$300 Microsoft VR Even Cheaper Than PS4 VR, Xbox One Scorpio Compatibility

Microsoft just dropped a bomb during its recent hardware unveiling event by introducing several VR headsets. The tech giant had never even talked about creating their own lineup of VR headsets, though its venture into augmented reality territory with the HoloLens is quite well-known. At a planned price tag of only $300, the headsets would be more competitive if paired with the upcoming Xbox One Scorpio.

Microsoft’s silence on any projects that had to do with VR was hard to miss, Ars Technica reports, since it holds the biggest real estate in terms of sheer product scope. Even some of the most notable companies selling VR hardware and software, including Oculus and HTC depend on PCs. As it turns out, Microsoft really did have a plan that it managed to keep under wraps.

The tech giant also noted two main advantages that its VR headsets will have over others that are already in the market. One is the price, which at $300, certainly puts it way below the range that other companies are offering their products for. The Oculus Rift stands at a hefty $599, while the HTC Vive has an even higher price tag of $799.

Second is the simplicity of setting the headsets up. Microsoft is not including tracking boxes in the headsets, which will instead feature six-axis motion sensing already built in the devices. This not only makes installation and use much easier, it also extends the range of the headsets, as the company’s blog post explains.

“Powerful and affordable virtual reality is coming to everyone with the Creators Update,” the post reads. “HP, Dell, Lenovo, ASUS, and Acer will ship the first VR headsets capable of mixed reality with the Windows 10 Creators Update. And these accessories will be the first and only with inside-out, six-degrees of freedom. Unlike every other virtual reality headset in the market today, there will be zero need for a separate room and complicated setup.”

With this being the case, the biggest questions that gamers might have is if the Xbox One or Scorpio will be shipped with these specific VR bundles in the future. Microsoft has made no direct comment on that, but given the “Xbox One Oculus Rift” bundles that are already available, it wouldn’t be too much of a leap.