14 DAY TRIAL // Since the initial reveal, which used Minecraft to show off a range of gaming-related features, the team at Microsoft in charge of the HoloLens Augmented Reality solution has offered relatively limited details about the future of the device, especially as it related to coming video games that the company will publish.
A new video from Varun Mani, a project manager, working on the technology, is using a new video of the hardware running Halo 5: Guardians to give gamers a glimpse at one possible future for their favorite hobby.
The Master Chief-powered shooter first runs on a normal Xbox One console and is then streamed to the HoloLens, allowing gamers to play it without having to use another screen.
Varun Mani does not state whether this represents a simple proof of concept or if Microsoft is actively working to try and get a version of Halo 5: Guardians to run on its AR device when its launch finally takes place.
The complexity of the demo shown clearly does not match that of the Minecraft reveal that took place earlier in the year, but the company has the resources to find ways to make the experience unique.
At the moment, there's no launch window associated with HoloLens, and it's unclear how much the device might cost or whether there are any plans to link it heavily to the Xbox One.
Microsoft has previously said that the AR hardware can be used for a wide variety of purposes and that a focus on commercial applications might be more important initially than a connection to video games.
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Microsoft might not have announced a launch date for the HoloLens, but there are other companies that are betting a lot of money on the fact that gamers will want to experience games using virtual reality rather than traditional screens.
The Oculus Rift, which was funded via Kickstarter and was when purchased by Facebook, is set to be launched during the first quarter of next year, although an initial price has not been revealed yet, with the company saying that gamers will have to pay about the same as for their home console.
The device will come with a wide range of video games that are designed to show off its unique capabilities and developers are saying that they have solved all the technical problems that have plagued the VR space until now.
Before the end of 2015, HTC and Valve are supposed to also launch their Vive virtual reality solution, but no information about it has been offered for the past few months, and a delay is very possible.
Sony is working on its solution for the PlayStation 4 and the VR concept it is also creating benefits from support from a variety of developers, although this is another device that does not have a clear price yet.
The HoloLens, because it offers a less immersive augmented reality experience, might be more attractive for some players than the VR, especially if it comes with a lower initial investment.
