After the announcement that a redesigned Xbox One will be released next month (sans the bundled Kinect 2.0), some have speculated that the motion-sensing hardware’s days are numbered. However, Microsoft’s Major Nelson now sets the record straight.
Statements made during his podcast suggest that dropping the Kinect from future versions of their console was meant to provide more purchasing options to gamers, rather than an indication of the manufacture’s plans to turn its back on its pet project. “We are not discontinuing Kinect or support for it.” Nelson stated emphatically. “We still have a whole team of folks working on that. But we want to give everybody who would like to get in on the Xbox One action an opportunity.”
While it’s obviously Kinect support isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, Nelson’s “…getting in on the action” comment clearly refers to those who held off on buying Microsoft’s next-gen system (or perhaps couldn’t) due to its heftier price point. Microsoft is no doubt hoping this move will be a real game changer, as their Sony counterpart is outselling their product by almost double around the world. Some execs recently blamed these figures on the PS4 being available in more markets, it’s apparent that many within the company finally recognize the bundled Kinect has the albatross dragging them down.
We’ll keep a close eye on the sales of the new Xbox One this summer, and bring you more regarding how the price drop affects their progress.