By Paolo Succi on May 13, 2014 at 10:31am
Microsoft confirmed this morning via their newswire that a price-reduced Xbox One will be shipping without the Kinect starting in June.
The console will see a $100 reduction at $399 starting June 9 in "all markets where Xbox One is sold."
Xbox head Phil Spencer insists this is not indicative of a shift away from the technology, maintaining that it's still a vital component to their gaming ecosystem. Rather, he sees the move as responding to customer feedback.
The camera peripheral was a hotly debated issue since the console's reveal. Originally the device required constant connectivity, but Microsoft removed this requirement when gamers cried out against violations of their privacy. It seems this move comes as further evidence that Microsoft is committed to providing exactly what consumers want.
That being said, not everyone is thrilled about the Kinect's departure. Dropping the Kinect means that developers have less incentive to make use of its capabilities, as there is no guarantee that every player will have one. Especially concerned is John T. Drake, director of publishing and PR at Harmonix, working on the hotly anticipated "Fantasia: Music Evolved" which relies exclusively on the camera peripheral to direct musical notes across colorful soundscapes.
Xbox Wire John T. Drake's Twitter
