox games, with Xbox achievements, played using an Xbox account. To say Microsoft isn't in VR is not true.

@timotim But those are not enough for MS. Sony did pushed VR market first and they are doing pretty damn well. I can say that VR is way better than AR because it’s more accessible and adept faster. AR is big, complexity and it will take decade to become reality. Astro Bot Recuse Mission, Moss, Firewall Zero Hours and others VR games doing well. Slow and steady. I gave credit to Sony for not overhyped their production.

@UCForce

😆😆😆 Now we are changing the topic...how typical. He wasn't talking about Microsoft not having enough VR games, he was talking about having ANY at all haha. Now it counts only if they have more than Sony??? Why? Microsoft doesn't look at VR the same way as Sony. Just like Sony doesn't look at AR the same way as Microsoft. Point is he was wrong...VR is a thing right now for Microsoft...they have built a whole platform around it and these very games can come over to console once Microsoft feels it mature enough. VR isn't setting anything on fire to be trying to rush things.

@timotim
But they aren't Xbox games. So to have an Xbox achievement, you have to have a gaming PC too.

I like my Xbox and I think it's a great piece of kit. But PS5 will be my first option because of where Sony leave themselves at the end of this generation. All the Sony games above that were delayed or so called 'unfinished' were still just a few of many other exclusives that have released. Love FH4 but its not gonna win next gen without a slew of following titles...

@Sizeofyou

First off, they are VR games for Microsoft's VR platform they have built for their ecosystem. And yes, they are Xbox games, made apparent by the large Xbox Live logo you see at the top of the page on any one of those links haha. They are Xbox games...just Xbox games for PC as Xbox covers any and all of Microsoft's gaming efforts regardless of platform. And once Microsoft deems VR ready, those UWP games will simply work on console too the same way FH4 and others works on PC and console.

https://wfubsa.dm.files.1dr...

So clutching at straws...they are games available on Xbox that you can't get a 'VR achievement for without also having a gaming PC and PC VR. So much hard work to say that without two bits of Microsoft compatible hardware, you can't play VR. Yet.
I'm sure MS will build upon this experience but as a console (ok...if it makes you feel better...'in the MS platform'), there are still less options to game than PS.
And this from someone who loves Forza but unfortunately, doesn't like Halo and Gears. I do buy single player multiplats for my X now...."generally" the best version. But I only do that because I have both consoles. If I only had one, it would have to be the PS still.

"Don Mattrick was the one that allowed halo and gears to become franchise fatigued" Wrong those franchises have long been franchised fatigued before Phil came in."

"Don Mattrick was the one talking about high fidelity VR then not release it or even the hololens after all that talk and no show." Oh a market that MS has no buissness being in for the time being. They have the tech but its really not a good time for the company to release it considering they have to deliver on the AAA games. Hardly if at all damaging in main stream media.

"Don Mattrick was the one that released state of decay and sea of thieves as barely a sequel or half finished." Aww you mean like how Halo 3 was plagued with connectivity issues? Or how Fable 2 and 3 were buggy laggy messes that froze? Or how bout CD2 that was barely a sequel to CD1 Oh thats right only Phil right?

"We know that BC is a nice feature. But will be negated if Sony announces PS5 plays all your PS4 games including improving PSVR visuals until PSVR2 comes out." Makes absolutely no sense how does that negate MS BC? Its compatibility? Whichever console fan you are you're gonna play those compatible games or both if you decide to get both.

Tim

Stop lying. Those are not xbox one VR games. Those aren't even Microsoft games except for minecraft. *****High fidelity VR for Xbox one x****

Microsoft didn't even make the headsets. They made the template, but other companies risked making hmds for PC. How come Microsoft didn't make one for PC? Because they aren't invested. Where is it for Xbox? They let others take the risk, then will try and capitalize on it. That's their MO. They don't invest. Just like their first party games lacking this Gen except for a racing game.

Phil Spencer only saved the ship because they had no other choice but to follow Sony's lead and be gamer friendly. It wasnt because they wanted to. They wanted to control your way of gaming. Still do.

The few games that had issues on playstation are way overshadowed by all the other games that dominated xbox and will still dominate them all Gen.The reviews and sales and up coming games tell us that.

Stop lying to yourself. There are no xbox VR games. The tanker is still taking on water.

Angelic, it means, that PS4 gamers will be on lock for PS5. If all their games currently play on PS5,there would be no reason to cross over to buy the next xbox. And since the majority own a playstation, that community is much, MUCH larger than the smaller xbox community who would buy the next xbox for BC. Leading to the same position the companies are currently in.

@Sizeofyou

What are you talking about? They are Xbox games, because use need an Xbox account to play them. You get Xbox Achievements in them because they are Xbox games and all Xbox game regardless of platform has Xbox Achievements. When gamers get an Achievement in Forza Horizon 4 on PC, they are still getting an Xbox Achievement...its not called something else just because its on PC haha. Xbox is the name of Microsoft's gaming brand. ANYWHERE they (Microsoft) has games, you will see Xbox...console, PC, mobile, VR, AR, Surface Hub etc...it doesn't matter because it all falls under Xbox. No such thing called a "VR Achievement", and no straws needed.

@Apocalypse
Lie about what? Let's look at your original quote once more:

"Don Mattrick was the one talking about high fidelity VR then not release it or even the hololens after all that talk and no show."

Where in that line do you mention a specific platform??? You are simply implying that Phil Spencer lied about releasing "high fidelity VR"...but that's exactly what he did haha. Microsoft already released "high fidelity VR" in 2017.
https://uploadvr.com/micros...

Phil Spencer came out pretty early on and expressed that he didn't think that VR was ready for primetime and that he felt PC was the best place for it to find its maturity. This is why you see these VR games on PC only at this time.
https://youtu.be/XUZKJoJjXi...
However, Microsoft's VR platform uses the same exact codebase as current games do that are made for console and PC in their ecosystem. It uses the UWP APIs. This allows them to run on both Windows 10 AND Xbox consoles, the same way a game like Forza Horizon 4 or Gears 4 does today. Once VR has shown maturity, Microsoft will simply add those games to their console. You are limited by what Sony does and can't see beyond that. Microsoft has more than just a console, unlike Sony. They have released VR to the world already where you said they did not...its not true. Just because its not on their console yet doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

You say they didn't make the headsets, that they didn't take any risk...that's BS. They created the software to run these games to begin with haha. They created the controllers and the drivers. They created the store they are sold in. They even created how OEMs would use the tech to create the headsets. And they don't need to create the headsets...especially when they are already creating HoloLens. Your mistake is thinking that Microsoft and Sony are equal...that they must approach things the same way...they don't. In the world of Windows, Microsoft has what is called PARTNERS...these partners WANT to make hardware that runs their software and its actually great for consumers. The more partners you have making the headsets, the more innovation you see in the space and the faster cost comes down.

"Stop lying to yourself. There are no xbox VR games. The tanker is still taking on water."

You just did it again! I just posted links to dozens of Xbox VR games. VR games that you cant play without an Xbox account, VR games that are played over Xbox Live, VR games where you unlock Xbox Achievements...it is YOU who is lying to himself, not me.

And ill prove it right now...PS Now is on PC, yes? So if I play Uncharted on PC right now through PS Now, does it stop being a PS game??? If I play Killzone on PC through PS Now and unlock Trophies, are they no longer called PS Trophies anymore? Think about that for a second and then get back to me.

@timotim
https://media.giphy.com/med...

Tim
https://youtu.be/XUMtCCWu4c...

That's **NOT** Don Mattrick on stage talking about high fidelity VR. Stop lying to yourself. That's Phil Spencer on stage trying to push VR as a selling point for Xbox one x. He misled gamers and lied. Some games aren't even full 4K. They compromised and upscaled some of them. There are no VR games for Xbox. He's a lier

Logging into an Xbox account on PC don't make those games xbox one VR games. You're being delusional.

Microsoft didn't make an Xbox one headset. They didn't even make games for the PC headset. If it wasn't for Steam compatibility, MR would have bombed just like Xbox one in house exclusives.

Claiming PC VR games are xbox VR games. How delusional can you get.

BC for this gen will be negated if ps5 have bc?😂 the things Console war warriors say. So Xbox Scarlett having lots of exclusives? will negate ps4s. See how ridiculous you sound?
You critize Phil for 2 games releasing too early then critize him for delaying one that isn't ready? 😂 Wtf you want him to do then?
GTS, TLG say wassup. It was Don hyping the cloud btw. X was released cause gamers requested it just like BC was requested.dont care about VR, halo and gears have only had 1 new game each this gen so save it.

🏇 Ride it to the wheel fall off lol

Sure, one day, those Windows games can port to Xbox. They'll probably be ported to UWP since they aren't made there first, but that's another matter. But why isn't that available now? What's the hold up? How long to wait for console VR, since apparently, MS was partnering with the hardware makers, and not making their own headset. MS felt it wasn't worth investing in, because the market wasn't there. Does that sound like MS providing VR for the Xbox?

How many of those games that MS has for "XBox" were actually written using MS Direct Reality API's?

It's an exceptional stretch to call PC games, which were built and released for PC, using any number of API's, MS provided or not, as MS having VR games for Xbox, just because they include achievements, which itself is its own API to implement, and can be done across any number of platforms that support similar things....like Steam or PSN.

A quick look at the first four games on your list shows games that started on PC, were released on Steam, sometimes PS, and built using API's not provided by MS....at least for the three that I could find which API they used.

That isn't MS providing VR games, that's third party developers just releasing their games on an XBL platform, which exists on Windows and required no additional coding beyond the achievements. MS has Windows, which can run VR, but that isn't MS providing VR.

For all of MS bluster about VR to try and take away Sony's momentum, they have done the least in terms of making VR a thing of any of those actually delivering VR. Not just in the headsets, but in the software as well.

MS is trying to make a VR API in directX, but they're doing that so they can have devs using their products. They have shown no other interest in VR beyond that beyond what lies they can speak to try and market their platform, ecosystem, and to get devs to want to use their products. Just like with their new streaming service, some of you are talking it up as if its actually a reality now, and a major player in the market, when in the case of Direct Reality, its not even a complete API yet, and is lacking in many features already available from other providers. It has some unique and good features already available for sure, but it isn't a major player yet, and has a long ways to go. Most of the good things about the API are more in the connection of platforms on the PC itself, and they haven't extended that to the console at all.

Rain gets it. Microsoft has done nothing to promote VR. Only to get developers to use their tools and software to make games.

They didn't make any VR hardware for PC, they didn't make any games for the PC. Didn't port games like forza to help sell the MR hmds and didn't make any VR hardware for Xbox one like they said. Truthfully, I think they'd rather developers become used to their tools so that they can make AR content for hololens. And only VR if it benefits them.

Chief, do I have to spell it out for you? Is it that hard?

If PS4 and PSVR games play on PS5, that's potentially 84 million customers that can buy in and continue using their content while playing PS5 games.

If xbox two or three or whatever they call it is BC with Xbox one, that amount of gamers is a lot less consumers that will potentially upgrade to the new system compared to Sony's. Sony has more potential customers than Microsoft. Is that easier for you?

OG xbox games aren't going to sell Xbox 2. Xbox 360 aren't going to sell Xbox 2. And Microsoft has failed to make any new IPS to matter against all of Sony's new IPS that would be BC on PS5. And,if PSVR is BC, Sony will already have a cheap VR unit because by then, it will be $150-$200. And since Microsoft believes VR should be wireless, that means no VR units from PC that's compatible day one unless they would have lied again about cords in the living room. Maybe so. They're used to lying.

If the next systems have cross play, it still means the playstation base don't have to cross over and buy an Xbox because they can continue with their content and still play against others on other systems. Again, that kills the idea of gamers crossing over to Xbox from playstation. Xbox BC will not be a factor against PS5 BC with PS4.

@Apocalypse

All that and you still haven't answered the question. Im not surprised. Don't worry, Ill repost it.

"PS Now is on PC, yes? So if I play Uncharted on PC right now through PS Now, does it stop being a PS game??? If I play Killzone on PC through PS Now and unlock Trophies, are they no longer called PS Trophies anymore?"

Once you answer that question, you will have answered the question of how the VR games I've posted are considered to be Xbox VR games. Yes, XBOX VR games...at no point did I ever say, nor imply that they were Xbox ONE VR games. If I have please point it out and I will concede any and all of my points. Ya see, for those of us who understand Microsoft and their ego system, we already know that VR already works within it right now. No, its not on the console, but again, your original comment was never about the console it was about "high fidelity VR" FROM MICROSOFT. And, that Phil Spencer lied about bringing it. I will repost your original line once more (which you keep avoiding).

"Don Mattrick was the one talking about high fidelity VR then not release it or even the hololens after all that talk and no show."

Notice how you bring up HoloLens here as well? You are implying that Phil lies and haven't brought these things out AT ALL! Not that they haven't brought it to console. No one expected HoloLens to be on Xbox One, so why did you mention it? You mentioned it because you were talking about releasing it in general! Your argument is that since Phil didn't bring it out, that means he is a liar. Once it was pointed out to you that Microsoft in fact released VR (and HoloLens V1 I might add), you then switched it to a "yeah, but its not on Xbox One though" argument. Very typical of you fanboys. I will say it again, it doesn't matter if its on console or not at this time. The same VR experience that Microsoft is maturing in their ecosystem right now, is the same VR experience the console will inherent once its ready. The point is that Microsoft has been and continues to develop VR, something you implied that they lied about pursuing. You are wrong. Ive already posted the video of Phil himself saying why its not on console yet...I will repost it.

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

The very first question in the vid ask him about VR and the initial Project Scorpio announcement...you then turn around and post the very vid my video addresses while accusing him of being a lair LOL. Way to go buddy. Phil Spencer nor Microsoft sees VR (at this time) as anything important. Sales do not reflect that VR is anything important at this time. Sony themselves has sold what, 3 million units to a userbase of over 80 million??? More importantly, no one is calling for Xbox One to produce a VR experience in any significant amount. Microsoft is simply taking the approach that VR needs more time in the oven. Phil will be a liar only once VR NEVER comes to console...as of right now, he is sticking to what he said he would do, which is allow it to mature first. Bottom line...youre wrong.

@tim
PS Now is a PS virtual platform and you're playing PS games on a server in the PS world regardless of the way you access it. There is no virtual platforms for XB/PC and the games you get VR accolades on are the PC versions of X games. And they are different. In the same way that there is no RDR2 on PC at the moment...and you can't stick an X copy of the game in a PC and it will work either. Therefore MS game platform isn't universal and you need two sets of hardware to use it still. Data collected is shared but games aren't
There is no VR on an X.
I guess there will be next gen.