Microsoft to sell Xbox One without Kinect for

[JonnyLH]

This is a tired Kinect anecdote that has never manifested itself. Where where the Kinect games beforehand? Where are the great Kinect games in development?

 

Developers still weren't using it, and if they were it was just to crowbar in some voice commands. Titanfall was the coming-of-Christ Xbox exclusive game to end all games and it didn't even utilize it. Developers don't seem to care that everyone had a Kinect, because they knew people didn't want motion controls mandated anyway. Its a philosophy that cripped the original Wii. Sure it sold well, but pretty much every third party release for it was crap.

Have you seen some of the tweets from developers a long the lines of "Well we we're thinking of making a Kinect game". Without everyone having a Kinect, it simply isn't business feasible for a smaller studio to make something which exploited the device. See ID@Xbox and some of their Kinect ideas. From a priorities point of view, we're simply not going to receive the focus on MS to update and develop for the device as much as if it was bundled. 

 

Although, the nature of Kinect in games like FPS's for example for me simply didn't make sense. For example the lean feature on BF4 was simply a gimmick and didn't actually add that much substance as it was still easier to use the controller.

 

For me, I'm just annoyed so much has changed about the console, like MS simply aren't happy with it.

[DirtyLarry Veteran]

What the hell has changed? Is MS remote-disabling your Kinect or something?

For me it has nothing to do with the games. Everything to do with the OS itself.

You think there are going to be as many resources on the Kinect driven OS now that there is guaranteed to be a fragmented user base?

 

Project Manager #1 - Hmm, we have 100 people and have 3 tasks we need to complete, 2 of those tasks are not Kinect related, 1 task is Kinect Related.

Project Manager #2 - Let's put 33 people on each task. That way each one gets done equally.

Project Manager #1 - Well normally I would agree, but do we really need to task that many people on the Kinect related task since half of our user base may never even use it?

Project Manager #2 - Good point. 10 people on the Kinect task. 40 on the other 2 tasks.

 

Now I am over-simplifying it terribly for the sake of an example, but seriously do you think this is not going to be the case? If them dropping Kinect was a business decision, then them not supporting Kinect as much in the future will also be a business decision. That is how business works.

[Lord Method Man]

Look, Kinect was removed for a reason - gamers didn't really want it. Developers are just as aware of this as Microsoft. Even if the base wasn't fragmented, developers weren't going forward with Kinect because they knew there wasn't demand. Sure every Xbox One owner had a Kinect, but that doesn't mean they want to use it, so already they were not focusing on Kinect.

[spacer]

I, for one, was looking for the original Xbox that was touted.  I wanted a center to my family room where I could not only play games but have a total media center experience with it.  That being said, and I've said this many times before, I understand that was not for everyone and that's OK.  I would be the first to say that if someone wanted a straight up console the PS4 was the way to go.  It is an awesome console.

That's exactly what happened though. More people bought PS4s than Xbox Ones. Since Microsoft refuses to give out actual, sold-through-to-customers numbers, and given this latest development, we can assume A LOT more people bought PS4s than Ones. And that's all there is to it.

 

You and others may truly want that "all in one" device that responds to your voice, most of the time. But the majority of console consumers apparently didn't. And Microsoft has to cater to the group that is going to increase their bottom line. This policy change will definitely hurt or outright kill Kinect, but I never saw it as a core gaming device so I'm not that disappointed in this news.

[JonnyLH]

Look, Kinect was removed for a reason - gamers didn't really want it. Developers are just as aware of this as Microsoft. Even if the base wasn't fragmented, developers weren't going forward with Kinect because they knew there wasn't demand. Sure every Xbox One owner had a Kinect, but that doesn't mean they want to use it, so already they were not focusing on Kinect.

I don't believe it was a 'gamers decision'. Look at the X1 subreddit, people were flocking to rant yesterday when it got announced. Many people like myself really enjoy it, well, I still will.

[LaP]

The future of what?

 

Anyone who think Joe BLow will spend 500$ to improve his TV experience is totally delusional.

 

Like it or not the future is with Smart TVs or Chromecast like devices. Smart TVs are not there yet (they lack a common OS like Android, a common store and proper hardware) but the answer will never be a 500$ device.

 

The XBox is a game console. Nothing more nothing less. Everything else is extra. Really few people outside of the tech crowd buy an XBox for TV (or build an HTPC for it).

 

This is a good decision by MS. A decision it had to make.

 

This said making a smaller, quieter and less expensive (less than 200$) device running the XBox OS and comning with a smaller Kinect like device to compete with devices like Chromecast would be a good move. This device could be able to run some indie arcade games too (like Don't Starve) but not the full fledged XBox games. This is where the future is. Small, quiet, cheap.

[compl3x]

"omg, MS will never unbundle the Kinect!"

 

All the people who swore this wouldn't happen look mighty silly now.

[compl3x]

This opinion piece is drivel. Kinect being given the boot is about the most sensible thing (OK, second most) MS have done thus far.

 

No one outside of Neowin seemed to think this bundling was a good idea.

[neuroticdave]

I actually use my Kinect on the X1 on a regular basis. I turn on my Xbox with it, turn it off, change channels, snap and unsnap apps, etc etc. I actually really enjoy the features and feel it is a rather ingenious piece of hardware. It differentiates my Xbox from my friends PS4 that just turns on and plays games. Everyone that comes to my house is rather impressed by the X1 being more of a home entertainment box than a gaming system. Is it everyones cup of tea? No. Will it get better over time? Yes, of course. Does it make sense to force everyone to buy one with their X1? No, not really. Let everyone choose their own poison. Some would rather save the extra $100, others don't mind.

[Ironman273]

That's exactly what happened though. More people bought PS4s than Xbox Ones. Since Microsoft refuses to give out actual, sold-through-to-customers numbers, and given this latest development, we can assume A LOT more people bought PS4s than Ones. And that's all there is to it.

 

You and others may truly want that "all in one" device that responds to your voice, most of the time. But the majority of console consumers apparently didn't. And Microsoft has to cater to the group that is going to increase their bottom line. This policy change will definitely hurt or outright kill Kinect, but I never saw it as a core gaming device so I'm not that disappointed in this news.

This is a very flawed analogy but there are many more Toyota Camry's being sold than, say, the Scion FR-S.  I would much rather drive the FR-S and I wouldn't like it if they said "more people want 4 doors and an automatic transmission."  Microsoft saw PS4 sales and felt they wanted to catch up.  I don't agree with them, is all I'm saying.  The One sold more than the 360 but that wasn't enough for the suits.  To me it's just as if they added the 4 doors to the FR-S and all the Camry owners are coming in to say "See?  We were right!  4 doors are better!"  I'm still saddened by their business decision.

[+Anarkii Subscriber²]

Im actually happy that Microsoft did this. 
The Xbox was released all those years ago as a gaming console. The Xbox 360 came out soon after, and it too was a gaming console. Then the Xbox One was released, and everything changed. No longer was it just a gaming console first and foremost, it was a multimedia hub that specialised in making your tv experience 'better'. To a degree, it did succeed at that, but only because of the bundled Kinect. To me, this was also why Xbox was doomed to fail in the 'console war' from the start. 

Microsoft forgot the core audience for the brand - The gamer. Not the couch patato who sat on his butt all day watching sports with his hillbilly friends, but gamers. Everyone from those 10 year old CoD players to us Gen Y's who played Halo on the original Xbox. The bundled Kinect with the Xbox One took away that experience of picking up the controller, and just playing a game. It was too busy and all about the TV. 

So to me, dropping the kinect means 2 things, $100 cheaper console, and most importantly, people returning to the console and its roots by picking up the controller, and just playing a game. 

I hope the Xbox sells a bit more now, and I see no reason why it wouldn't. 

[+Warwagon MVC]

[TAZMINATOR]

People are stupid these days... they rant for nothing.

 

They should have read the articles carefully...  (FYI, there are some fake articles that tell you bad about the said products)

 

MS is not going to remove kinect completely...    but they can allow you to unplug kinect and disable the onscreen notification if you are not interested in using it when playing a game. I like kinect as optional which you can use it for kinect based games such as bowling, dart, etc. otherwise no need it for the popular games such as Halo, COD, etc.

 

And, MS can sell kinect-free consoles for those who do not want the kinect at all.. which are perfect for people who are big fan of the popular games such as Halo, FM5, etc.

[Noir Angel]

This is part of the new Microsoft's problem, instead of making their products do the one thing they were designed to do well they seem to be hell bent on trying to make them do a million and one things badly.

[Ironman273]

This is part of the new Microsoft's problem, instead of making their products do the one thing they were designed to do well they seem to be hell bent on trying to make them do a million and one things badly.

Yeah, good things those cell phones still only make telephone calls like they were designed to...  Imagine if people tried to do crazy stuff like text or *gasp* take pictures on them.

[compl3x]

Yeah, good things those cell phones still only make telephone calls like they were designed to...  Imagine if people tried to do crazy stuff like text or *gasp* take pictures on them.

 

Not really a good comparison, those functions were an overwhelming success on phones. Building functionality into a phone and adding peripherals to a gaming system people don't seem all that interested in and doesn't really have any good titles aren't the same thing.

[Ironman273]

Not really a good comparison, those functions were an overwhelming success on phones. Building functionality into a phone and adding peripherals to a gaming system people don't seem all that interested in and doesn't really have any good titles aren't the same thing.

Initially they weren't.  People at the time complained day in and out that it was stupid for phones to have cameras.

[compl3x]

Initially they weren't.  People at the time complained day in and out that it was stupid for phones to have cameras.

 

I don't recall that. When cameras were of really poor quality I think people thought they weren't all that great but the tech improved pretty quickly.

 

Kinect tech improved and it was bundled and it still wasn't enough to save it.

[Ironman273]

I don't recall that. When cameras were of really poor quality I think people thought they weren't all that great but the tech improved pretty quickly.

 

Kinect tech improved and it was bundled and it still wasn't enough to save it.

Kinect wasn't bundled with the 360.  It was bundled with the One, just now.  I don't think they gave it the time to get developers minds thinking of the killer app.

[NeoWind]

This is the era where microsoft is reversing every possible decision that has been made. Maybe things shouldn't have gone bad if it isn't the x1 didn't have weaker hardware and it might help avoid the resolution controversy and at the same time the kinect bring something new and fun with 1080p compared to PS4 eye limited to 720p. 

 

This is how they should have unveil and advertise the x1 from day one if they able to match the ps4 hardware from top to bottom and avoid the controversy of more powerful console

 

X1= Same price and as powerful as PS4, kinect is more powerful and advanced than ps4 eye , better cloud service and remove gold subscription requirement for app and online multiplayer

 

PS4 will not have any significant advantage over x1 from the beginning. 

 

The verdict: Microsoft can afford to sacrifice more compared to sony financial situation but they chosen not to give you more than that and we have to thanks sony for that.

[compl3x]

Kinect wasn't bundled with the 360.  It was bundled with the One, just now.

 

I never suggested it was bundled with the 360. We are talking about this Kinect being bundled so I didn't think I had to be specific.

 

 

The Kinect is gone and all the people on here who said it would never happened and ridiculed people who suggested it was going to happen look pretty delusional now.

[Hedon]

It's still the best game console. That is what this is about, right? Gaming and fun? It's got the games, and that is what is important to me as a gamer.

[Lord Method Man]

 

 

The Kinect is gone and all the people on here who said it would never happened and ridiculed people who suggested it was going to happen look pretty delusional now.

 

Well no, its not going anywhere to anyone who wants one.

 

You're absolutely right on the second part. Frankly I think a little "neener neener" is warranted over this decision given the flat out abuse and ridicule that was heaped on anyone suggesting Kinect be unbundled over this past year.

[Ironman273]

I never suggested it was bundled with the 360. We are talking about this Kinect being bundled so I didn't think I had to be specific.

 

 

The Kinect is gone and all the people on here who said it would never happened and ridiculed people who suggested it was going to happen look pretty delusional now.

And I never suggested that you suggested it.  I was just trying to point out the period of time that developers could assume they would code a game and a Kinect would be present.

[TAZMINATOR]

And I never suggested that you suggested it.  I was just trying to point out the period of time that developers could assume they would code a game and a Kinect would be present.

 

Some developers are not interested in kinect which they want controllers (or alternative device such as gaming gun, rifle for deer hunting game)

 

Some developers are interested in kinect that they can add kinect features in their games.