Microsoft CEO Talks "Mind-Blowing" Gaming Potential for HoloLens

Following last week's comments from Xbox boss Phil Spencer about the potential for gaming on Microsoft's new HoloLens technology, the company's CEO, Satya Nadella, has now spoken out to tease "mind-blowing" opportunities for gaming on the new augmented reality device.

"It's also getting clearer how the games people love today will evolve to mind-blowing experiences in the future when designed for the mixed reality that Windows 10 and HoloLens create," Nadella said this week during a post-earnings financial call.

"Just imagine what is possible with Minecraft. Gaming truly is a valuable part of millions of people's lives and Microsoft will excel and increase our lead."

During Microsoft's Windows 10 event last week, the company officially announced the Windows Holographic platform and the untethered HoloLens headset. When wearing the head-mounted display, users will be able to see a variety of holopgraphic renderings in the real world, ranging from weather forecasts and social networks, to a rich and immersive version of Minecraft.

Microsoft and Mojang have created two Minecraft HoloLens demonstrations, though they remain very much "work-in-progress," according to developer Jens Bergensten.

Though Microsoft has yet to officially announce any gaming projects for HoloLens, Spencer made it clear last week that gaming will be an important category for the new device.

"To me, there's not a successful consumer electronics device on the planet where gaming is not a primary app category, and I think HoloLens will work the same way; I think gaming will be important," he said at the time. "We're thinking hard about specific scenarios with the Xbox, with things like content streaming, and using it as a display for Xbox."

Microsoft acquired the Swedish developer Mojang and the Minecraft franchise in September 2013 in a deal worth around $2.5 billion. The deal already appears to be paying off, as Microsoft reported this week that Minecraft, along with Halo: The Master Chief Collection and Forza Horizon 2, helped first-party game revenue rise 79 percent year-over-year.