Microsoft Announces Motion Controllers For Mixed Reality Headsets At Build 2017

Microsoft’s best-known virtual reality product is its HoloLens augmented reality headset, but the company will soon be bringing an expanded product selection to consumers. At Microsoft’s Build developer conference Thursday, Microsoft showcased its Mixed Reality motion controllers for the first time.

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When paired with a headset, the controllers will provide users with a full range of motion that can be used in apps and games. Externally, the controllers fall in line with comparable controllers like the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift’s. The controllers, which are built around a large hoop-like anchor, feature touchpad, trigger, joystick and grip button. Notably and unlike competing VR headsets, Microsoft said the controllers won’t need external sensors and can be tracked entirely from the headset. They also aren’t expected to be compatible with Microsoft’s HoloLens.

The controllers will launch in a consumer-targeted bundle for the holiday season with an Acer mixed reality headset that will retail for $399. On the developer end, Microsoft also announced a developer’s kit for its mixed reality initiatives — developers can order an Acer VR headset for $299 or HP VR headset for $329 now and they’re slated to ship during the summer.

Microsoft’s official announcement post details some more features for the motion controllers:

"A customer who pairs a Windows Mixed Reality headset with motion controllers will have a rich and immersive experience across creativity tools, productivity, games, and entertainment. The motion controllers offer precise and responsive tracking of movement in your field of view using the sensors in your headset. There is no need to install hardware on the walls around you. We created the controllers as a high-quality and comfortable input device with the same ease of setup and portability as our headsets. Our device partners plan to market and sell these controllers on retail shelves this holiday."

While Microsoft is still a relatively new entrant in the consumer VR space, the bundle’s competitive price point makes it a potential shaker among the competition. At $399, the mixed reality bundle will be significantly cheaper than the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, and costs the same as a PlayStation VR headset bundle.

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Microsoft’s entry into the field also could be a way to bring the technology into more users’ homes. VR and AR have seen heavy investment within the past few years as companies like Google and Facebook have acquired a variety of firms and developers who have worked in VR to bolster their own initiatives. However, the technology has struggled to reach mass market penetration. In the Electronic Software Association’s annual Essential Facts report, 15 percent of frequent gamers said they’d used a VR headset in the previous year.