Potential Xbox One buyers who have been put off by the console's Kinect requirement no longer have anything to worry about.
Microsoft has once again decided to heed customer concerns regarding their next-gen Xbox One console by removing the mandatory requirement of having a Kinect sensor attached to the console.
During a recent “Ask Microsoft Anything” segment over at IGN, Xbox Corporate Vice President Marc Whitten revealed that the Xbox One’s core functions such as playing games and utilizing entertainment content will still be accessible even if the Kinect sensor is unplugged from the console. Naturally, Kinect-specific features such as voice commands and player identification will be disabled if the Kinect is unplugged but for many players it seems like a small price to pay for peace of mind.
When the Xbox One is initially launched all consoles will still come with a Kinect sensor but many are speculating that, because Kinect is no longer required, we might be seeing a cheaper Kinect-free version of the Xbox One sometime next year.
A full statement from Microsoft PR Rep Albert Penello on the decision to remove the Kinect requirement can be found on the next page.
