E3 2015 officially begins today, but the industry's biggest names have plenty to share, and getting ahead of the curve is inevitable. The web is already astounded by Microsoft's keynote. The Redmond giant not only announced a strategic partnership with Valve to develop its virtual reality vision, but also left the attendees speechless with the spectacular Minecraft demo on HoloLens.
The current climate tells us that E3 2015 has started with a bang. The technicality of June 16 as the opening date is gathering dust in a corner, as the titans of gaming parade their new wares. Why all the enthusiasm? Let's say the industry needs it, at least in part. The latest console generation hasn't yet offered anything that makes us rush to the store, and the most compelling advancements seem to be on the PC. Add to that the fire of virtual reality, which is burning everything in its path. Virtual headsets will arrive between the last months of this year and the first quarter of 2016. The hardware is ready, but software options are scarce.
Microsoft's Virtual Reality Ambitions
That's when Microsoft steps in. One of the most important elements of its keynote was the announcement of an agreement with Valve to expand its virtual reality development. In essence, Redmond's plan is to turn Windows 10 into the definitive platform for VR-based games, and that includes SteamVR. This agreement builds on the one Microsoft recently struck with Oculus VR, which is partly evidenced by the Xbox One controller that will come with the Oculus Rift. This controller also allows users to play with the Rift by streaming the console's output to Windows 10 and then to the headset.
Minecraft on HoloLens
However, the most impressive part of the presentation came thanks to HoloLens and Minecraft. Lydia Winters, director at Mojang, took the stage and participated in a comprehensive demo where two players enjoyed the same game on different devices — one with the HoloLens, the other with a Surface tablet. The audience erupted when the entire game content was transferred from the wall to the table. Exploration and manipulation are the order of the day, whether through hand gestures or verbal commands. Anyone viewing the Minecraft world through the HoloLens can follow another player's movements in real time, see beneath the surface, set markers… and even hurl beams at the TNT, something many of us would love to do. Now, we wait. This is just a demo on stage, and as far as we know, the HoloLens is still a ways off...
Source: Kotaku
