Microsoft Pulls A Second 180, Kinect Not Needed To Be Plugged In
When Microsoft announced that they were reversing some of the most controversial Xbox One policies, people for the most part were happy. However, it exposed Microsoft’s hypocrisy when they had originally said that the online connection was “necessary” for the system to work. By reversing course in such a short time, however, gamers everywhere started asking “Why does the Kinect need to be plugged in at all time?” Once again, Microsoft had said that it was “necessary” for the system to function.
Once again, Microsoft has lied. In an interview with IGN, Marc Whitten, the chief Xbox One platform architect, revealed that the Xbox One will still work even if the Kinect isn’t plugged in. This is quite the dramatic shift in policy, to say the least.
Of course, if you were hoping that there might be a cheaper, Kinect-less bundle in the future you can throw that idea out the window. A Microsoft rep confirmed with Kotaku that each system will still come with a Kinect:
Though we’ve changed this requirement, Kinect is still an essential and integrated part of the Xbox One platform. By having it as a consistent part of every Xbox One, game and entertainment creators can build experiences that assume the availability of voice, gesture and natural sensing, leading to unrivaled ease of use, premium experiences and interactivity for consumers. We also strongly believe that once you try the all-new Kinect and the game and entertainment experiences it enhances or enables, you won’t want to use your Xbox One without it.
Still, if you’re the type of person who loves Microsoft consoles, but like your privacy, you have to feel good about these turn of events.
