Phil Spencer, Microsoft Games Studio VP, was recently asked about what he thought about 3D technology and its role in the gaming industry. He didn't say it outright, but he did say Sony's 3D business model was flawed, mainly due to the fact that current 3D technology isn't mainstream yet, so 3D gaming is unlikely to be very successful as a result. Spencer doesn't believe that expensive 3D televisions and the accompanying 3D glasses will break the 3D market in the home. He did admit, however, that he liked the glasses-less concept of Nintendo's 3DS.

"For better or for worse, people just don't really have TVs in their house right now that are going to do 3D in a way that's going to work," Spencer told CNN. "I like the 3DS, you don't have to wear the glasses."

Spencer doesn't name Sony specifically but he does say: "As a corporate mandate, I don't need to sell you a new TV, that's not part of my business model. Other companies maybe have that part of their business model. I don't." Sony has invested heavily in the 3D market with films, PS3 3D support, and 3D televisions themselves. Unfortunately for the Japanese company, the market penetration of 3D televisions has been very low so far.

So how is Microsoft handling 3D? "It felt a little more like a science experiment than something that's going to go touch millions of people," Spencer remarked in reference to Batman: Arkham Asylum, a stereoscopic 3D release as part of a game of the year special edition. "Clearly, we're not going to ignore 3D. I think it is something that will play a role in entertainment." In other words, the company is playing the waiting game, and betting big on Kinect in the meantime.