Xbox Scarlett Could Feature VR Mat and Motion Controls, According To Microsoft Patents
Microsoft is gearing up to make their mark on the next generation of console gaming with the upcoming next Xbox dubbed “Project Scarlett.” The hardware maker notably divulged a bit about what the device can do at E3 2019, but not much else has been shown off in the several months since. The formidable system surely holds some exciting possibilities and it appears Xbox is interested in exploring a few of these capabilities by the looks of some newly-filed patents.
As laid out by Windows Central, Microsoft appears to be mulling over several pieces of tech for the upcoming release of Project Scarlett. Patents for a VR mat, motion controls, and a unique stylus peripheral have all been discovered online, each seemingly intended for use on the unreleased console. The first patent specifically shows the VR mat able to track players’ footsteps to the edge of the mat while also working alongside a camera and console-connected VR headset.
Patent: Xbox VR Mat https://t.co/D0RxxP53Km pic.twitter.com/n3yOAhciKb
— WalkingCat (@h0x0d) October 4, 2019
The second patent delves into Microsoft’s ideas regarding motion controls. One design depicts a split, two-piece controller with a thumbstick–similar to that of the Nintendo Wii Nunchuck. The other device shown in the patent appears to be a stylus of some sort, with the small pointy peripheral able to control on-screen items as if it were a Nintendo 3DS game. These devices also appear alongside a gaming console, suggesting these could possibly be inclusions for the release of Scarlett.
Patent: Xbox Stylus https://t.co/WMM9xtpaab pic.twitter.com/9q7iE1IB6n
— WalkingCat (@h0x0d) October 4, 2019
While none of these patents are guarantees that these Xbox peripherals will ever be made, they do offer a look at Microsoft’s headspace for the upcoming console. Following the company’s official phasing out of the Kinect for this generation, Scarlett looks to be thinking about unique and interesting avenues for immersion such as virtual reality and motion controls. One thing that’s for sure is that it’ll be interesting to see what peripherals Microsoft has in store for Scarlett, especially if the Xbox’s current (and future) support for devices like Oculus VR and the Adaptive Controller are any indication.
What do you think? Are you excited about these potential new avenues for Xbox Scarlett, or would you rather have a look at the console’s base controller first? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to follow Don’t Feed the Gamers on Twitter and Facebook to be informed of the latest gaming and entertainment news 24 hours a day! For more headlines recently featured on DFTG, check out these next few news stories:
Eric Hall2712 Posts
Phone-browsing Wikipedia in one hand and clutching his trusty controller in the other, the legendary Eric Hall spreads his wealth of knowledge as a writer for Don't Feed the Gamers. Be sure to catch his biweekly "Throwback Thursday" segment for a nostalgic look at trivia from the past.
