Xbox One Will Not Include a Headset


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Microsoft has confirmed to IGN that Xbox One will not come bundled with a headset, as per Xbox 360 tradition. Instead, Microsoft points to Kinect's "highly sensitive multi-array microphones designed to enable voice inputs and chat as a system-level capability, both in-game and with Skype and other experiences."

 

If you want a standard Microsoft Xbox One headset (which Microsoft calls "a must-have," ironically), you'll have to purchase it separately. Additionally, Turtle Beach headsets and Polk headphones will be available following the console's launch. For context, Sony doesn't default to packing a headset with PlayStation hardware, but the PlayStation 4 is bundling a mono earpiece and mic.

 

http://ca.ign.com/articles/2013/06/25/xbox-one-will-not-include-a-headset?utm_campaign=fbposts&utm_source=facebook

 

 

 

I'm starting to think now that Our Expensive headsets won't work with the Next Gen Consoles. 

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I'm starting to think now that Our Expensive headsets won't work with the Next Gen Consoles. 

Depends if it runs on USB or HDMI/RBG extension. I don't think there'll be a compatibility problem.

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Nice, because I totally want to talk with someone at 2am through a Kinect's "highly sensitive multi-array microphones" while everyone else in my house is sleeping.

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Nice, because I totally want to talk with someone at 2am through a Kinect's "highly sensitive multi-array microphones" while everyone else in my house is sleeping.

 

More importantly, who are you talking to at 2 a.m. and who are you worried about waking up?

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Depends if it runs on USB or HDMI/RBG extension. I don't think there'll be a compatibility problem.

 

some headsets like my Tritton AX720 use Optical and a line to the controller. There could be. 

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More importantly, who are you talking to at 2 a.m. and who are you worried about waking up?

 

Someone I'm cooping with, and my wife and three children? Replace 2am with any time, the point remains the same.

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Nice, because I totally want to talk with someone at 2am through a Kinect's "highly sensitive multi-array microphones" while everyone else in my house is sleeping.

It'll probably work a hell of a lot better than your headset. 

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Nice, because I totally want to talk with someone at 2am through a Kinect's "highly sensitive multi-array microphones" while everyone else in my house is sleeping.

Then buy a readily available headset to suit your specific needs

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So they overprice the console and don't even bother to give you the basic headset.

Did anyone even use the ten cent piece of crap they included in the X360?  Kinect is worth the money...the headset I didn't even know why they bothered including it.

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Surely using the Kinect for voice during gaming would result in an echo on the other end? (unless you were using headphones, which I never do)

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*to be determined

The first gen wasn't all that hot except for the fantastic mic array.  The second gen should be about thirty billion times better (rough estimate ;) )

 

Surely using the Kinect for voice during gaming would result in an echo on the other end? (unless you were using headphones, which I never do)

The echo cancellation and sound quality are much better than most audio setups on PC are capable of.  I wouldn't put it right next to a speaker mind you, but I did use it over Xbox Live and it worked great.  First gen did catch keyboard/mouse clicks when used on the PC, but that's not going to be an issue on the console obviously.

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The first gen wasn't all that hot except for the fantastic mic array.  The second gen should be about thirty billion times better (rough estimate ;) )

 

 

I hope it is better. Kinect, for me, so far hasn't been all that impressive or useful.

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This is stupid and has made me sad. I dont want peoples speaking coming through my TV, its so naf.

 

Looks like a headset purchase on release.

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Did anyone even use the ten cent piece of crap they included in the X360?  Kinect is worth the money...the headset I didn't even know why they bothered including it.

Everyone I know used one. It's sad that they are not including one in the box. Kinect is all good but its far too difficult to hear the other side over game sounds from speakers. It wouldn't be a big thing if they used a standard 3.5 port but the controller has a microUSB port which is a bummer.

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Dumb.  Headsets are handy and useful.  Especially is you are in a group of people who like to swear 10 time in a sentence.  No telling who these people are, especially if you are in a group of random people.  Just a way of MS to force people to use Kinect.


Did anyone even use the ten cent piece of crap they included in the X360?  Kinect is worth the money...the headset I didn't even know why they bothered including it.

 

Yup, used it all the time.  Worked great.

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Did anyone even use the ten cent piece of crap they included in the X360?  Kinect is worth the money...the headset I didn't even know why they bothered including it.

The "10 cent" headset that was bundled with the original 360 worked, so who cares if it was cheap. In fact, I still use it to this day and have yet to buy a "good" one because it still works. And how can you say you don't know why the bothered with it? It leveled the playing field and gave everyone who bought a 360 a means of voice communication. That was a HUGE advantage over the PS3, and it was a direct contributing factor to why Live is the way it is today. (compared to the PSN)

 

My problem with Microsoft not even including a "cheap" headset is that there is no way that a Kinect will work better than a microphone a few centimeters from your face. That is especially true depending on the size of your living room, speaker set up, volume, background noise, and other people talking. It's also going to make hearing the voice communication coming out of your speakers that much more difficult depending on all of those same criteria.

 

Also, now that there is no longer a physical button to adjust voice chat volume or mute your mic I assume MS wants you to use Kinect commands. So do those commands get sent over the wire to whoever you're playing/talking with? or does the Kinect delay what you say so that it can process a possible command beforehand? Either scenario is terrible.

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Also, now that there is no longer a physical button to adjust voice chat volume or mute your mic I assume MS wants you to use Kinect commands. So do those commands get sent over the wire to whoever you're playing/talking with? or does the Kinect delay what you say so that it can process a possible command beforehand? Either scenario is terrible.

There is volume and mute controls on the headset, it's at the base where you'd plug it in the controller.

Maybe they're planning something with the proprietary connector. Or just trying to keep tabs on 3rd party peripherals probably for security reasons.

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Did anyone even use the ten cent piece of crap they included in the X360?  Kinect is worth the money...the headset I didn't even know why they bothered including it.

They included it because it works and it's good enough for most people. I used it frequently when I played the various Call of Duty games because I preferred to hear people speak through the headset than my speakers. It was easier for me to understand my friends and I had some much needed privacy.

 

That privacy is gone because Microsoft doesn't want to bundle it with the console. I wouldn't mind buying a headset if the console was $100 cheaper, but unfortunately that isn't the case.

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There is volume and mute controls on the headset, it's at the base where you'd plug it in the controller.

Maybe they're planning something with the proprietary connector. Or just trying to keep tabs on 3rd party peripherals probably for security reasons.

I meant, if there is no headset included and we have to use Kinect, there are no physical buttons to control volume or mute.

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not really much need for a headset with the Kinect sensor being required. however, at least they offer a headset if you want to make the voice private.

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Seriously hope they do a 180 on this too. Almost half way there now that they are looking to add ways with wired 360 headsets.

 

The benefits of the new wireless, as good as it is, isn't outstanding enough to impress all those hardcore types with $100+ wireless 7.1 headphones.

 

I almost bought a top of the line set back at Xmas but had a feeling they'd pull something like this and held off. Glad I did.

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