Microsoft Introduces 'wearables Holograms' For HoloLens

Microsoft Corp. introduced new "mixed reality gaming" features for its virtual-reality headset HoloLens on Tuesday. Dubbed Project Xray, it introduces a new concept Microsoft executives are referring to as "wearable holograms." In a fighting game, for example, a user would be able to see accessories, such as a virtual shield, that move with their hands in their actual surrounding environment while wearing their HoloLens headset. The users can then can use those accessories, such as that shield, to interact with other holograms in the video game. Microsoft said it has started taking applications for the HoloLens developer kit, which it will make available for $3,000 beginning in the first quarter of 2016. The company did not say when the actual hardware device would be available for sale, nor did it give a hint as to how much it will ultimately cost. Shares of Microsoft were flat around $46.66 in recent trade. They are up more than 5% over the last three months, compared with a 4% decline for the S&P 500.