How AR Technologies Will Impact Xbox Players

Augmented reality (AR) has become increasingly popular in recent years as companies from various industries integrate the technology to serve different purposes, from education and training to entertainment, aerospace, and retail.

One of the most prominent uses of AR in recent years is in gaming. Over the years, video game companies and developers have come up with innovative gameplay experiences thanks to augmented reality, blending the digital world of gaming with the physical reality of real life.
Most recently, news and rumors of an Xbox VR headset have the Internet buzzing with excitement. The third-party virtual reality headset is built on tech giant Meta's open-source Meta Horizon OS, and industry experts expect a 2025 release. With so few details released as of now, fans will have to continue speculating on what the Xbox VR headset will look like. One of the most interesting rumors surrounding the headset, however, is the potential use of mixed reality technology with RGB cameras.

If true, this would be the first foray from Xbox and Microsoft into mixed and augmented reality. By Meta's definition, mixed reality refers to a "new class of AR-like experiences in VR", augmenting your physical space. Below, we'll take a closer look at how augmented reality works and the implication of the technology's popularity in gaming.

How augmented reality works

As mentioned, augmented reality blends digital elements with the real world. Using hardware like your smartphone camera, headsets, and projectors, AR allows software to virtually display digital items in the real world.One of the most common uses for AR these days is in retail. For example, eyewear brands and companies have started using virtual glasses try on features on their websites. This feature allows potential customers to virtually "try on" glasses and shades that are augmented onto pictures or videos of them. Retailer Sunglass Hut's website allows customers to browse through their collection of branded eyewear, including Ray-Ban and Versace, so customers can see which styles of sunglasses suit them best.
Aside from virtual try on, AR is also increasingly used to facilitate immersive commerce. For example, Walmart recently combined AI, generative AI, and AR as part of its "adaptive retail" strategy to create "hyper-personalized, convenient, and engaging shopping experiences" for customers. This includes Retina, an AR platform that creates 3D assets of Walmart's products for the company's View in Your Home feature, which shows customers 3D renders of Walmart products within their real-world environment.

The rise of AR gaming

While virtual reality gaming sounds straightforward, not a lot of people may be familiar with what AR gaming looks like. The truth is, this innovation has been around for some time now. Notably, the popularity of mobile Pokémon game, Pokémon GO, uses AR technology for gamers to find Pokémon — using their smartphone cameras — in the real world.

Based on research from IMARC Group, the global augmented reality gaming market is expected to grow to $141.7 billion by 2033, thanks to the significant increase in smartphone users and high-speed Internet usage. Researchers cite the popularity of mobile ports like the aforementioned Pokémon GO and Jurassic World Alive as accessible means of AR use in gaming.

Over the years, video game developers have continued to innovate the use of AR technology. By implementing elements from the real world, AR gaming can provide a more immersive and entertaining experience for players. In a previous post, we highlighted PC horror game Phasmaphobia, which recently got ported into VR. While playing Phasmaphobia in VR is an immersive experience, a potential AR adaptation would see ghosts and other supernatural elements augmented into the real world, which can make for even creepier and horror-like gameplay.

While we'll still have to wait for more news and confirmation regarding Xbox's mixed and augmented reality headset, it'll be interesting to see how AR gaming continues to evolve and grow in the future.

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