Microsoft’s IllumiRoom, which “envisions a next-generation gaming console with a projector that sits on your coffee table and surrounds your television with projected light,” is just a bit too expensive for the average consumer to see in his or her living room. The technology was first unveiled at CES, and even if a five-minute video used to demonstrate the idea makes the all-encompassing experience look like the best use of Kinect to date, the company doesn’t think it could release it to consumers at a price point that makes sense.
Speaking with Ausgamers at this year’s Gamescom, Xbox One director of product planning Albert Penello explained that you’d need a lab and a fat bank account to achieve what’s been done in the demonstrations released up to this point.
"It's really super-neat if you're in the lab and you've got Microsoft money and you could totally set up this awesome lab, but… we looked at it, but for an average customer it's, like, thousands of dollars [for the set up],” Penello confirmed.
Since the Kinect is no longer required for the Xbox One to function, the IllumiRoom would be an interesting addition to the overall value of the motion camera. Down the road, it could make sense, but asking consumers to fork over extra cash for a projector is apparently too much early on.
