Xbox Live Vision camera, Racing Wheel, Wireless Headset coming this fall

We've been hearing about the camera for the Xbox 360 for so long, that we almost forgot it still hasn't been released. Well, Microsoft finally came clean about the cam, and gave it an official name at the company's E3 event today. The Xbox Live Vision camera will be available this fall, and will allow users to use their 360 for video-conferencing, video-emails and gamer picture customization. Microsoft also announced the Racing Wheel controller for driving games, and a wireless headset, which presumably will bring joy to parents everywhere. All accessories are expected to be available this fall.

Continue on for official pictures.

The Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel:

The Wireless Gaming Receiver:

Xbox 360 Wireless Headset:

[Jon @ May 9th 2006 5:05PM]

Yes...a racing wheel is much needed. Wireless headset would also be very nice.

360 is so far looking to have faired better than Sony and Nintendo at their conferences. The Wii really looks to just plain suck. The WiiMote is not well suited for most games...which Is what I thought would happen. Looks like the 360 has the best equipment per price point. And that's saying allot.

[John Hinds @ May 9th 2006 5:07PM]

Why is it taking so long for them to develop a webcam?

[Mark G @ May 9th 2006 5:08PM]

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn. Maybe its just me and I suffer from the nextbigthingitis but damn the 360 seems boring. Even the PS3 seems a little tired. That Nintendo Wii demo knocked my socks and thats the console for me.

[Travis Jenkins @ May 9th 2006 5:12PM]

Video mail? Heck, anyone with a digital camera or webcam can do that now. I don't see this as a big deal. Racing wheel? Big deal. The HD-DVD is exciting, as well as some other Live featured items. I want content...better games...new MMO's....

As for the PS3 - WOW...talk about $ha$hing...your average consumer cannot afford PS3...alas, we must buy gas.

[John @ May 9th 2006 5:13PM]

360 brings so much more to the table- they are far in front of the game right now. I already spent close to $1000 on my 360 with all the accesories at launch, I can't imagine how much everything will cost for the PS3...:(

[Shmoe @ May 9th 2006 5:24PM]

Also, what happened to the keypad for text messaging? Prices and dates would have been great. :/

[J. R. @ May 9th 2006 5:30PM]

Jon (#1) did you even read the Wii posts? Something in your 'voice' is coming across as incredibly biased. Hmm wierd.

[Nukes and Candy @ May 9th 2006 5:33PM]

I insist, the USB ports should be "Universal". So.... my webcam, or my usb keyboard or mouse should have worked out of the box.

Yea, yea Mr. Gates, I hear ya! you say you want more bucks for your obese wallet, ok, here... =)

Aleaxnder W.

[chrisr @ May 9th 2006 5:33PM]

That camera doesn't make a lot of sense. Where are you going to put it? 10 feet away on top of your huge TV? Not likely. On you coffee table? Crotch cam? Maybe in certain situations. ;) Seems like the best location would be for it to attach to the top of the controller. Wireless. Headshot. Anyone? Maybe that's the plan, and all the current photos are just showing it on a stand.

[js @ May 9th 2006 5:58PM]

Why did they release a camera accessory? Is that where Microsoft execs get their voyeur?

[Jazzmadrazz @ May 9th 2006 6:21PM]

Now, if all the CEO's of all the world's companies would buy Xbox 360s for all their employees then EVERYONE could SEE & TALK TO EACHOTHER. Wouldn't that be great?

Oh wait, it would have to run Linux so that the Linux crowd doesn't feel left out. Oh, and OSX - oh, never mind.

[Vilhelm @ May 9th 2006 7:03PM]

#6 - You can connect a usb keyboard right now to text, you just cant use it to play games...

[Art Guy @ May 9th 2006 7:16PM]

"Why is it taking so long for them to develop a webcam?"


The cameras are done, and have been for a while. We have a bunch of the finished units. The beta versions were very fresh and held in their flavor.

Anyways, I'm guessing the hold up is getting a few more games to take advantage of the camera.

The camera is very small, not much bigger than a quarter. Maybee an inch and a half tall with the stand. I was shocked by it's diminutive nature.

[oshean @ May 9th 2006 7:30PM]

There is already a racing wheel out for the 360. It's made by Mad Catz.

Mad Catz MC2 Racing Wheel for Xbox 360?
http://www.madcatz.com/Default.asp?Page=260&CategoryImg=Xbox_360_Accessories

Now if it's wireless that would be something.

[Art Guy @ May 9th 2006 7:35PM]

oshean - But it only has vibration, no real force feedback.

[Cloud @ May 9th 2006 7:39PM]

They really are trying hard at incorporating the player into the game and an online community. I'm just waiting for worthy games before getting a 360 =X

[violator @ May 9th 2006 7:49PM]

i for one welcome the 360 cyber sekz!

a/s/l?

[Johnny Carnage @ May 9th 2006 8:00PM]

What an ugly camera.
It looks like Q-bert.

[Bridge @ May 9th 2006 11:44PM]

XBOX camera - Sony rip-off. Sony Eye Toy has been around for like 2 years now? MS = stealing, copying and hyping crap. Business as usal.

[Pat @ Oct 10th 2006 11:37PM]

Bridge, Webcams have been around for years. Assuming you're typing on a computer of some sort. Sony wasn't exactly original on that idea either. Or on the idea of using more than 2 controls. Or on the idea of being disc based. Or on the idea of having a hard drive. Or on the idea of releasing "new" smaller versions of older systems. There is nothing wrong with using someone else's ideas, it happens in every industry in the world. If it didn't, there would be no innovation.

[Mike @ May 10th 2006 1:50PM]

Those wireless headsets look nice.

[Twan @ May 10th 2006 4:32PM]

Hurray, finally a force feedback steering wheel! I've really waited a long time for that to appear on the xbox console, because I find it impossible to drive anything using the controller.

Thanks microsoft, I'll certainly buy one.

[Matt @ May 12th 2006 12:43PM]

Wow, the wireless headset is very sexy. I just have a fetish for wireless accessories. Anyways, it probably wont see much use until Halo 3 comes out, that when ppl will really start playing multi-player online and trash talkin one another.
This will allow me to trash talk ppl while walking around! Love it! :-)

[Nick @ May 26th 2006 1:09AM]

YES!!! I can't wait for the wireless headset, and the PC game reciever, I would love to play my PC games with my wireless controller and headset.

[Hubble @ Jun 7th 2006 1:32PM]

The camera might be a cool addition to make live more immersive, social....But do we really wanna look at all the fat ugly gamers out there (no offense)...um probably not...Bill Gates is the Anti-Christ, He wants cameras on our "always on, always connected" 360's...Do you guys know when the under-skin gamertag chip is being released???

[unknown @ Jun 8th 2006 4:11PM]

i think the xbox vision cam is a waste! u just shouldve been able to hook up your own cam but just as like one of the previous post's say "more money for microsoft!" but I think the cam will make plenty of problems, for how people will "use" the cam. they siriously need to make some kind of a filter.

[TIPCEE @ Jun 9th 2006 2:32PM]

Its funny how people can talk so much trash about the 360. I can tell alot of you who are trash talkers don't have the funds to get one, so it is very understandable. Because if you owned one you will see that there is alot of progression in the system. you are right if your problem with it is that the system needs better or more creative games. But to say that a console that has not released like the ps3 or the wii is better, is realy just being biased and unrealistic. Only time will tell who will win this so called console war and at the moment 360 is the only one who can speak.

[bob @ Jun 12th 2006 7:57PM]

yes alot of people do trash talk the 360, but i am not trash talking! yes i own a 360 too!!! i just think i dont want to be viewing whatever people will be "showing" on the cam, i want them to make a ~report~ option to report any player who is using his/her own cam for NOT the right reasons. this should be a clean, FUN, chat.

[Brian @ Jun 15th 2006 4:21AM]

Hey Bridge.... Microsoft stealing ideas huh?... look at Sony's press conference at E3 Playstation's online service is looking to "try" and be an exact replica of Microsofts and what's with their motion sensing controller... couldn't come up with any ideas of their own so they needed to copy Nintendo? Wow... Sony's making some serious strides in the gaming business... when can I get Final Fantasy 38 1/2, or how about Grand Theft Auto: Queens or hell... Metal Gear Solid 42... I can't wait for more rehashed crap...

[Hubble @ Jun 17th 2006 8:20PM]

I can't wait to play strip UNO!!! lol

[hIkUrAnGi_F @ Jun 20th 2006 9:26AM]

so i'll finally be able to se which little punk keeps beating me at DOA4? and i wont have to use one of them stupid gamertag pictures or be forced to buy one from the marketplace.... about time! a filter for cam content would be a good idea, part of the parental control perhaps?? wireless headsets, hmmmm small enough to lose in anyones house but i think they'll be rad anyway, as long as the figure out how to keep the battery life up, or some sort of docking cradle (could also integrate the cradle to hold/charge your controller too...) that'd be useful!!

[marco @ Aug 24th 2006 2:11AM]

WHERE IS THE KEYBOARD AND MOUSE?

[El $corpio @ Aug 28th 2006 6:34AM]

Guess what people,

the steering wheel isn't your standard steering wheel, it's wireless for the 360 with normal battery packs or full force feedback plugged in (shame, 2 battery mode or so may have been better)

The cam lets you put your face on the player character in some games, you can take pics for your profile or messages, take high quality videos too!

The headset is tiny, but how does the mic work?

Gaming reciever is nice, you can play with all 360 accessories on PC.

You can't do that with PS3 or Wii

[Chris @ Oct 5th 2006 9:31AM]

now if the camera worked on your coputer too, that'd be great
and if the wireless headset worked on my phone too,

but seriously, its microsoft
so we cant expect too much