Don't expect to see an Xbox Series X virtual reality headset anytime soon, as Xbox head Phil Spencer confirmed again in a recent interview that he is skeptical of the technology. Instead, Sony appears to be very focused on VR, which could give the PS5 an edge over Microsoft's console.

Spencer has made unfavorable remarks about VR in the past; in 2019, he called the technology "isolating" and claimed that "nobody wants VR" in the Xbox community, though he later retracted this statement slightly. However, in a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, he reaffirmed that VR is not seen as an area of interest for Xbox.

Asked about Xbox's approach to VR, Spencer responded: "We're focused on the software side right now. When we think about immersive worlds and the connection between the player and the community, that's something that's very high on our investment list.

"I think the hardware innovations that are happening now are great and are important enablers. We believe it will scale better in the long run."

However, Spencer was complimentary of the efforts of Xbox's gaming rivals in this area: "I applaud what Sony is doing, what Oculus is doing, what Valve is doing. We applaud what Sony is doing and we applaud what Oculus is doing. But we're going to stay as a software-focused, consumer-focused company right now.

Xbox Series X owners who are expecting some form of VR peripherals will have to temper their expectations.

Xbox's stance on VR is definitely not reflected by its biggest competitors. Sony has already confirmed that a follow-up to its PSVR headset will be released next year for the PS5, which is tentatively called NGVR (Next Generation Virtual Reality).

It is clear that PlayStation continues to see VR as an area worth investing resources in. And Spencer's denial of the Xbox VR headset once again paves the way for the PS5 to dominate the console VR space without competing with it.

VR gaming is undoubtedly a niche segment of the market, but as of January 2020, Sony's first PS4/PS5 compatible PSVR headset has sold over 5 million units and over 22 million VR games. This is a big chunk of gamers willing to buy into the VR space.

With controllers like the new Orb, easier setup and more accurate tracking, Sony will likely want to expand its VR player base significantly with the NGVR headset. it seems a little odd that Xbox doesn't want its own piece of the pie. It seems a bit odd that Xbox doesn't want a piece of its own pie. But Sony's reluctance to enter this market is definitely a win for them, and gives the PS5 a selling point that the Xbox Series X does not have.

Of course, neither console needs any more selling points, and they have been constantly out of stock since their launch last November. If you're still considering buying a next-generation console, be sure to check out our PS5 restocking and Xbox Series X restocking hubs.