14 DAY TRIAL // Fable creator and veteran game designer Peter Molyneux believes that, for the HoloLens augmented reality project to be a success, Microsoft needs to not only make great hardware but also great software, as in games and applications, in order to avoid the device having the same fate as the Kinect.
Microsoft surprised quite a lot of people last week, when it presented to the world the HoloLens project, an augmented reality visor that can display all sorts of information and applications around the user and throughout their surroundings.
Of course, the idea caused a lot of interest among video game developers, and former Microsoft employee Peter Molyneux believes that the device can avoid going down the same lackluster path as the Kinect sensor for the Xbox 360 did.
HoloLens must be a "loved" device
He tells GamesIndustry that Microsoft needs to ensure great support for the HoloLens if it wants to deliver a successful product.
"The only pressure point is how much dedication Microsoft has and how long they stand behind augmented reality. They stood behind Kinect for a while but it wasn't a loved device. It wasn't loved by the community and I don't think it was particularly loved by Microsoft. They really need to just double down on the super talented people they inspire to use it," he says.
Great software and applications are also needed
Molyneux also emphasizes that Microsoft needs to invest resources not just into the HoloLens hardware but also into its software, as must-have apps or games are needed to generate interest among customers, not just a device with lots of potential that needs to wait for developers to embrace it.
"The bizarre thing is a huge amount of effort and time and money goes into researching the tech, like the Kinect tech and scanning the bodies, and there's always this one line that hardware manufacturers - whether it be Microsoft or anyone else - say and that's 'we can't wait to see what happens when it gets into the hands of developers.'"
Molyneux's position is understandable, as his new studio, 22 Cans, is involved in a wide array of themed projects, from regular games to mobile experiences, and the HoloLens needs to offer a profitable avenue in order to motivate people to work on it.