Kinect Is No Longer Mandatory For Xbox One

IGN:

In addition to reversing its used game DRM policies for Xbox One, Microsoft has revealed that the console will no longer require Kinect to function. In our latest Ask Microsoft Anything, Xbox Corporate Vice President Marc Whitten revealed that Xbox One owners will be able to use all of the console's core functions regardless of whether the new Kinect sensor is connected. Naturally, many of the tentpole features of the new Kinect, such as player identification, voice commands, etc., will be disabled as a result, but players will still be able to play games and access entertainment content.

[pacostacos]

"That said, like online, the console will still function if Kinect isn’t plugged in, although you won’t be able to use any feature or experience that explicitly uses the sensor"
Soooooo microsoft/nsa can not be using kinect to Spy on you becaue you can simply UNPLUG it preventing it from stealing your identity/life/soul/children/nu des.

Please remember to recycle your tin foil hats everybody!

[Abash]

Now they just need to make a cheaper SKU that doesnt include Kinect

[JhawkFootball06]

Nice to see Microsoft listening to their customers. I know many people who are not comfortable with the Kinect being plugged in at all times. This just gives them reassurance that they can still play without it.

[-Alpha]

I wouldn't be surprised if they do this, but it's definitely not a good future for Kinect if the userbase is so fractured. It seems that they don't want to give Kinect up, but if you don't need it plugged in, then people are going to continue to push for a Kinect-less option.

MS has to consider if it's better to lower the price and compete out of the gate against PS4's pricing, or if Kinect is a long-term advantage that needs time for its consumers to grow into.

Edit: actually, I guess if anything it's a peace of mind. I think most people who choose to spend the extra $100 on Xbox One will leave it plugged in, considering the ease of use and the way the UI is focused around Kinect makes it more convenient.

[creatchee]

No. No SKU without Kinect. This is absolutely perfect. Everybody gets Kinect, so developers can make features assuming 100% adoption, and you don't have to plug it in if you don't want to.

[4Sh0w]

Why did Kotaku try to make it seem like a bad thing. This is for all the conspiracy theorists who said it would be spying on them.

Its still needed if you want to use kinect features.

Its great to see microsoft are listening to gamers.

[slimeybrainboy]

EDIT: Read it all wrong.

This is another 180 aha. Microsoft are like Tony Hawking the shit out of those 180's!

[JhawkFootball06]

@slimeybrainboy

Did you read the article?

"That said, like online, the console will still function if Kinect isn’t plugged in, although you won’t be able to use any feature or experience that explicitly uses the sensor."

[dedicatedtogamers]

This is great news simply because it leaves open the possibility for a Kinect-less SKU at a reasonable price. Seriously, the X1 should be the same price as PS4, if not cheaper, based on the hardware inside. Give customers the option, Microsoft.

[Tony-A]

This is a very big improvement.

Why they didn't bother revealing all the negative aspects of the XBO in their reveal and flip everything according to feedback by E3 will never make sense to me. This would have erased a huge majority of negative press they've gotten all summer, but instead they've gotta work hand-over-fist to make it more closely resemble their competitor.

All that's left is the price - the biggest launch hurdle in my opinion.

[mikeslemonade]

The part about how we hated the "spying 24/7 on you" was mainly a joke. No one really cared and if you really did care then all you had to do was cover the camera and plug the microphone.

What the gamers cared about was that it was an added cost that you are forced to buy. Regardless if you can unplug or not we don't want it to be a forced cost. If you really wanted to force it on the gamer then put it inside the damn system! Then you can say that camera feature if is innate system feature that will be utilized in almost all/all games.

[No_Limit]

Great to hear. As already seen from the unboxing, the Kinect is a separate camera that can detached from the port so I am not suprise that this is the case.

I still think the console should come with the Kinect so it can utilize it to its full potential but for people that are NSA paranoid, this will ease their pain. No required mandatory internet and no Kinect required, the NSA trolls are running out of excuse now. I am loving it! :)

[black0o]

@gerg think before u speak up plzz

[DARK WITNESS]

the user base wont be fractured, people who don't want it will just unplug it.

everyone else can go on using it as they will. they can still supply it with every xbo.

[gaffyh]

Kinect-less SKU incoming, guaranteed. Might not be available at launch, but definitely next by the end of next year.

[karl]

developers cannot make games based on kinect considering 100 percent adoption because ps4 doesnt have one and MS only works third party games...

[nukeitall]

I betcha the vast majority will hook it up, use it and freaking enjoy it!

Just like how the vast majority hates Google for the privacy, yet they continue to use it, because it is the best search engine and email out there.

By easing people's irrational fear, more people will use Kinect One. Just watch!

[Gasian]

My gut tells me Microsoft wants to include the Kinect for the initial install base of the Xbox One ,but now with all these 180's that have happened because of the backlash they have received it is probably likely not to doubt them having a cheaper SKU without the kinect. GamesCom is near so hopefully we get our answers there.

On another note, Pandas are awesome.

http://beijingcream.com/wp-...

[Insomnia_84]

So far this looks like a trap more than anything else! Seriously, why not just have an sku without the camara then? They will make you plug that thing one way or another by having devs implement things to games that can only be done with Kinect, they know you have one, they know they MADE YOU have one so they will do it and then you will have no choice but keep the thing always plugged!

Not convinced yet Microsoft!!! This sounds like anotber one of your dirty tactics!

[black0o]

XboxOne should be called xbox720
180 DRM
180 headset
180 indie
180 kinect

[NatureOfLogic]

So if we go back to Xbox One initial reveal/Post E3, Xbox One is so different now. That being said, MS is clueless when it comes to understanding it's fanbase. I see MS is trying to kill two birds with one stone here. If they don't don't make it mandatory, It's satisfy some of the people worried, but more importantly, It opens up future possibilities for a kineticless sku to match the price of PS4 if it dominants. MS's main worry is sales, not gamers concerns.

[Dee_91]

I love that they are making this change.What I hate is how this is yet another thing they've made seem like the xbox just cant function without.If your consumers are vocal about a valid concern, stop trying to sway them with that PR bs.It will be hard for me to believe them when they say this and that is necessary for xbox, because now I know that its really not no matter what they say, the more options you have the better.That was my main thing with them, all of the mandatory crap, hopefully they learned that options will always be better than mandatory.

Despite that,this is great news,... and another time for the " normal people" to make fun of conspiracy theorist.. funny if a conspiracy theorist said something like a spying program from the NSA exist the amount of clever tin foil hats would be through the roof :)

[darthv72]

no longer mandatory but still keep it in the total package.

Id hate for them to relegate it to 2nd class accessory status.

If they are in the mood for changes....the name should be next i guess.

[SilentNegotiator]

If the Kinect fans want to go out and support Kinect, they can do so. But I don't want to spend an extra $100 for Kinect.

Let us vote with our wallets on whether or not Kinect gets support; not by forced inclusion.

[ProjectVulcan]

Well done for making something how it should have been all along. I do find it difficult to give credit because it's bleedin obvious this is how it should have been all along.

One less thing for people to moan about I spose

[frostypants]

Yeah WTF...so devs don't have to support it and I don't have to use it, but I still have to pay for it? **** you, Microsoft.

[Man2bFree]

LMAO!! I don't trust this company at all!!

[NewMonday]

I just got way more excited for next gen, becaus now we have a real competion, props to MS, now I'm sure to get an XB1 sometime in the future after the PS4, before it was "never" with the mandatory Kinect.

now the price needs to go down to $350 to reflect the new value and MS need to make big risky investments on new 1st party games to set it apart.

gamer power works

[DragonKnight]

*CLAPS*

Bravo Microsoft. It took you long enough, but now you've finally come full circle and regained your senses.

Excellent move. Kudos Xbox One and its fans.

[MRMagoo123]

"Nice to see Microsoft listening to their customers" kinda odd that they are listening to customers when it was said by a lot of ppl on here that it was only the sony fanboys that cared and they wherent getting one anyway, I wanna know which it is

A) It was only the sony fanboys that cared just to troll, which wouldnt make sense why would MS change there console soooooo much for sony trolls or the more likely

B)That ppl in general wherent happy with the xbone and only the xbone fanboys thought it was a good console, which makes more sense becuase then MS may actually care.

MS have a really good track record so far for next gen now lol "the console has to stay online it was built around it there is nothing we can do to change that and it wont change" nows it can stay offline for ever if you want it to

Then "The console was designed around the kinect it cant just function without it and we wont change that" now its able to work without the kinect fullstop.

This flip flopping doesnt fill me with confidence, it makes me think noone at MS knows what they are doing with the xbone at all.

This is not meant to be a troll or fanboy driblle i am just stating what it is.

[stage88]

So you still have to pay $100 more even though Kinect is not needed.

The console is a shambles. I literally have no faith in Microsoft or the Xbox brand.

[sinjonezp]

Its a simple rhetorical question. If it is not required, why am I required to buy it?

[Ritsujun]

Xbone180'd.

[fr0sty]

That's the only hurdle holding me back now that they've dropped kinect, price. It's far too expensive for inferior hardware. If MS can hit the $400 (preferably $350) sweet spot, I'll consider jumping on board if the games justify the purchase.

However, I will still have to spend some time mulling over if I want to support the company that tried shoving DRM down all of our throats, but hey, one can never recover from a mistake if not ever given the chance to redeem themselves. However, there is still the stink of MS putting half of X1's features behind a paywall that lingers... As well as all "free" to play games.

There still are a few things about the console I don't like, but I'm not sure at this point that they are enough to keep me from ever buying one. This is the first time since the first Xbox they've had me even consider buying any of their products, so it's a step in the right direction at least.

[user5575708]

wow gamestop might be loaded with used kinects after launch day now

[Rhinoceros]

ONCE THEY DO THAT I AM NOT GOING TO BUY AN X1. The point is that everyone has it, so that developers have an incentive to augment games. Conservative gamers are ruining my next gen dreams.

[madpuppy]

I have to agree with creatchee, Even though I have no love for MS or the Xbone I think it would be a mistake to have a model without kinect bundled with it. I think it was a mistake for Sony not to have the PS eye bundled with the PS4 as well, I think that the fracturing of the market will damage the camera's (for both consoles) adoption and developers expectation of being able to use the device with their games. I understand the privacy issue, but, having the camera and mike array being disconnected or "turned off" is good enough.

[Kryptix]

I'll give them some respect for removing something that made many uncomfortable. The problem is that it's still a mandatory buy for everyone. If they can make a SKU without it, dropping the $100 then it can be close to PS4 sales in the US. This doesn't change much since the competition still has a more powerful console with a cheaper price tag. Microsoft's biggest mistake is not showing anything of the cloud or Kinect 2.0 that makes gamers feel that the $500 is worth it. A video or two would probably make a difference, but Microsoft are really in panic mode, trying to satisfy the consumer but they have a problem showing how a feature is worth paying the $500. Just like if they explained that the DRM would mean cheaper games similar to Steam then that probably would be likable. We'll never know but can't wait till Gamescom, hopefully we'll get our answers on both sides.

[Diver]

And now my victory is complete.

Lord Vader only rocks on PS4.

[UnHoly_One]

Hilarious...

"The part about how we hated the "spying 24/7 on you" was mainly a joke. No one really cared and if you really did care then all you had to do was cover the camera and plug the microphone."

So here we are, after all this "being spied on is the reason I'm not buying an XB1" crap over the past two months, now it's "just a joke".

You guys like to talk about Xbox making 180's, but you insane Sony fanboys are worse than they could ever hope to be.

Honestly after reading the behavior of Sony fans on this site I'm ashamed, literally ASHAMED, to be buying a Sony product at all, because I never want anyone to mistake me for one of you.

Pathetic idiots. I've never seen stupidity to match the Sony fanboys on this site. It's amazing.

[Kryptix]

"Honestly after reading the behavior of Sony fans on this site I'm ashamed, literally ASHAMED, to be buying a Sony product at all, because I never want anyone to mistake me for one of you." -UnHoly_One

A true Microsoft fanboy right here. If someone gifted you a PS4, you would rather perform hara-kiri (death of a samurai/suicide) with the power cord. lol For you shall be resurrected as the protector of Microsoft fanboys. Teaching the ways like giving advice to Georgeenoob to make better comments cause he really needs it. lol

[Omegasyde]

@Abash

If MS makes the SKU without the kinect, they will more than likely split support for the camera among developers (why work on a feature only 50% has or why waste the time).

I definitely foresee a Kinect free bundle coming at 400$ in the not so distant future. Ironically, day 1 xbox1 owners will get screwed for being early adopters. Then these early adopters feeling some "buyers" remorse will try and justify themselves by stating they actually use the camera all the time or have a limited edition xbox1. Atleast early PS3 adopters had the cheapest blu-ray player and backwards compatibility.

This has to be sloppiest console launch ever.

[minimur12]

this is just embarasssing.

It's gettingto a point were its just effing ridiculous.

idiots

[TheFanboySlayer]

Sooooo many reversals I swear now the only thing separating the PS4 and xbox one is games and price....gonna be a interesting console war.

[Boody-Bandit]

"black0o

XboxOne should be called xbox720
180 DRM
180 headset
180 indie
180 Kinect"

At the rate things are going with MS I wouldn't be surprised if they keep on tallying 180's. MS is making these changes for a reason, they had to. I will be SHOCKED if a SKU @399 is NOT announced without Kinect included. It wouldn't make sense for them making this move and not using it where it would benefit them most, a cheaper SKU. It most likely will be announced at gamescom next week.

[Red_Devilz]

Now they just need to print a PS logo on XB1. Thats the only thing remaining!

Never in my life I had seen so many 180s. Its like they didn't have any plan to begin with.

[pixelsword]

Sooooo...

$100 off?

[JohnnyBadfinger]

But what about my headset? If i leave that plugged into my controller what reassurance do i have to know it isn't listening to my every word??

That's a obvious joke guys. Like most people I couldn't give a flying fuck whether or not some NSA fuckwit was watching or listening to me. But still I couldn't understand why a console accessory was a "always connect" feature... It's just as easy to crack it out and plug it in when its actually need... Plus less likely to get damaged that way also

[BattleAxe]

Its starting to look more and more like Don Mattrick was the person holding the Xbox division back. Imagine how good the Xbox 360 could have been without this guy.

[RyuCloudStrife]

This is great news I applaud MS.

[tokugawa]

@dedicatedtofanboys. you just cant resist trolling can you? ffs give it a rest. also, could you tell us exactly what is inside the xbo? clock speeds and stuff. because as far as i know, nothing has been officially announced yet

@ battleaxe. i keep thinking the same thing. that most of xbo's decisions came from mattrick. and now that he is gone, they are working on reversing them one at a time.

i think that a price drop is coming at gamescom

[vigilante_man]

Kinnect 2 is now stone cold dead in the water!

What about the millions they must of spent for forthcoming adverts with TV and Kinnect a focal point?

Once they ship XB1 without Kinnect to chase sales from PS4 it will signal the end for Kinnect 2. How much will they have lost in R&D and manufacturing for this thing?

[SolidStoner]

180 DRM
180 headset
180 indie
180 kinect
..........

who says it stops right there.. it soon will be called Xbox 72,000,000...

[CommonSense]

The ONLY way that would ever happen is if years from now, they realize nobody is developing for it and very few people are using it.

I don't see it every happening.

[BuLLDoG909]

MS been scratching their heads while looking at their dreadful preorder numbers compared to ps4.

They didnt change shit for "us", its because of the numbers, thats all. still good news though.

[VENOMACR]

I don't know why everyone says it HAS to be cheaper. It's $100 more, it's not the end of the world. To me, comparing the two and one costing a little more then the other isn't that big of a deal. How many of you will buy a PS4 and no games when it comes out? None of you. You'll buy the system, maybe an extra controller ($50), then at least 2 games ($120), so your total is almost $600 after taxes. So your able to come up with the extra money for all that, yet the $100 extra price tag on the Xbox is outrageous. I'm not a millionaire, I'm not rich, but in the grand scheme of things $100 isnt make or break for me. Hell, I spend $65 every week for gas. I know everyone's financial situation isn't that same, but at the end of the day I don't think they have to lower it to compete. The reputation is already tarnished and lowering the price by $100 won't make them the favorite.

I'll probably just use the Kinect to Skype, thats about it.

[The_Con-Sept]

Another epic win for gamers!

Now this is mostly an even battleground for this gen of the console wars. Now we get to see the fanboys glaze over at the lense of truth site.

[andrewsqual]

@JhawkFootball06 Because, news just in, people still aren't preordering it. If they listened to their customers then why is Netflix not accessible without Xbox Live Gold this years?
Becasue you already have gold and their console that is why. In this case, nobody has or wants the console yet at this time. But yeah totally listening to their fans.
Tell me how many people asked for a butchered Killer Instinct made by a terrible dev team?

[Shadonic]

So your saying you want them to screw themselves over profit wise and to not make anything from sales ?

[pixelsword]

They'll need to do a 3rd unveiling after this.

I do appreciate them making that change; if any of Microsoft's big-wigs are reading here, thank you. I did not like where that console was going in terms of privacy.

At any rate, I kinda called it on how they were going to try to capture the xbox crowd again, I didn't calculate them folding on the kinect though, they were kinda adamant about having it central to their console:

http://n4g.com/news/1313726...

[Razputin]

@Abash

No clue why you have disagrees, but I believe MS might have done this to release a non Kinect included version of the Xbox One.

It could seem like a really smart plan.
And I don't get people, they bitched about the Kinect being mandatory and now there is an article about it not being mandatory. Seriously are people so miserable and disappointed in their lives that they have to resort to trivial crap like this.

[devwan]

Hryb hits back at 180 talk:

http://bit.ly/14IvqOe

[abzdine]

PS4 preorders destroyed them and they have no choice if they're hoping to compete.
No matter what changes they do, PS4 will be the console I'm choosing cause it has been designed correct from the beginning!

[Virus201]

No no, the complaining will now shift to "why include it?!?". These are the same people that would never have bought it though.

[black0o]

guess what at gamesCom next week ms will take the knict out of the box and make the price 400$

and that's 'd their last move to keep up with the unstoppable ps4, funny part is that it won't even help ;)

[InTheLab]

Or maybe the people that don't want to pay $100+ for something they'll never use?

[DARK WITNESS]

there are plenty of us who would have bought it and flipped sides because of all this crap.

There are plenty of people who would have gladly bought both systems (like me)... but again because of ms crap, simply decided to stick with just one system instead.

this whole thing about oh the people complaining would never have bought it... considering right now the gap between 360 and ps3 is so close and yet the gap between the xbo and ps4 was so large, that gap had to come from somewhere.

everyone keeps saying that the complainers are only a small group on the internet.. .well if we are that small why would MS be listening to us, and if they are not listening to us then who are they listening to ?

personally I think it's the opposite. it's the people defending ms and the bullcrap it tried to pull off who are in the small group and the majority are in the other camp.

[zeal0us]

Yep so MS might as well offer a Xbox One variant without Kinect include for a cheaper price.

For the people who preorder the Xbox One with the Kinect just give them 3 or 6months of XBLG or some credit they could use to buy things on XBL marketplace.

[Deadpoolio]

It's still pretty pathetic. It's like a crackhead offering to suck you off for a rock. IF I had any interest in an XBO all these One80s would definitely push me away from their product, It really shows a lack of faith and conviction in their product and that they are so desperate to not have a bad launch they are going to keep saying whatever they need to...Yet there will be idiots who think it's because they are listening lol they don't care they just want to make money and If sucking you off gets people to buy an XBO then that is what they will do

[MRMagoo123]

yes virus they changed the whole console , removed DRM removed always online removed the kinect mandatory just for sony fanboys that didnt want the console in the first place, i cant face palm hard enough for your comment.

[rainslacker]

If those people wouldn't have brought it either way, why would MS change their policy? They knew that many people didn't want Kinect. Diehard fans of Xbox were saying it in their forums. Regular people were saying it enough to not buy the console. Those things make an impact.

I'm sorry, but a huge decrease in target sales will make them reconsider their policies, as should be plainly obvious by now. It doesn't matter who was doing the complaining, what matters is who wasn't spending the money. In this case, it was those people looking forward to the X1 but couldn't stomach what MS has been doing. In this they made it more attractive to them..prospective buyers.

People keep lamenting how it's all the Sony fan boys who are making the most fuss, but it's become pretty apparent that many former Xbox fans aren't latching onto the system. If that weren't true, MS wouldn't be spinning so much.

[Rhythmattic]

rainslacker

"It doesn't matter who was doing the complaining, what matters is who wasn't spending the money"

Spot On.

[vigilante_man]

Thank You Sony!

If it was not for Sony's stance on DRM and always online and Playstation Eye MS would not of budged an inch!

We do all remember just how arrogant they were a few months ago telling us what was good for us. Now the PS4 is leading in all markets in pre-orders MS are doing everything they can to be just like Sony - never thought I would see the day!

And the PS4 ... is still the PS4.

[CommonSense]

Exactly, the most outspoken retards about this console are the sony fanboys that were NEVER going to buy it in the first place.

Obnoxious brats.

"the unstoppable ps4"

Such scumbags on this site. I don't know how you people live with yourselves. If i was a corporate tool, i would have ended it a long time ago in a depressed, pathetic state, laying in my underwear, in a pool of my own excrement.

[Imalwaysright]

So MS is making all these 180s for people that would never buy a X1? Well if that is true i can't possibly buy a device from a company that is this clueless and incompentent even though I know for a fact that their 180s are the reason why their pre-order numbers are increasing. Maybe MS cares more about consumers that have legit complaints, reason why MS is making these 180s, than they care about corporate apologists and fanboys such as yourself.

[devwan]

@ DARK WITNESS "personally I think it's the opposite. it's the people defending ms and the bullcrap it tried to pull off who are in the small group and the majority are in the other camp."

Truer words have never been spoken. Well, typed.

@deadpoolio "It's still pretty pathetic. It's like a crackhead offering to suck you off for a rock. "

I'm going to send you the bill for cleaning my monitor and keyboard, it's now full of coffee.

[Redgehammer]

LoL

[zeal0us]

What does League of Legends have to do with this?

[SlyFoxC]

@ zeal0us EVERYTHING!

[Sitdown]

Ahhh man, one less argument to use for why I was not going to purchase a system I was never going to purchase anyway. Time to default to my excuse of not trusting a company that does a 180. Seriously though, this is good news to silent even more critics..

[M-M]

This is very good news, the fanboy war should be getting very interesting now lol.

[kneon]

Don't let the multiple 180's influence your trust in Microsoft because if this is true then they will have done two 180's, which means they've done a 360 and are right back where they started ;)

[karl]

im sorry but how is this good news?

this only keeps proving the console could be way more open to our particular needs and not theirs..

MS has said in the past that the xone cannot work without DRM .... without kinect and without being online all the fucking time..

and they have come out and said that it will do all this things over and over again...

soo now u all know it was all a lie... and the only reason they are going back and following ps4 is cuz they are realizing noone will buy it

[webeblazing]

i dont understand y they had to do it in the first place it mad xbone more unique. the was better off dropping the pay to play online. i feel only thing they needed to change was the drm. but you kinda figure its ms so the know if you can get the product and more people hand than the competition the masses will follow i wish luck cause the are listening

[Deadpoolio]

It does honestly show that they have a lack of faith in their product, you don't ever see any company do this many backtracks on any product....It's like a crackhead looking for a rock...Next week they'll be offering to suck people off if they buy their product

[Sitdown]

@Karl

Is it possible that in the xbox one's previous states that all those things were indeed true, but things continue to be modified in order to allow the new changes. Why is it positive....Hmmmm, maybe because people no longer have to worry about Microsoft listening? No concerns of what happens if the camera breaks. The problem I have with post like yours is that this is the nature of the gaming industry as a whole.....Nintendo tricked people with the wiimote plus. Sony told us with the six axis that we did not need rumble, then after launch added it once the law suit was settled They marketed the other os feature only to turn around and remove it. Microsoft is not following the ps4,they are following what people want to continue from previous generations. Most of the time you get what you desire, it can be seen as a positive.....but for you its not..... Not surprised, since you are of the mindset of them following the ps4.

[karl]

@sitdown

sorry m8 but u comparing the sixaxis and the wiimote plus with MS always online system mandatory kinect and DRM just takes all your credibility away..

u didnt see ppl rise up agains sony or nintendo for those things for the soooo obvious reason that its not such a big deal..

the xbox one was a potential threat to ps4 gamers aswell... if they succeeded it was more than just a possibility that all those things would end up as standard in all other consoles..

the same way that sony started charging for MP with PSN plus...

i just dont think they should be left off the hook soo easily

and again.. about your problem with my post and how the nature of the gaming industry is...

its just about making money... i know that.

but being ripped off just seems silly to me..

and MS is only milking all their costumers..

how is it that all this guys let this happen for soo many years? and it took DRM to make ppl kinda stop supporting this company

and when i see someone defend it its just soo weird to me.. cuz this guys only want to milk as much money as possible outta your pockets..

and yes my posts are biased agsint MS.. but not cuz im a sony fanboys .. its their own doing and my consciousness as a consumer that made me look down on them

[rainslacker]

Hey now, never underestimate the resourcefulness of a fan boy to find a reason not to buy a system not of their choosing.

I was always kind of indifferent to the Kinect myself. Didn't really want one, but never played into the conspiracy theories.

I really don't know what to think of MS right now. It's good they are trying to make the best of the X1 by giving consumers what they want. Yes it's for selfish gains, but it's what we want, so it's a two way street. Other companies work this way too, they just usually figure all that out before showing their product to the consumers.

Since their reveal they've been in shambles in PR and marketing, with the only real good thing they've shown being enticing launch titles. They've been trying to be more positive, and show that they are listening. Whether that listening is to us directly, or by watching pre-order numbers doesn't matter. The two things are intrinsically linked.

I said elsewhere that it's good MS isn't as blind as some of their fan boys are on here. If they were, they would be dead on arrival. No amount of rationalizing could overcome reality, and the reality for a while was that a vast number of people were turned off by MS. That's slowly turning around, and for the time being we'll have to wait and see how all these changes affect people final perceptions later on. Until then it's just speculation.

Otherwise, MS is one corporation I really wouldn't trust overall, even before all the X1 stuff, but I don't think they are as evil as some people make them out to be.

[Sitdown]

@Karl

"the xbox one was a potential threat to ps4 gamers aswell... if they succeeded it was more than just a possibility that all those things would end up as standard in all other consoles.. "

That is my point, one company is not necessarily better than the other, and if given the opportunity would take advantage of the situation. You can dismiss my six axis and wiimote comment, but what about the rootkit fiasco? Not only has Sony gone the dry route in the past, but it did so without consumers permission and left their computers vulnerable. There is your uproar stamped with a lawsuit. My comments are not necessarily in defense of Microsoft policy, but in defense of them being made the single enemy, as if they are all not just as greedy and ready to bounce.

[karl]

and i totally agree with u

but the masses only react to the most outrageous of actions from this companies..

it would have to severely affect ppl for them to wake up..

and i just do not think none of the other companies have taken that kind of decisions ..

but what MS has done does fit into that category

all this companies.. they may not give a damn about us but they still need us and need to satisfied us aswell..

and soo u enter into a fine line between pissin´ off gamers and getting as much money from them as possible ..

now MS could have goo maybe one step into that line with just DRM but they also added mandatory kinect always online and thats just going way to far

not even most fanboys could take that and defend the company

but then i cant help but complain when i see ppl trying to forget about this... and let it be part of the past and just take the NEW MS that wants to make gamers its friends

c mon guys this was months ago... if u really can forget all that in months

then u r Fing doom

and i do not denied that SONY likes money just as much as MS... but they know how to please their costumers and how to make profit at the same time.

i dont know what else to say... i think its too soon to let a company get away with this..

[CommonSense]

@ M-M

it's never been interesting. fanboys are idiots whose opinions mean absolutely nothing except to other idiot fanboys.

[Thegamer41]

The Kinect is still sold with the console and still has to be connected, this news is just about turning it off from the settings.
Still good news for the people that where paranoid from being spied on I guess.

[SilentGuard]

the article explicitly said it can be unplugged and the console will still function.

[Virus201]

Did you read the article?

This is his entire statement;
Xbox One is designed to work with Kinect plugged in. It makes gaming better in many ways – from the ability to say “Xbox On” and get right to your personalized homescreen, to the ability to control your TV through voice, Smartglass and more. Kinect allows you to search for your content, instantly move between games and your personalized dash and more with just your voice. Kinect helps you pick up and play by automatically knowing which controller you have in your hands. No more need to interrupt your friends game or navigate through multiple UI screens to sign in and tell the system which controller you are holding. It will even bind the controller to the console if its currently unbound – no searching for special buttons! Of course – these are just a few of the system wide benefits of having Kinect. Games use Kinect in a variety of amazing ways from adding voice to control your squad mates to adding lean and other simple controls beyond the controller to full immersive gameplay. ***That said, like online, the console will still function if Kinect isn’t plugged in, although you won’t be able to use any feature or experience that explicitly uses the sensor.***

[corvusmd]

You clearly didn't read this at all...it flat out says you can disconnect it if you want...this is the kind of stuff that PS fanboys do to talk trash about XB1...they don't actually get the facts, just hear what they want then argue that...the ability to turn it off was OLD OLD news

[Maddens Raiders]

Ok so MS flat out lied when they stated it [Kinect 2.0] was required to play the bone. They were trying to justify a huge volumetric money grab. Now the $500 price tag for something you don't /need/ seems a bit of a problem w/o a new sku, to those with half a brain, so I'm sure that will be coming soon.

Also this makes one wonder what other practices that MS was trying to shoehorn down gamers throats weren't necessarily /necessary/ at all?

This is really good news for those interested in the bone, but like I said the other day - instead of MS using the beginning of the "work week" to talk about games and features of the bone that set it apart, they are yet again reversing course and made to look like this machine or console endeavor in toto, was NOT very well planned at all.

[creatchee]

Stop. Just. Stop. They changed the requirement. They didn't lie.

[slimeybrainboy]

A few weeks back I said 'Don't be suprised to see MS magically find a way to make an XB1 w/o Kinect if they see the PS4 taking a lead against them in the US market.'

This is exactly what they'll do. Mark my goddamn words. They know that there are Day Oners garunteed to sell ou their console throughout the launch window. These people will all get the Kinect bundle. Then Miraculous, MS will find a new philosophy 6 months down the line to have a SKU without Kinect, priced at maximum $400, maybe $350. Then they have offer the same value as Sony, get alot of Kinects out there as showcases for late adopters, and keep the perception of a very high Kinect adoption rate amongst developers and consumers.

Garunteed. And it will be considered smart business once again from MS, not so ethical to conveniently make these miraculous discoveries when it suits them.

[4Sh0w]

Why does everything have to be a conspiracy with you, the console will not navigate as design and many of its functions are cut off without Kinect, that means all you can do basicly play games. If that is working OK, but its not working how they intended. Why split hairs when you know very well people complained it can't be turned off, theyve now clarified it can. Its included so that the install base isnt split so devs can support it more than random add on support.

[buynit]

Omg! A lot of you are just out of control!

Kinect is a big part of the experience ms is trying to do, just like wiiu has the tab thats what nintendo wants you to experience. Sony wants you to experience a slightly more powerful console with a touch pad on the controller.

Stop trying to make xb1 a ps4.. If you cant afford the extra $100 then dont buy it or wait until the price drop.

[_-EDMIX-_]

LOL! Yes people...another day...another 180.

MS did indeed lie about how much Kinect was needed. To say the system can't work is just damn silly. OH STAND BACK...NOW IT CAN WORK WITHOUT IT OMG!

So....how much confidence does one have with anything MS says at this point? How much is Live needed for Netflix? Or Live for game recording? Or Forza 5's "drivatars"? It just makes everything they say sound like a huge lie piled on top of other lies.

I'm waiting to hear the HDD can't be swapped too. A lot of "can't be done" is turning out to be "oh yeah we sorta can now that we are getting beat by PS4 pre-orders world wide".

Kinect is required? ...are we sure cause sounds like a classic "MS LIE" waiting to be revealed...and here we are LOL!

Tell me MS....what else isn't required to work this thing? They have single handedly hurt a lot of trust in them to produce a damn product. Everything with them seems to be some sort of catch with a bunch of strings attached.

Remember when they said the Bluray drive can't be used to play games but only to install them? Funny how a lot of "can'ts" turn out to be can's, by technical design or by greed? Just saying, this isn't they "can't" do it...its that they clearly don't want to. Something to think about with this company.

[XboxFun]

Lies all lies I tell you!!! How in the world could they say one thing and then later on it works the other!! What is this MAGIC??

That must be it, MS used the magic of technology to make a system work without the Kinect.

They blended potions and tail of newt to program magical numbers to make sure Kinect isn't needed to turn on the Xbox One.

[corvusmd]

...or they changed it...not necessarily lied.

[ginsunuva]

Remember, they can't just flip a switch and.... oh wait.

[fermcr]

Kinect 2.0 can the "best" thing ever, but most gamers had a bad experience with Kinect 1.0 and simple don't want Kinect 2.0. They just have to release a X1 without Kinect and not force Kinect 2.0 on every X1. If they are smart, the X1 without Kinect will be present that at Gamescom.

If Microsoft wants a chance at next gen, they need a X1 at the same price as the PS4.

[sycnation]

called it
now we wait til after the fruitless cod multi reveal for the MS mouth pieces to start asking if this SKU u is wanted (it is; id gt my kids one sans kinect)

http://n4g.com/news/1285001...

[PSVita]

WooooooooW

Don't get me wrong this is great but wtf!? They changed every single policy that made the Xbox one the Xbox one. I guess they still have the HDMI IN and everything but this is one of the biggest things that set it apart.

Anyways great news they're doing a great job evening the playing field. Now demand rechargable batteries people.

[EvilDragonX]

Grant i never planned on buying an XBone. I at least had a bit of respect for MS trying to do their own things. Of course I never agreed with what they were trying to do but they seemed at first they were going to try and stand by their product. But now after all these changes this has just become sad, they have no spine left.

[sigfredod]

SHHHHH don´t spoil the next 180, in built rechargable batterys on the controls lol

[Aceman18]

you know with all these 180s happening i'm actually waiting for the planet for reverse its rotation.

if they were to get more interesting exclusive in the vein of Quantum Break maybe, just maybe i would think about spending my hard earned $$$$ on this system. as of now even with this 180 i'm still not buying the system.

[SDS Gamerfiend]

We have spoken! I will no longer be selling my day one edition xbox one! Trolls carry on!

[whothedog]

I don't comment much, but I am glad to see this as someone pointed out that if the Kinect broke, the X1 wouldn't work as well, which doesn't make sense.

[rawd]

WHY CAN'T I HOLD ALL THESE 180's

[showtimefolks]

this is what bothers me, on one hand they and their fanbase/faboys say xbox one is true nexty gen and trying to do innovative things than they keep trying to be like ps4/sony and taking most of their so called features back

you believe in cloud gaming than go for it, yes early on people may not like it but prove to those its the future

always online same thing, prove to people the feature is worth it

but knowing MS they will take back everything and we are looking at 2 of the same consoles doing the same things, with same pros and cons

but one is $100 cheaper

ok so you hear it here first, next you don't need xblive to record/upload videos

since that's one more feature sony is offering for free

what about cross game chat MS? sony is giving that free to think you can match that too please?

not sure if i should be happy or sad that a company is giving up on their vision this early

[JunioRS101]

If they would just sell an Xbox One without Kinect I would honestly become very interested,

but I think that is unlikely with how much they've endorsed and invested in it.

[TomShoe]

Good. Still not buying it though :D

[MysticStrummer]

I continue to be amazed by MS's changing of it's stated One policies since the reveal. I'm not sure any other company of such size has ever done this much reversing in so short a time.

[MWong]

And this many decisions, in such a short time. Soon we will see a reversal of their reveal. They really should change the console name to the XB720 like Shaaunyb suggested.

[CoryHG]

this is now interesting.

[Shaaunyb]

black0o + 1h ago
XboxOne should be called xbox720
180 DRM
180 headset
180 indie
180 kinect

Forgot the 180 Used Games

[Campy da Camper]

Never about the NSA for me rather creepy IT guys at MS or criminal hackers using WiFi to case my pad. This is great news. I'm gonna get one now.

[Ausbo]

Now everyone can shut up about the damn NSA watching us

[BOLO]

NSA doesn't need the Kinect to watch us...It just would've been a conduit.

[Zeref]

So that is one more flame-material down the drain.

Ever since that douchebag don mattrick left. Xbox One has only been going uphill.

[thetruthx1]

Even though I like the thought of Kinect I love this news simply because more people can enjoy the Xbox One AND...........

This makes those dumb spy and NSA jokes/criticisms useless :D

[NeutralXP]

Stfu tool

[Simon_Brezhnev]

Well they still shouldnt had tried this in the first place. Nobody can trust a company like this when they tried to rape you.

[Syntax-Error]

Instead they should've found a way to build it in the system

[Leviathan]

@4"show" You are a derelict ignoramus if you dont think for one minute this "kinekt" shipt cant be used to spy on you. In fact, one of Snowdens future news pieces is exactly about how the gov. uses gaming consoles to track comunications. EVERY camera out there connected to the internet is used to spy on people. You may call it a "tinfoil" hat, I call it knowledge of REALITY. If you dont care about your privacy, that is your issue. However for the rest of us, WE GIVE A SHIP. Go not care somewhere else.

[StoutBEER]

Leviathan didnt understand the article.

[StoutBEER]

I have to say i am actually PROUD of n4g users today. Barely any hate on X1 for this decision. Most are saying positive things about this change. I was expecting completely different to be honest.

[Mrgolden79]

Yup, but see the comment directly below. The only negative I am seeing is from xbox defenders.

[DiRtY]

For those criticising MS: You guys are ridiculous.

The only reason you guys don't like this is because the Xbox One offers less to criticise it for.

We are still months away from release and 2 major gaming conventions are still coming up.

We went from:
DRM IS THE END OF GAMING AS WE KNOW IT!!! (Xbox 180)

to

NO GAMEZ AT THE REVEAL!!! (E3 2013)

to

NO INDIES, SCREW THEM!!! (Every Xbox One is a SDK)

to

KINECT SPIES ON ME!!! (News of today)

to

Well... it comes with a power brick and the controller uses batteries.

As I said MS could cure cancer and you N4G would hate on them for all those doctors losing their job.

[Consoldtobots]

"Honestly after reading the behavior of Sony fans on this site I'm ashamed, literally ASHAMED, to be buying a Sony product at all, because I never want anyone to mistake me for one of you. "

holy crap i knew the butthurt is widespread but i had no idea how deep it runs, the new MS boogeyman loooks like Mark Cerny

[RedHawkX]

oh thats so cute of ms but now they need to take kinect off the xbox one and lower the price to 349.99 and lower xbox live price by 10 dollars and give you free games with xbl subscription and discounts. they need to also remove the paywall on all apps like netflix and free to play games.

[JsonHenry]

Yes, pacostacos. Because the NSA isn't caught in a new scandal every single day. And Microsoft wasn't caught willingly participating in Prism or Xkeyscore. Yes, those tinfoil has were unwarranted.. /sarcasm.

You're being spied on regardless of whether it is through key clicks or MS's Kinect. Don't be so niave please. There is a reason that government agents are being polygraph tested bi-monthly in some cases to be sure they are not leaking more of this info to the press. Its because they have many more scenarios and illegal domestic spy programs they don't want revealed.

ON TOPIC- Glad that MS is listening to their fanbase. This was the thing I needed to hear from MS. I just pre-ordered an X1 to compliment my PS4. Which is nice because for a while there I wasn't planning on getting one. Ever.

[AKS]

@pacostacos

Tin foil hats? NSA spying isn't a made up conspiracy theory.

[TBONEJF]

M$ should sell the kinect separately so it won't cost the XBOX ONE SO MUCH damn money. like PS4 did with their EYE TOY selling it separately with out bundle the camera in their console

[Flames76]

You seem slow

[sigfredod]

Wow Xboxone has become a comedy, every day the product seems completely different form the one anounced, every day they just want to be more like the PS4, the amount of reversals so far is incredible, and what about their stament that the buil the xboxone from the ground with kinect on mind and for that reason hast to be always conected to work?, So ultimately the console was not designed with mandatory Kinect and 24h online checks in mind. Those restrictions were implemented because MS thought their customers will be good sheep and forgive MS's hubris. Never have I seen such a lack of vision for a new console releasing in 3 months

[nosferatuzodd]

Microsoft isn't it evil to live backwards get
Evil live backwards 359 degrees backwards
Get it Xbox 359-360=1 backward now all you're great ideas you're reverse engineering everything lol sad

[3-4-5]

* This should have been their ONLY message about Kinect from Day ONE!

This is why they don't " Get" it. All they had to do is tell us stuff like this during their presentation, but no they focus on trying to sell us stuff instead of trying to inform us of their product.

Wrong people running an otherwise potentially great company.

Microsoft does a lot of good, but they do so many stupid things as well they you can't deny they are out of touch with what people really want.

Hopefully they are realizing they aren't as smart as they thought they were.

[Aleithian]

@pacostacos

The ignorance demonstrated by your comment is impressive. I actually feel nauseous at the thought that you can be so stupid.

[Mr_Pinky]

If true then GREAT....now just give us a bundle where we won't have to buy Kinect.

Since they never said this from the start and always said it needed Kinect for the console to work I'm guessing it's another backtrack, guess this is what the "unfair", "hateful", "unnecessary" backlash got us. Not so silly now is it guys

This is why it's good to complain

EDIT

Really...disagrees for what?

[OC_MurphysLaw]

I agree its great people can "unplug" that were freaked out over it spying on them but 100% disagree about the notion of making a sku with out it. I want 100% of the consoles to come with it so the devs know 100% of the consumer base has it.

edit: @silentguard from a development point of view if you know 100% of your consumer base has a controller at their use...whether in a closet or connected... you will be inclined to make an experience that is actually good and not some tacked on experience. Its the difference between making something gimmicky vs making something worthwhile.

@Mr_Pinky what I like hearing from Whitten was "IF" a game had mandatory "kinect" then the game would prompt you to turn it on. A game like Halo 5 I am pretty confident wont be "mandatory" kinect...but either way you would have it should you need it.

[Mr_Pinky]

But then your forcing people to use it when the whole point of this is so you don't have to use it.

If I'm playing Halo 5 and it requires Kinect despite it being un plugged in a box some where would I really need to get it out to experience Halo 5. I wouldn't want that, I would just want devs to cover over the Kinect parts with normal controller methods, basicaly what they would do if Kinect was never there in the first place. Your not taking any Kinect experience away from anyone then because if you did have it then the game would then use Kinect since it knows it's plugged in

It's not going to make such a big difference to games so devs aren't loosing out on anything all Microsoft is doing is splitting the fans already on those who like it and those who don't.

@SilentGuard

Exactly, I don't see why people aren't seeing that.

[SilentGuard]

so what if 100% of consumer base has it, that doesn't mean 100% of consumer base is going to be interested in using it or any games that require it.

[Fireseed]

@SilentGuard

It matters because if 100% of people have it, devs can guarantee that they will get the fullest support they could possibly garner from the user base for their game. And on the topic of whether not 100% of the people want to use it? Well who the hell cares about those people? I don't see fighting game devs putting in mechanics to draw in the FPS crowd, if you're not interested in it don't buy it. You're not gonna to prevent developers from making games they want in the first place. Simple enough concept to grasp right?

[rainslacker]

For a developer, they will only care about active install base. They are privy to those numbers. Just because the Kinect was available, doesn't mean people would necessarily use it for games. Forcing it does nothing to garner development support.

If they wanted 100% Kinect support, they wouldn't be included a traditional control pad. Take the Wii for example. If a traditional controller had been included, most games would have been designed around that. Even today, the best hardcore games still use the Wii's traditional type controller(forget what they called it).

A Kinect focused game would still only sell to those that actually liked and used Kinect to play games, which this gen has shown isn't that much after the initial novelty wears off.

In the old mandatory scenario, the fan base is still as fractured, although more likely to adopt it.

In the new scenario, with it included in the box still, it's much the same way. Compelling software may cause people to buy it and use it, and at the same time possibly plug in the Kinect if they hadn't prior.

It's much different than the add-on scenario of the Kinect 1.0, where the fan base is fractured and it being a secondary accessory where only about 1/4 of the install base has one. Still that's 20 million people with Kinect. If the Kinect couldn't get decent support with 20 million people wanting games for it, then why do you fathom it would get it under the other two scenarios?

Here's the answer...Motion control gaming just isn't that popular after the novelty wears off. Edonus will come in here and and raise hell over this statement, but the fad has long passed. It's a niche market. It fell off quickly due to poor implementation and support. Kinect 2.0 appears more capable, but it's still just flailing around in front of your TV that kills immersion and isn't suitable for any long term gaming sessions. Motion control in it's current and next gen form is still a gimmick. Just like Motion control has been for this whole generation.

All those other features touted for the Kinect were superfluous to the functions it provided. It's a novelty that soon wears off. If you think otherwise, ask anyone who's brought a Samsung TV with similar features.

I hate to tell you and any Xbox fan boy on here this, but you are in love with something you have mocked all this gen. Motion controls by any other name and all that. Look back and ask yourself at what point you just had to have Kinect 1.0 for your hardcore gaming fix. Then ask yourself why you think Kinect 2.0 will be any different.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

@rainslacker you make a long winded post that while you feel you makes your point ...it doesn't. Developers will use tools and control options if they are their to be used and even more so if they know every user can access it and it makes sense to do. Good games will rise to the top. While you can only see it as "flailing" of arms thankfully developers are more creative and understand that kinect 2.0 is far more than just a motion control device. This is the fundamental problem MS has with kinect 1.0 which admittedly did not live up to potential and gamers like you cling to what they know kinect to have been vs what it has become.

[rainslacker]

I've been a contract developer primarily writing Kinect 1.0 API's for well over a year now. Mostly for PC use. Flailing was more exagerration, but I can assure you that the Kinect 2.0 is not more than just a motion control device. It IS a motion control device. It does pretty much the same thing as the Kinect 1.0, just more precise.

WiiMote and WiiMotion Plus are a good analogy. more precision does not make it more than a motion control device.

Including it in every box does not insure support. If that were the case, we would see amazing support for the Wii U gamepad. Something that not even Nintendo can really do as a first party.

Will those things come? Sure, someone will make great use of it. Will it redefine gaming? Probably not. Like I said, the fact that the traditional controller is still in the box means that's where a majority of the games we play are going to be implemented at.

You know what I saw at E3? Smatglass. That seemed to be where it was at. Kinect support was woefully absent from their E3 presentation. That should be concerning to those that are actually looking forward to Kinect. Ironically, Nintendo is the only console that has "Smartglass" features with every console. Funny that huh?

Motion control is not new. It was a gimmick to start with. Turned into a fad. Died away. No amount of reasoning can make the Kinect into something it is not...and that's a motion control input device...with a microphone and a heartbeat monitor.

You say the original Kinect didn't live up to it's potential. Why do you believe that is? It had a 20 million unit install base. And more importantly, why are you so willing to jump on the Kinect bandwagon just because MS says so?

[OC_MurphysLaw]

@rainslacker if you truly are a contract developer that has been working with kinect 1.0 then you of all people would see where its potential lay and where 1.0 clealry had short comings. I would think you of all people would have a better grasp on what kinect 2.0 would be improving upon beyond motion. And lets be upfront here...if you are a developer why would spend anytime in N4G comments when there are far better forums for developers like NeoGaf? Something just doesn't seem to fit.

[admiralvic]

Would be nice, but it might be better to keep it as is.

People with the current bundles will probably cancel / it will become a headache if you want it for less, but also want it on day 1. It will also bring into question if it will have a day 1 bundle (not saying people care, but who wouldn't want a special edition for buying it on day 1?) and so forth. Plus having it come with all systems will ensure it has more chances to be useful.

[PSVita]

I think it's so that if the PS4s doing much better than the Xbox they'll release a SKU without the Kinect.

[Sitdown]

Disagrees because people want kinect to stay included......that way it is the lowest common denominator. Some just need to realize that if kinect is that big of an issue, then this system might just not be for you.....this is one thing that helps to separate it from the competition. I never purchased the original kinect, so I look forward to the opportunity.

[InTheLab]

Guess there's a ton of Kinect Rivals fans out there.

A sku without Kinect or an Xbox One that's cheaper or equal to the PS4 would be good news for gamers.

The diehards are just pissy about the backtracking...

[Deadpoolio]

Anyone with half a brain should be leery of these One80s....It shows that they don't really have faith in their product and lack conviction.You NEVER see any other company completely go back on everything like MS has..It looks weak and something that consumers who don't like the taste of micro shaft should actually wonder about

It's kind of pathetic at this point it's almost like a crackhead who offers to suck someone off for a rock....They'll say and do anything knowing that the PS4 is dominating the XBO in pre-orders. Next week are they going to finally start offering to give out blowjobs with the XBO..

[vigilante_man]

@deadpoolio

Well they do seem a bit toothless of late so a BJ may actually be something they are good at!

[iamnsuperman]

Didn't they say at E3 the device can be turned off. I may be wrong but I swear that did happen. So this isn't really news

Also that title is a bit misleading as it is in a way but it can be turned off (something that was aid at E3)

[badkolo]

correct this is old news

[OC_MurphysLaw]

they did say it can be turned off but this is the first time they have noted that you can actually unplug the device and the console would still function. Previously they made it sound like the kinect even if turned off had to be plugged in for the console to work.

[iamnsuperman]

Okay I see. I just put two and two together when they said it can be turned off at E3. It is logical

[pyramidshead]

Holy...christ xD
Does this mean they'll be a kinectless sku?

[user7402931]

hell no XD

[pyramidshead]

They should! they'd get a lot more buyers :P. Myself included, down the road anyway.

edit: mm dem disagrees on that first post.

[No_Limit]

Hope not, I don't want a X360 3.5 I want a complete experience and Kinect 2.0 is what separating it from the PS4 offering. Not having it required to connect to the system is one thing but it should be included so the accessory can be used to its full potential.

[Pancit_Canton]

I just realized something. Microsoft could be sue for a lot of things by misleading the public and false advertisement. Microsoft just got disKINECTED.

[PSVita]

Can't sue if they haven't actually bought something.

[Pancit_Canton]

@PSVita

Apparently, you don't know the American court system works. For those that pre-ordered at either best buy or gamestop that requires a money down (pledging that you are committing buy the system upon it's release)and expecting to get all the features they advertise during Microsoft convention or E3. It's a plain and simple false advertisement and misleading the public on all of it's features they announced during the convention

[galgatronth]

Yeah, just try and sue Microsoft, a multi-billion dollar company with hundreds of lawyers. See what happens.

[CoLD FiRE]

That's not true. They've always had a disclaimer stating that specs/policies were not final and suspect to change before launch.

[bub16]

Did you even read article lol

[Starbucks_Fan]

I really wish they would sell just the system without the kinect for 400. Then I'd probably buy it.

[IcicleTrepan]

I am glad they are including it, however they had said the Kinect costs about the same price as the Xbox One itself. so if they removed it, the price would probably come down more than just $100.

Just theorizing here, but let's just say all the above is true and if they did remove kinect.. if the One happened to be $300 against the $400 PS4, what would people say then?

[Campy da Camper]

I'd say I would own both consoles. I'm getting ps4 no matter what because Sony 1st party has proven to me their games are phenomenal. Without having to deal with a damn motion reader would make me buy a xboxone because I can now own another console that plays games. With a controller. Without a damn heart rate reader.

[Drasill]

When did they say it was mandatory to begin with?

[Loki86]

This, they said it would be required to use certain features, but never that it wouldn't work if it unplugged. That was a rumor started on gaf.

[ABeastNamedTariq]

http://www.ign.com/articles...

From the article:

"After a Microsoft-hosted London event around the Xbox One reveal, Xbox's UK marketing director Harvey Eagle has said that the console will not function without Kinect connected."

This seems to be no longer the case, but it was true.

[PSVita]

No It was a fact that it wouldn't work without it.

http://m.ign.com/articles/2...

[Skate-AK]

"As it stands, Kinect must be connected to the Xbox One for it to work. When offline it listens for the "Xbox on" voice command, which activates the console."

http://www.eurogamer.net/ar...

[badz149]

@Drasill

they did! don't even try to imply that they didn't. with the Xbone, any 180 is possible!

and people who think the Xbone couldn't have worked without the Kinect to begin with are delusional! aside from cameras, I can't think of a single thing that was designed to not work without a camera!

[Prcko]

xbone is getting better and better

[maximus1985]

xboxone80

[That_Ninja_Gray_Fox]

Am I the only one who doesn't give a damn about motion control and video cameras when I play games? Can I just have better games and a controller to play them on? I'm sorry but this whole "Its the future" and conrtol your games like Minority Report is really lame.

[IcicleTrepan]

I gave you an agree even though I personally am interested in trying it out. I don't think the average person cares about it, but it is possible that if it is as good as they say it is, and they keep supporting it and diff companies keep trying new things, it could end up being worth it in the end.

Maybe it's a bit of a risk to include it in the box but I think it could very well pay off for the people that want to try something new.

[Medusa]

It just gets better and better, keep it rolling!

[maximus1985]

its about time. also yes keep trolling indeed, those trolls that actually speak up against microsoft is whats making xbox better. now if they could just lower the price

[ginsunuva]

Let's ask for a million dollars next!

[Dan_scruggs]

YAY. Another totally NOT news day. Considering that Microsoft has been saying that the Kinect wasn't mandatory from the beginning.

I'm hope that one day the majority of people will start paying attention to the news they read.

[ceedubya9]

I don't remember them ever confirming that the console could work without Kinect being plugged in. They did say it could be turned off, but this is the first I remember any type of confirmation that the device wouldn't need to be connected to the console. Of course, I could have just missed that confirmation somewhere.

[kneon]

This is the first time they have said you can unplug it, previously they had only said that you could turn it off.

[Dan_scruggs]

Explain the difference to me between something being unplugged (or in layman's terms... off) and being plugged in and turned off (also in layman's terms... off).

Either way power is not going into the Kenect and the Xboxone would continue to function. Correct?

Or does off not mean off where you come from.

[kneon]

As the device itself has no physical off switch it means that should someone hack in to your machine they can potentially turn on Kinect without you knowing about it if it's still plugged in.

Personally I find such concerns to be rather paranoid yet still it bothered many people.

[PSVita]

This is news.

http://m.ign.com/articles/2...

[Dan_scruggs]

http://kotaku.com/xbox-ones...

Now I may be mistaken but It looks to me like this article is about 2 month old for those who aren't paying attention.

[rainslacker]

Why would they have to release an official statement to discredit what was never said in the first place. Having to have something plugged in makes it mandatory, regardless of it's on/off state.

They stated quite clearly that the Kinect was required to be plugged in for the console to work.

They later said they would give the option to turn it "off" when the system was off. This was through software, and not a physical kill switch...which to me would be preferable to unplugging the whole thing, but whatever.

Now they are stating that the Xbox One can work without the Kinect plugged in. No reason to clarify that in the way they did if it were never mandatory. Even if they were, why would they bother to go into, "we're listening to the consumers" since your the only one I've seen who was confused on whether the Kinect was required to be plugged in.

[KonsoruMasuta]

It's different. Before the Kinect has to be plugged in. You could turn it off, but it had to be plugged in.

Now you don't' have to hook it up to the console at all. It is no longer required for it to be plugged in.

[SilentGuard]

Now I can buy an Xbox One.

[Insomnia_84]

I think they will make you keep that thing plugged one way or another, like having certain things in games that can only be done with Kinect, that way you will have no choice but keep the thing plugged.

I'm not convinced yet Microsoft! Give me an sku without the camara and you got my money! This sounds more like a trap!

[SilentGuard]

After reading the update you might be right. Sounds like if they put a little Kinect functionality in every game you would still need it plugged in; just not for watching movies. Technically you don't need it, but in practice you do. Sort of like doesn't need to be always online, just every 24 hours.

[LOL_WUT]

Same here but I still hope they decide to release one without kinect I plan on supporting all 3 consoles again ;)

[sAVAge_bEaST]

yea, it definitely opens up the realm of possibility to owning both consoles,.. I am going to wait a year at least though on the x1, just to see how things play out.

[Campy da Camper]

Bubbles savage for being like minded. If they truly release the unit and you can play games with not having to hook it up then I will buy it. And for all the people calling me tinfoil hat campy I could care less about the alphabet agencies spying on me. They can do it thru my phone. I care about pervy tech guys at ms and criminals hacking my kinect to see if my apt is empty. I've been robbed before. I've also had a ass neighbor hack my WiFi and I use a 14 character password. It can be done. I buy consoles to game. Using a controller. Period. Give me that and you get my money.

[XboxFun]

So you don't have to plug it in for the One to work. Hmmm, that's good I guess. I am still glad that it comes with the Xbox as it should. Because I personally want the full experience of the Xbox One.

I really want to try this improved version of Kinect out the box and not have to pay a separate price.

But what will happen to the NSA that some folks on here were so deadest on? Does this mean there will be no spying of you on the couch playing Titanfall or Dead Rising 3? How now will the government use that important information to fight the terrorist?

Edit:
Check off one more lame excuse for the other camp.

[ceedubya9]

Good. I'll probably always keep mine plugged in, but for people that didn't even want to be bothered with Kinect (people that genuinely had an interest in the One but were reluctant due to Kinect), now they can set the device in a corner somewhere until they actually need it.

[Campy da Camper]

That would be me. Now I have to save up another bundle of Benjamin's Damnit.

[Pancit_Canton]

Next thing you know the Xbone can now play PS4 games. lol

Xbone is trying so hard to be the PS4. Microsoft are trying to kill the uniqueness of Xbone that separate the two console apart besides the CPU and RAM. Microsoft just can't handle the competition and just want to play dirty like they always do last gen.

I do believed that Microsoft are shooting themselves in the head. Hardware is one thing, but software wise. Sony has always have the advantage over Microsoft when it comes to exclusive.

[ceedubya9]

What is so dirty about it? They have been marking off a list of consumer complaints that a lot of people have had since they announced the console. What is wrong with that?

[DigitalRaptor]

This is good news, but damn.. how many backflips does that make now?

A company that is required to do THIS much backtracking in regards to its focus, it's crappy policies, it's attitude towards developers and its attitude towards consumers - all in the space of 4 months - really deserves be questioned to no end. I mean you have to question that or you're really not being a smart consumer/gamer. And by questioned I mean, everything they do put under a microscope, cause if their console was designed with all this idiocy in mind, what else are they hiding?

What does all of this really say about their confidence and position as a console and game creator? About their product?

The only proper negatives now in regards to the XBone, are:

1) 90% of its features are hidden behind a paywall, even the free ones.
2) The DRM is still in the console at launch and requires a patch, even though they can upgrade the GPU and system OS before launch. Why??
3) The XBone dashboard was designed with advertising in mind: http://www.sticktwiddlers.c...
4) They are drip-feeding you sweet nothings about the "Cloud power" when the reality is this: http://www.youtube.com/watc...

They need to come out and justify those things and the XBone will actually be a more relevant and attractive option.

[Gridloc]

Maybe they wouldn't have had to check off a list of consumer complaints after the revile if they asked consumers what they were expecting out of the next Xbox. Microsoft has been telling people what they want lately and having to backtrack on most of it because of low preorder or sales numbers. Their change of heart might excite you but it should have never been that anti consumer to begin with...

[Sitdown]

And you are trying so hard to be a troll.....xbox one is simply trying to be like the 360 and previous generations......not requiring kinect is not a ps4 exclusive,it is continuing with how gaming has always been.

[CalamityCB]

Listening to consumers like a company should and responding to their worries and fears so they wont lose their target audience is "trying so hard to be the PS4"?
Microsoft outlined their console in the beginning and have now adapted to the user base now making it more appealing to the consumers and it also shows that MS is clearly looking out for us without completely ruining the user experience.

[5eriously]

So funny that Sony actually did all that in advance BEFORE they designed the PS4 console in cooperation with dev's and key game players. Why is the gamers requirement with M$ just an afterthought

It's all lies, M$ saw the backlash and preorder numbers, therefore the 180's but unfortunately all that was there can be re implemented easily in future by M$ and I do not trust them for one picosecond. Their past history does not deserve anyone's trust.

So many 180's in such a short time considering the Windows8 woes on top of it.

[threefootwang]

You think MS would've known all this with the previous Gen. Considering what they had with the 360, it makes me wonder how a company as rich as them can screw up so badly with the xboner. SO yes in a way, they really are trying to be like Sony and the PS4.

These changes won't convince me to go back to them, they had 7 years of my money with my 360 and now that I've sold it, I can't wait to pick up a PS4. Sony has been very clear about the PS4 from the start, it really is a no brainer they're going to give MS a good spanking. MS can only do what they do for so long before traditional gamers get fed up with their practices.

[ape007]

nice spin sir, this is great news, now they can offer more freedom in their system, 399$ kinectless xbox one(equal to ps4) or a 499$ all in one

more choice is better

[ABeastNamedTariq]

Hell yeah! If this is true, I'm going to try and pick up their console when Titanfall comes out (instead of Halo like I planned). PS4 is still day one for me, but that's freaking great. It'll be much easier to take to a relatives house - less cords and what not.

[Wingsfan24]

So, what am I paying $500 for now? I mean yea, I still want the Xbox One, I'll still buy it. But seriously, make a bundle without Kinect for those with the mindset their paying an extra 100 bucks for something they don't want to use.

[ceedubya9]

That probably isn't likely to happen. At this point, Kinect is considered part of the package. Not having to use it is probably the best that anyone can get right now. If the 500 asking price is too much, then it will eventually come down in price later on down the road and should be a more desirable package for someone looking to buy at 400 and under.

[no_more_heroes]

Now its perfect. Personally, nothing else needs "fixing" now.

By the way, MS, please don't make a Kinect-less SKU. I want developers to actually have a reason to fully experiment with its capabilities, because if done right, the possibilities are very enticing indeed.

*Edit*
To those saying that it could always have been turned off, that's not new. It's always been like that. The only issue was that, even when turned off, it had to be connected to the console for the console to even work.

Personally, that wasn't really a huge problem for me but I admit to being just a smidgen paranoid, so its good to know that it doesn't need to be connected anymore.

I have no reason to be hating on combinations of burned sand, plastic and metal. I just play games.

[Virus201]

Well said. I couldn't agree more. I would like to see how indie devs and gamers (now that every Xbox One is a dev kit) find new ways to use the Kinect 2.0. Maybe some new game or a cool Windows 8 app (since Xbox One can download Windows 8 apps).

[no_more_heroes]

I keep going back to that horror game example, being able to detect your heart rate and see you in complete darkness, plus the impulse triggers in the controller, could possibly redefine the cat-and-mouse horror experience, if done right.

[nunley33]

Ms said you could turn it off but you couldn't unplugg it for the system to operate. While being off the camera was shut down but not the microphone and was always listening for commands. Now they've backtracked and said you can unplugg it now. I won't say they were lying cause always online and always on kinect was their original plan. I think they should've stuck to the original plan and going back on it upset alot of xbox loyalists who wanted it.

[McScroggz]

At this point I'm just going to wait and see what the Xbox One actually is after it launches. Who knows what it will have/not have and what it will require/won't require.

[PFFT]

I guess the Xbox One unboxing video bashing might be working. I mean it doesnt affect me in the slightest. Kinect or no kinect 500 dollars, 400 dollars etc etc im still getting an xbox one no ifs or buts about it.

[ConwayGritty]

I agree that 'xbone' is getting better and better

Do I believe that saying xbox one will do better now that it is not 'required'? No.
They need to take the hit and include the kinect for 399.99
It may never happen but the kinect was made to be tied in with the xbox one
And I'm actually kind of excited to see it in action.

It's hard to say what Microsoft should do when they keep putting themselves in these predicaments?

Opinions?! ;/

[BLKxSEPTEMBER]

haters will still hate just watch...

[TriangleOffense]

Gimme a price drop or a SKU without one and I'm in

[Kayant]

And the 180 train keeps on rolling making the Xbox one more and more attractive. Makes me wonder why Xbox one was like this pre E3 and before the beginning of the 180s. Was it an attempt to try and get away with some anti-consumer polices? Or was it mainly the influence of don mattrick that these policies where in place and after his departure sense was restored at MS? Kinda like the former Windows chief (Steven Sinofsky) leaving and now MS are fixing things with Windows 8.1.

We will never know but great news all around.

[finbars75]

Not sure if this is good news or not.Whats to say they wont do another 180 down the road after launch.Not to sure if MS still knows what they are doing.This is just showing that MS has no backbone and give into everything.What goes around comes around mark my words MS is up to something.Im not trying to take anything away from MS but to me this is just sending mixed messages to there core fans right now.Who do I believe MS or there core fans.I dont feel this isnt restoring anything until they have there heads on straight.This should have been dealt with before E3 in my opinion.

[Kayant]

Well said. I agree they seem very confused with their vision atm. I was just stating it's great news for people buying an Xbox one. All these 180's make it more attractive to me but I then remember their initial unveiling and that shows me more of what their vision is i think and am not interested in that vision.

[finbars75]

kayant its so weird what there going through.Its almost like there having a life crisis or something and it feels like they have no confidence in the Xbox one and thats why they are changing everything on the fly.Another reason why they should have thought this out better before E3 or even there first showing of there new console.I cant see any reason why I should pick this console up over the others.At least the other companys stood tall and showed us where they stand with the core gamers,none of this well we are going to change this and that out of the blue making me a non believer in what they have created.if you cant stand behind your product from the start then just hold off until you feel ready.To me this is just off the wall crap MS has been pulling.

[5eriously]

Have you ever heard of "Scapegoats"? No one man could have been responsible for all these 180 requirements. It's usually a whole team or department, in this cas M@ as a corporate draconian giant.

[GreenRanger]

Microsoft are doing more backflips than a greased-up gymnast wearing rollerskates in a washing machine that's rolling down the side of a mountain.

[no_more_heroes]

LOL sounds like something I would say!

I'm of the opinion that they should be commended for it though, to some extent at least. I'd be way more suspicious if Mattrick was still in charge while making these changes.

Can't say they're not listening now.

[pyramidshead]

lol! bubbs

[Master-H]

Word.

[Mr-Dude]

Lol, I wonder why they didn't do this in the first place... Says a lot about a company that doesn't stand behind there product. Now they are changing everything about there console. Next stop is the Kinectless SKU and then a new look...

[Prcko]

microsoft changing everything

[IcicleTrepan]

Well they did completely change management. That being said, I like this new change, a lot of people were asking for it. This means if my Kinect breaks I won't be screwed and can still use the system. Also the tinfoil hat people should be able to sleep easier and that particular argument can die.

[Soldierone]

It's basically the same statement though. He says "it can be totally off" does that mean it can be unplugged now? Because if not, then we already knew this. You can turn it off while using it, but it still needs to be hooked up.

[Virus201]

He says, "That said, like online, the console will still function if Kinect isn’t plugged in, although you won’t be able to use any feature or experience that explicitly uses the sensor."

The Xbox One WILL function if the Kinect isn't plugged in.

[Soldierone]

But later when they directly ask him and he replies, he goes "it can be turned off." So i'm curious if this means we could unplug it and go throw it in a box in the garage, or if we need the thing to still be in the room so the Xbox doesn't freak out.

If we can unplug it and toss it, I'm happy. Its the one thing that was really holding me back from the console. Dont want or need Kinect.

[Whitey2k]

Half of the rubbish ms has pulled fanboys still loves them its a complete joke btw this is old news

[CrossingEden]

Kinda like how sony has tons of fanboys who love them despite all of the bs they pulled in the past, but no no, let's forgive all that. -_-

[IcicleTrepan]

Microsoft went through a large upper management change not just in the Xbox division.

How come when they listen to their customers you feel it's a bad thing? Probably because you were never interested in buying one in the first place. As a person buying an Xbox One and a PS4, I'm happy that MS has listened to customer feedback and changed nearly everything I didn't like about the system.

[Soldierone]

The thing is, if they actually listened to fans then all these reversals wouldn't be needed.

They don't listen to fans, they listen to sales numbers. After the crap that was Windows 8, terrible tablet sales, and lackluster phone sales, the last thing they need is Xbox selling badly. so they turned things around the second sales (pre orders) were not amazing.

I hope you are right though, I hope this new management actually listens to people. Not just on Xbox, but all their products.

[kewlkat007]

Wasn't this related to being plugged and online all the time fiasco/Rumor..

I doubt they will make a kinect-less bundle..

There goes the I'm spying on you propaganda..

What else is next? Powerbrick? AA batteries?

[ConwayGritty]

@mw2ftw

Not paying $800?

So when you buy your ps4 with a decent headset maybe, a couple of games and maybe another controller then eventually maybe buy the much less power pseye

How much will that be?

You will save 100 dollars for ps4 and think of how kuch we have all wastes on consols

I do no think that 100 should make or brake a console for anyone

Especially when a kinect is included I mean it's not debate the value is in xbox one

[Belking]

Dude you are wasting your time making sense here. Now people will just move on to the next "complaint"...lol Many people, especially here, were never gonna buy xbox-one in the first place. It has nothing to do with price or whether kinect is there.

[ThatCanadianGuy514]

Hey belking, remember last month or so, your little PM tirade and spins of how Kinect was never mandatory for the console to work, and i tried explaining, yes, in fact, it was.Then you blocked me?

Now we know who really was in denial.
Just keep that in mind.

[DigitalRaptor]

Dude. The value is in Xbox one?

Care to explain to me how the value is in Xbox One, when 90% of its features are hidden behind a paywall. And it's mostly free stuff that they've shoehorned in there under a premium subscription - is inexcusable, and if you think that's value, then good luck to you.

-

@ Belking - as long as logic is provided you'll keep learning, or perhaps not?

Try refuting these points, without resorting to the shallow fanboy accusations:

1) 90% of its features are hidden behind a paywall, even the free ones.
2) The DRM is still in the console at launch and requires a patch, even though they can upgrade the GPU and system OS before launch. Why??
3) The XBone dashboard was designed with advertising in mind: http://www.sticktwiddlers.c...
4) They are drip-feeding you sweet nothings about the "Cloud power" when the reality is this: http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Somehow, these are all positives in the minds on Belking and the rest of the XBox loyalists. I just want MS to come out and clarify all these genuine, unexplained, unjustified points, THEN you can tell me to shut or or inform people to ignore validity.

[GraveLord]

What's the value in a $100 premium for a console that is 40% weaker in the graphics department alone?

$100 is a lot of money to most people. It's the difference between buying an extra game or controller.

The thing about value bundles is that they're supposed to be optional, not forced. Would you buy a PS3 with 10 AAA FPS games, even if you prefer Action Adventure? I mean, its great value and only $100 more expensive!

[Belking]

Weaker in graphics huh? I know which console has more games at 1080P @60FPS...lol Also I know which game took home the most E-3 awards and it isn't on PS4. xbox-one is looking sweet!

[dazzrazz]

misleading as fawk !

[gamertk421]

Keep the Kinect, drop price $50, watch the sales roll in.

[ziggurcat]

i`m seeing more of a $100 price drop because that`s the value of the kinect, which is why xbone was $499 to begin with.

[gamertk421]

Wrong, the Kinect 2.0 is said to be almost the cost of the system, so dropping the Kinect would probably bring a $299 price, but I'd rather they keep it in every console box.

[Prcko]

good news!!

[ainsleyharriott]

Neat.

[Punch-o]

Lack of vision!

[buynit]

More like, lack of gamers scared to move forward..

[ziggurcat]

more like gamers telling MS where to shove their draconian policies.

[buynit]

Well at least all the paranoid foil caps can feel safe from being spied on by the government..

Ms better not take out kinect just to please the few that are scared to move forward, kinect is what seperates it from the two, if you want 2 ps4's then buy 2 of them..

I hated ms over the drm bs but i cant find a good enough reason to hate on kinect like all of you, the damn thing enhances your living rooms entertainment, how can you hate on that? It didnt sacrifice much power to do it either, i just dont get the hate.

[SpitFireAce85]

It should be optional..as in a choice the consumer makes..not something you are forced to buy.But dont
have to use so why spend money on something you dont want. Why is it so hard to understand people want a
choice.If it was up to Sony and MS gamers would buy
all the sh!t that ever comes out for the consoles.

[buynit]

Why is it so hard to understand that it is a huge part of the xb1.. This is no add on like the ps eye toy thats why thats optional, you know damn well the eye or move Doesnt come close to kinect. Lets not pretend that sony is scared of high priced consoles they just couldnt justify their add ons to include it in the box..

You have a choice. you have 3, xb1, ps4, and wiiu...

If $100 breaks you for, imo, a better ui experience then enjoy the ps4 and wait for a the price drop..just stop trying to make it into another ps4 cause if you really havnt looked too much into it kinect is about the only and biggest difference from the 2.

I would like to see what kinect can grow to and its full potential can only be reached if everyone has one, good luck to move if kinect takes off.. Move would never catch up cause its an add on..

[deadie]

@SpitFireAce85:

Fortunately we have a product for people who arent liking this form of kinectivity.

Its called Xbox 360.

;)

[Omegasyde]

They will remove kinect to make the console price cheaper, just wait. If PS4 is beating MS in sales, definitely expect it.

Then a year from launch kinect will only be supported in a handful of games, but atleast you can say Xbox "go home".

[ExitToExisT]

Sell a $400 package without Kinect and i'll buy

[Cmk0121]

My biggest thing here is why isn't a single launch kinect game available when it's been known to be bundled with x1 forever ??? Still getting one because I like the functionality of the kinect but makes no sense

[PositiveEmotions]

So far ms has done a 540 in total.

1. First the drm/always online.
2. Felf indie publish.
3. Now this having the option to turn off your kinect.

Tbh nothing has really change for ms i mean the ps4 still winning.

This is a terrible year for xbox.

They even made a unboxing video of the xb1 i for one wanr to experience unboxing my ps4 myself :).

Still tho good luck for ms i guess.

[riceking]

you forgot headset.

[ziggurcat]

... and HDMI cable (which wasn't originally included).

[Swiggins]

While I'm sure this is going to please a lot of people in a big way (I know several people who wouldn't buy the Xbox One simply because of the NSA fiasco), I think this is a big mistake.

By making Kinect Mandatory, it pretty much insured that at least SOMEBODY was gonna figure out how to use the damn thing properly.

Kinect as a device has enormous potential, but because it was optional and didn't have a large install base, not enough talented people were working with it to make it worth while, which is why we got nothing but minor additions to good games, and shovelware full titles.

Now I feel like Kinect 2 is going to get the same shafting as Kinect 1, which is a damn shame, it really was the only thing the Xbox One had over the PS4 as far as tech goes. (The dubious power of the cloud non-withstanding).

[corvusmd]

Well I can completely see why they did this, it's a smart decision considering the fan base they are dealing with. However personally I kinda wish they didn't do this. Anyone thinking they were gonna get spied on just because their system had a kinect is ridiculous, and I liked the fact that since every user would have one it would motivate game makers to invest in the technology and help advance it. I get it, and now PS fanboys have one less thing to cry about (that even they know isn't a big deal), but I will still be using mine.

[ziggurcat]

this was the one thing preventing me from getting the xbone (mandatory kinect).

now (assuming a cheaper SKU will be made available) i will definitely buy one.

[buynit]

You know you have more excuses lined up...

Ms has done enough to win me back, im buying both day one.. I never had a problem with kinect just that stupid drm... I would be very disapointed if ms took kinect out the box. All fanboys are going to say is " well the ps3 is 50% more powerful" so the xb1 should be 350$.. Imo xb1 will have the best ui due to kinect, i will have fun with it and killer instinct of course... Imo ms came with more on the table they just handled it all wrong..

I dont care what anyone says, the tv integration is great... The way you can go from game to any other media so smoothly.... How can you not love that feature? If you hat that.. You must not have a decent set up in the living room...

[Prcko]

My guess remains that Microsoft listened to the pre-orders and when they saw that pre-orders were far below expectations they attempted to right the ship

[Mr-Dude]

I think you are right...

Shall we call it damage control then?

[FrigidDARKNESS]

Thats the End of those NSA rumours.

[ma1asiah]

This is awesome news, though WTH people

Seriosly Kinect 2.0 needs to remain bundled with every X1 otherwise it will become just another gimmick like Kinect 1.0 is on the X360.

Removing it would be disastrous for MS and for the X1....I was all for not making it mandatory for the X1 to work but a Kinectless SKU is not something I ever want to see.

If you choose not to use it then that is your choice. HOWEVER once developers find unique and exciting ways to use Kinect 2.0 in core games then seriously you will be gald that you have it.

Judging Kinect 2.0 based on the failed Kinect 1.0 is like stating that X1 graphics are the same as the orginal Xbox, we all know that is just not true

Its apples and oranges people.

Kinect 2.0 is going to be awesome and no not in the whole flappy, flappy wave your hands in the air like you just dont care crazy person kind of way (though I am sure my daughters will still enjoy those types of games any way)

I want the WHOLE X1 experience NOT a fragmented one so I am staying online, I am buying my games digital and I am embrassing Kinect 2.0 fully.

I seriously can't wait next gen is going to be off the hook for sure.

On a side note I don't know how people didn't pick this up in Major Nelsons X1 unboxing when he said we have done something cool with the power button.....that was a dead give away.

[ma1asiah]

Just one more box left to tick and I am sure people can guess which one that is and NO not a Kinectless SKU lmao.

Their Gamescom conference is going to be where MS and the X1 bring the BOOOOMMMMM!!!!!

I am so counting down the days until there bigger announcements and when they reveal there yet unannounced game possibly Crackdown 3 or maybe EPIC's Fortnite but who knows.

So glad my preorder is paid off the X1 juyst gets better and better.

Man how far they have come since their disastrous May reveal.

Still better they make all these changes now prelaunch.

[staticdash22]

I'll get one next year and the first thing I'll do is sell the Kinect.....then we're all good!

Sell a $400 SKU without Kinect and I'll pre order one in the next few minutes.

[kingPoS]

So many 180's my heads a spin'n...

I guess in the end the customer is always right.

[Lucreto]

This is good news

Just out of interest will anyone here even plug it in?

[ziggurcat]

now that it's not required, no.

at least they'll get a sale out of me since it was the only thing left that was keeping me from buying one. nothing to do with the NSA nonsense - because i don't think they would've spied on people - out of principle, i didn't believe that a camera peripheral should have been required to operate the console, especially if it wasn't even necessary to navigate the system software.

[riceking]

with all the 180's microsoft been doing i can finally call it the xbox 720.

[RavageX]

You know, they might as well rename the console cause' this is nothing like it was in the beginning. It's basically a whole different system completely.

That is a good thing by the way.

Still, some people will be paying more for something they don't want and don't have to use...and apparently don't have to have.

Why?

[SilentGuard]

Requiring Kinect wouldn't do anything for Kinect anyway. Why would developers spend time integrating Kinect 2.0 in a meaningfull way when even with 100% install base Kinect would only appeal to those that already like Kinect? People that don't like Kinect aren't going to suddenly start liking it and buy Kinect games because they have one in the box. Kinect functionality wouldn't be a selling point for those that don't want Kinect in the first place. Third party multiplatform developers aren't going to go out of their way to program Kinect functionality in games just for the One when if they do it wouldn't be a viable game on other platforms.

This is a smart decision by MS that will put at ease much of the concern, real or imagined, over having it constantley plugged in. Those that love Kinect and are in on MS's fetish for it should be happy that including it with every console at a higher price point means those that don't like or want Kinect are subsidizing you. Including it in every box but making it optional to plug in and use is a good compromise. Most people would plug it in anyway since its included, but having the option not to shows MS is listening and not shoving Kinect in the face of everyone else that doesn't care for it.

[Nocando]

Oh for gods sake, just scrap the whole thing and start over then. Come back with 12 gig of DDR4 and an HD 8900 series based GPU in 2014.

[black0o]

1. Xbox one makes new radical changes
2. Everyone hates Xbox One and loves ps4
3. Xbox backtracks and gets rid of lots of changes
4. Everyone still hates the new xbox one

coming soon

[moscardini7]

I feel sorry for them , they never have reall plan for us games , now they are changing things so they not lose everything ,

[ThatCanadianGuy514]

It's almost as if MS has no idea what they are doing at this point.

[RandomDude655]

This console has no identity.
Microsoft just continue to muddy the message.
What is this thing?

[riceking]

a cable box.

[moscardini7]

They lost trust off games

[RavageX]

Look, if they wanted kinect to do well all they have to do is make a proper core game for it, not endless dance games and silly kid stuff.

A boxing game. Not a kiddie one, not an arcade one, a full blown "Fight Night" style title. Option for YOUR stats are used in create a boxer(though this might be good for a laugh).

Well, it might not help actually but I'd love to see one.

I am hoping that someone does something like this with the PS4.

[Wizziokid]

Do MS even know what they want the X1 to be at this point?

[moscardini7]

I An never going to forget this year ,first E3 and now company who all this changes , history in making , I hope games never stop speaking out what they want, Sony and Ms competition is what make games great . LONG LIVE GAMES . FIGHT ON

[EXVirtual]

Good for future XB1 buyers. But I'm very- curious. I'm thinking you guys know what I'm talking about. MS don't seem to know what they're doing as well. This is interesting.

[Ninjamonkey82]

Microsoft backflips buts its great for gamers and good to see.

[SynestheticRoar]

Make it the same price as PS4 with no Kinect, and I will buy that mother today.

[ForgivenZombie]

They said the Kinect 2.0 cost almost as much as the system itself, so I'd like to see a Kinect free model at $299-350 range.

[Ch1d0r1]

Too many one 180's we might as well start adding them all and call it the Xbox 720 like almost everyone predicted.

[sAVAge_bEaST]

DRM 180 ONLINE CHECKS 360 HEADPHONES 540 KINECT PLUGIN 720

I can accept the xbox 720. (but will never forgive/forget their lies and deceit)

but will be keeping it classy on the Playstation 4.

[CrossingEden]

Um, what lies? Microsoft were completely honest with what they wanted to do with xbox one -_- apparently honesty=lies in the eyes of gamers.

[sAVAge_bEaST]

DRM , was built in,. Kinect was essential for the system to function,.

Really ?

[Ch1d0r1]

Xbox 1080? Xbox 3600?

[Omegasyde]

Crossing Eden - their initial reveal to e3 states otherwise.

I wouldn't say they lied, but holy $%#% they can't keep a valid business plan.

At this rate, DRM will come back and the console supports HD DVDs.

[Johnsonparts23]

My main issues with the xbox were the drm used game stuff, and the price. Mostly the price. To be honest though, if I were to get an xbone it would be because of the kinect. It has some cool features and some potential to be a useful add-on, so I hope they don't come out with a kinect-less xbone, but that they do lower the price. I'm sure that won't happen (at least for awhile) but that would be ideal. That being said I've preordered a PS4 and am happy with that decision.

[BX81]

Confirmed day one Xbox for me and ps4 a little later down the road. This is what I was waiting for.

[Hueynewton2012]

The only way i will consider purchasing this system is WITHOUT kinect....

The simple fact that they spent millions designing a controller without an internal battery says a lot about the potential of this system and Microsoft as a hardware maker. I see more hardware issues on the horizon......

[n4rc]

While allowing people to unplug is cool, keep the paranoia down.. But I'm still against removing it from all systems..

Best of both worlds now I guess... But I certainly don't want development hampered to save someone $100.. So as long as it stays mandatory, I'm cool

[XabiDaChosenOne]

Looks like I will pick up an Xbox one later down the line.

[voodoogts]

There was a link already posted about Major Nelson mentioning that there will be announcements regarding XB1 hardware specs. He tweeted saying...
"Don't mind our current hardware specs on our site. Note on our page that we mentioned things may change prior to release. We have a surprise for you come Gamescom ;)."

This tweet was later deleted. Also it was mention from a user on the Xbox fourm but layer was deleted.

[BattleTorn]

Interesting.

[Stevino123]

They shot down 12 gigs, possibly a bump in clock speed. If they lied about the ram, then that would make most of the gaming counity angry.

[Hayabusa 117]

Good news. I'm still pleased they're pushing the Kinect to be in every box, I think it's a bold and risky move that may or may not pay off, but it's simply daft to force the thing to be plugged in all the time, especially since you supposedly turn off all the kinect features...it just wouldn't make sense.

I'm still getting a PS4 first though because it's cheaper. And if MS released a kinect-free SKU, I'd probably wait 'till I can afford the SKU with kinect.

[EazyDuz22]

Hats off to MS for listening to their customers. But, i get a strong feeling of 'too little, too late'.
I like the analogy of the consumer being the high maintenance girlfriend, and MS being the beta male boyfriend.
'You dont like me? I can change, give me a chance to change! just dont cheat on me with PS4!'

[BattleTorn]

Not sure I agree. (Cause if being greedy is beta, companies aren't meant to be 'good bf' - if ya know what I mean)

But I liked the beta boyfriend analogy.

[kakashi81]

My thing is that if a game don't require Kinect, the developers should be able to use that 1GB of RAM IMO.

[Silly gameAr]

OK, this is a step in the right direction for people that are interested in the X1, but the mandatory Kinect was holding them back.

[Omegasyde]

But if its not required why bundle it?

[Silly gameAr]

To justify that $500 dollar price I guess.

[brianunfried]

Xbox One is slowly turning into PS4, weird.

[sAVAge_bEaST]

Bravo, -Congratulations guys, we can take this as a small win for keeping our living rooms anonymous.

[JumpingJames88]

...but, when you turn the camera off, IS IT REALLY OFF?

[johnsonbat]

Microsoft are a mess.

[MRMagoo123]

Hey its all us sony fans that are making MS change their entire console lol (apparently) so lets pressure them into making it not even play games at all. How funny would that be for a 180 "We at Microsoft feel gaming is important but we hear our fans and will be making the console a tv box no games will be released for it but i do think it will still make a very good media hub in homes around America."

[ssbains]

The XBox 1 is missing two numbers, which are 8 and 0. It should be called XBox 180 based on the reversal of all original design principles that nobody cared for. It was clearly designed by baffoons who had no idea what customers wanted, truly a shoddy strategy and product.

[Tsukuyomi]

Xbox still sucks at the end of the day lol

[Morgue]

Funny. I haven't really been on here over the past month and a half until a few days ago and now the X1 seems like a completely different system. Does that mean I'll buy one in the future? No.

And how unfortunate for MS that they had to do this in order to sell their console because it now seems to me that when its actually released, people may wonder what the hell they're actually getting. Your average consumer probably doesn't know the poop storm that MS was hit with and won't care about teraflops and GDDR whatever. They just want to play games.

[mahmoods26]

MS what the hell is wrong with you.

You're like a spastic child with mental issues right now.

I mean I didn't agree with your kinect bs and wasn't going to buy your console. But stick to your guns man, show some integrity, try to prove your side, don't just pussy out. What is wrong with you??

[1nsomniac]

Too little too late, still not buying it!

Microsoft have shown their true colours & the stupid people among us have shown us who they are by accepting it & making silly conspiracy comments to try & make themselves look less stupid while infact doing the complete opposite.

[Plagasx]

Wow, they really are turning the console around little by little. Keep it up M$ and I'll buy X1.

[InTheZoneAC]

if M$ was really listening they'd sell the console without kinect.

but all the xbots will still buy day 1 and cheer they don't have to plug in the sensor they were forced to buy...

[kingmushroom]

lol what a joke

[josephayal]

time to buy xbone

[oldassgamer]

So, Kinect is not required... Buuuuuuuut... You still have to buy it.

[GraveLord]

"The thing we all understood, and hence this change, is that there are some scenarios where people just may not be comfortable. We wanted people to be 100% comfortable, so we allow the sensor to be unplugged. And clearly the “it dropped” scenario is possible. "

They barely figured this out? I mean serious, how out of touch can you be with your consumers? Just give people an option to buy the console without Kinect already. You're going to cave in eventually. No point in delaying the inevitable.

[ForgivenZombie]

cool, now give us an option without Kinect for $299 and i'll get it to keep my ps4 company

[jairusmonillas]

This is why you shouldn't support Xbox One, they got comfortable with the success of 360 and they thought they can force everything they want. With that attitude they can do whatever they want once they got you to buy xbox one and you can't do anything about it especially if you already invested alot for Xbox One games and accessories.

You've been warned. Don't be surprised if they patch DRM back again once the fanbase are up. This is Microsoft we are talking about, they want to force things they are doing all these 180s not because of consumer feedbacks but because of ps4 preorder destroying xbox one's preorder.

[PSnation4]

microsoft might do a xbox without a kinect for $400 but then charge the kinect2 $200 by itself... $$$$$$$$$$

[etownone]

Maybe.

Still great news.

Just bring on a Sku without Kinect for $400

[Sevir]

We should just call MS a Traffic light, because all they do is give Mixed signals... I fully expect to hear at Gamescon that Kinect isn't coming in the retail unit, which would make the unboxing video they just did a lie, and then they'll say the console will cost $400 in the US!

So At first it was DRM and Online check ins and no used games, a week later it's oh just kidding lol you can play trade uses games like on 360,

Then No microphone, a few weeks after that one magically appears in the unboxing video.

They say The value is all there and Kinect is mandatory, but wait get this, Today You MAGICALLY don't need Kinect plugged in to use the system, but and you can turn it off, but since you don't need it for the Xbox one to work, we are still forcing you to buy Kinect and Xbox One for $500...!

Lmaooo and you Xbox zealots want a product that from a company that chased a different market instead of the gamers that brought the brand notoriety? This company can't be trusted...

I have NEVER seen a company do solo many policy reversals after 2 bad press conferences. Lmaooo Sony has this in the Bag!!!

[etownone]

'I have NEVER seen a company do solo many policy reversals after 2 bad press conferences"

Is this supposed to be a bad thing?

On PS3, Sony took out rumble then bought it back,
They had BC then took it away.

And so far everything that MS is doing is great news for gamers.
Why complain?

Oh... This is N4G. Never mind.

[Sevir]

Rumble, or force feed back on the PS3 absent from launch because of Litigation they had with the company, I don't remember Sony ever claiming that Rumble was not needed and that the PS3 couldn't do it, it was added after they cleared the litigation they had with haptic.

We all know how backwards compatibility was with them, and they got rid of it to bring the price down, the PS3 still does bc but very limited, just like the 360.

This company is just all over the place, it's great newsthat they are doing this, the problem is this all seems disingenuous, they've been saying since E3 they wouldn't change anything and Sony's decree to the consumer didn't make them change, and yet, weve seen back treads on policies, features and now this latest attempt with saying you don't need Kinect to function but we are gonna force people who don't need it to have it. Even though the f****** dongle ups the console price by a premium of $100. That's the problem, this console was totally anti consumer and gamer and Sony has been raping them in presales.

[Stevino123]

It is a bad thing, you are taling one thing and making it worse, They killed Family Packs, Gamesharing, and now they are changing EVERYTHING! Do you know what the word Integrity means? Does Microsoft know what that means? I hate to be the Fanboy but, in the long run, We got great developers, please do not disagree with that, we had Last of Us, and you are completely oblivious if you think we have terrible games. We have most of the Indie Devs, At the moment you have 3 Indies coming to Xbox. I don't think that's as great. I will admit, Xbox Live is great, they invested their money into it, yet, I think the PS4 can pull off a comeback. I mean, look, If Xbox throws a punch, wouldn't Playstation try? Common Sense, I like both systems, we just focus mainly on games and you have a system made for entertainment. I know these are Valid points and I don't think you could disagree with me. Either way, I will stat with my fanboy roots amd stick with the Playstation 4, in the long run, we will have great success.

[wishingW3L]

@Sevir Sony did say that they removed rumble because it was last gen.

http://www.1up.com/news/son...

[Quicktopick]

@wishing

this was what happened.
http://www.playstationlifes...

[joshuatobi]

Although im a ps fanboy im actually happy for the xbox guys because xbox seems attractive to own hell I most likely will get one in the future for sure

[maximus1985]

its funny that now xbox fans are saying "this isnt news, it was always like this" next if microsoft lowers the price to 400 like ps4 theyll say "it was always 400, this isnt news"

[LeCreuset]

That's the logical thing to do. It's not only a good move in terms of privacy, but also maintenance. One of the things that bothered me about Xbone was it unnecessarily has/had parts which could fail and cause the whole system to be inoperable. That would be the Kinect and the unremovable hard drive.

[crazyeightz]

I had emailed IGN on the ask microsoft articles about the use of mandatory Kinect in order to use the XBox. My biggest concern was if the Kinect breaks would it render the One a brick. Now that the question have been answered, it will be both the PS4 and Xbox One on launch day for me. Only problem now is finding a site that still have One preorders.

[etownone]

OK.. Now bring on a Kinect-less Sku cheaper then Ps4
And it Will be the MEGATON of gamescon

I know I want one console with Kinect.
But I buy multiple Xboxs and those I don't want to have Kinect.

[Metfanant]

So now "IR Blasting" doesn't work and you can't control your cable box...killing one of the Xbone's biggest features...

lol

[LeCreuset]

I almost hate to say this, but I don't think it would be smart business for MS to do an Xbone SKU without the Kinect. There's only so much you can scrap without just redoing the whole thing. Sure they can sell a cheaper Xbone without Kinect, but remember sacrifices have already been made for the Kinect, whether it's in the box or not. I'm talking about the difference in RAM between the Xbone and PS4. That's not going to change. The only thing MS can do at this point is try to sell a different experience (Kinect) as a way of compensating for the weaker specs.

[Monkeyonfire13]

DUDES seriously By the time the damn thing comes out it'll be known as the Xbox 1080*

[kingdip90]

I think all the 180's add up to 720 ironically enough

[Brix90]

The consoles looking more appealing but I don't understand how they can say its vital to the Xbox 1 then you can disconnect it now. I hope they realize that a lot of people will probably just leave it in there box. I loved the argument that people were using that MS is backing their kinect so that developers would be encouraged to make use of it and will get more support because the PS eye wasn't bundled with PS4, it looks about even now. Even though the kinect is the better camera its just showing that its nothing more than accessory and not vital to the console. I for one will buy an X1 when its 300-400 an if it comes with the kinect It will be connected when I have use for it.

[BX81]

I think they really thought they had a solid plan. I also don't think they expected this big a back lash from gamers. Online sure but the community for once came together and voted with voice and money. Weather it game MS the kick in the ass it needed remains to be seen. The direction they're going is a good start for me though. I wanna see some cool stuff for kinect. Not just kiddie games but some hardcore applications. I'm not even sure what they could do with it but ill be there.

[hairy]

someone with a ps4 pre order should totally switch to xbox one now and let me have theirs, Microsoft totally rules,..ok i can't even pretend. I didn't pre order a ps4 and now i'm scared i won't get one at launch,..xbone still sucks :(

[Rhinoceros]

We already saw tens of millions of people drop $100 to $150 on the Kinect 1.0., not to mention the Xbox 360 + Kinect bundle (which was $399 at which time the Xbox 360 was a 5 year-old console), which puts the Kinect into the gaming world's fastest selling peripheral device in history.

[shadyiswin]

you forget what site this is,,i think of this site as the playstation to the rest of the media,where has ign and gamespot are like xbox,maybe when this site stops trying to spread nothing but bad news on xbox it will be taking serious,in the past few days everything has been bashed for no reason the "unboxing" even though sony showed everything that was in the box months ago,now it was horrible xbox ruined the surprise for people who are supposedly not getting an xb1 lol "the controller takes AA batteries soooo lol i use an AA set of batteries now,they will just go right to the xb1 if u like the ps3 approach then by a play and charge kit,i dont get the problem. You can now unlug kinect,omgoshhh guys another 180! like stfu all these changes are for us they do not have to change anything and will still sell millions just cause mainstream america could careless about the ps4

[NeoTribe]

Lol this is hilarious. Funny how the people xbots call trolls are somehow sculpting the xbox to be more like ps4 every week just by bitching in articles and forums. You would think they never made a console before.

[Devilbringer]

This is Great for those who is getting the Xbox one!

i still getting a ps4 tho cause i really wanna play Infamous second son and the next naughty dog game!

but great news for xbox folks

[SpideySpeakz]

Wow, Xbone is transforming into a PS4. That's a good thing.
MS, just do whatever Sony does.

[DevilishSix]

Hmm, figures everything about the X1 was a cash grab. MS thought they had some power over gamers and the industry to impose all these things, then they saw preorder numbers and realized they are powerless....gmers/consumers have the power.

Now I will either sell my Day one preorder or cancel and wait cause in 6 months a Kinectless SKU will be offered at $100 to 150 cheaper...I can wait for that while I play my PS4 Day One preorder.

[shadyiswin]

get over it,they will never release an xbox without kinect unless its like 5 years from now or you get a used one at gamestop,and i like knowing every single person is able to video chat or voice chat,

[JohnS1313]

The Xbone is going to be a mess. All of these last second changes will screw it up. Don't waste your money. When a company backtracks like this it means they know they're in trouble.

[KillrateOmega]

Thank you, Microsoft. You finally pulled your head out of your *** and got rid of the mandatory Kinect. I'm not being sarcastic here. I'm being serious. This is awesome :)

Now if you can just release an alternate SKU that doesn't come with Kinect and is priced at $399, then you'll have my money just one year after I get the PS4 instead of my previously stated two. Hell, if they released such an SKU, then I might just get it this year.

[Kidmyst]

Wow MSFT, is there anything you havn't done a 180 on? OK I suppose next will be the features no longer behind a paywall. Seriously though it's great for the consumer but MSFT is looking scared and desparate to lock in more sales. They should have just stuck wit what their niche was and promote it. Backing down sends mixed messages.

[DaGR8JIBRALTAR]

pac said it best...."the power is in the people and politics we address". Bottom line is we can get a lot accomplished if people stand strong, unite and speak out. this was just a small example.

[generalthadeape]

Fucking pussies!

I said it when they did the 180 on the DRM & I'm saying it once again.

Microsoft doesn't have a clear vision for the future of gaming.

I won't buy the XBOX One no matter what policy they reverse next.

The spineless bastards just cave in time & time again.

Still not gettong it no matter what they say next.

[Shadowstar]

Can we start calling it the Xbox Pancake? More flips than an IHOP.

[Stevino123]

Honestly, I think Xbox One is kinda hitting the limelight, and I'm impressed, yet sony has been too quiet. Don't cha think? Anyways, Both consoles are good, I just like the PS4, because of Games, Hardware, Indie Support, Exclusive DLC for Watch Dogs and The Division. I'm a bit jealous of Xbox because I really want Sunset Overdrive!

[Quicktopick]

thats because sony doesnt nid to change anything, they have been firm on their stand since the unveiling of the ps4. no nid to make a lot of noise when the console itself is in the main spotlight. In gamescom though, thats where we will see alot of noise. bring it on!

[Funky Town_TX]

Can't please everyone. The xbone is looking better and better. Now I don't have to worry about making PS4 my first next gen console.

[arbitor365]

are people really grovelling at microsoft's feet just for reversing policies that shouldn't have been there in the first place?

that is like foiling a rapist and then dating them afterwards

[DaGR8JIBRALTAR]

funny...

[FullMetalTech]

Now they just need to change the name of the console. They pretty much reversed everything they were against since the reveal. Pretty much doesn't need to be called a One since you don't need it to be an all in one anymore.

[DevilishSix]

As someone stated in a very early comment with the number of 180's added it would equal 720. That is what the name should have been.

180 DRM
180 Always online
180 Kinect required
180 Indie games

Yeap thats 720.....or Xbox 180 still rings true.

Just teasing, I guess this new Xbox leader lady is making some changes....seems Don Mattrick's head was found in his a**.

Now they just need to make a Kinectless SKU and they will be fine. I bought my 6 year old a Kinect almost two years ago. Even she hardly uses it.

[wishingW3L]

this is going down in history: how the Xbox One went from 1 to 180. It seems that those pre-orders are even lower than we thought! XD

[90Supra]

and yet another 180...

[Izzy408]

so what do you want?

[Elda]

A PS4!

[90Supra]

@Izzy408

.....for Sony to stop bullshitting and give us a release date for the PS4

M$ can change whatever they want.....not interested in their console at all.....its just hilarious to see all of their flip-flopping.....i hope they keep it up...hahaha

[MotoDot]

*sigh*

[_FantasmA_]

Translation: "We are on path towards disaster, with low pre order numbers, we don't care about you little people, we just want our money and we will do whatever it takes to get that money."

Would you forgive a girl that tells you, "I'm going to cheat on you and sleep with so many guys." Then when you threaten to leave or stop helping her pay the rent or any other bills, she says "just kidding" because she needs the money, not because she loves you, because lets be honest, she never did. She was and will always be a gold digger. How can you still be with her? What kind of man are you that you have no morals and no respect for yourself? Why not be with the girl who never had these bad intentions to begin with and was always loyal to you?

[DaGR8JIBRALTAR]

good metaphor. ..

[Izzy408]

Isn't the goal of every company to make a lot of money? Sony has the same goal in mind, the only difference is Sony knows how to market their product.

[Quicktopick]

not just marketing their product. their policies towards gamers are what diffentiated them in the first place in this up and coming gen. For Gamers!

[IQUITN4G]

Well that's a big shame then. The whole point with Kinect being central was that games could be more than what we have now on Kinect ie mostly full on kinect games. Because now not everyone will have one as part of their system, this means games wont be based around furthering the experience ie we'll likely still have full on kinect titles which happen to be rather rubbish

The potential of Kinect isn't in jumping around at all in games despite how this can be fun, but rather clever use of the device in expanding the experience in subtle but clever ways. With this now fractured, the core game has to be built around the idea that people don't Kinect and therefore the game wont be built around it. It really is a shame

Edit: oh just read this a bit more and it seems I didn't need to be concerned. Yes Kinect is definitely a defining feature and I look forward to how it's used

[wishingW3L]

you're still believing that bullcrap? My goodness. Kinect can't do crap, it's just a webcam with a mic! XD

http://i.imgur.com/LL3Nf.pn...

[Keregan]

Another great new for the xbox one. Keep them coming MS ahahahahh

[Max-Zorin]

Lmao at these comments. Customers are unstable creatures.

[gamer7804]

This was always the case, You could turn kinect off via software, it's just now u can do it with hardware unplugged for the paranoid users. Now if only those users could unplug the mic and camera from their smartphones could they truly find peace...

I'm glad they are staying true to the dev base and bundling kinect with every Xbox one.

[Drainage]

microsoft just refuses to lose to ps4 in north america. Its almost a blessing for them that they got a few months to fix all their bullshit before launch. Sucks for sony mainly because there isnt much they need to improve

[cyclindk]

Hmmm... how to get the most agrees with my comment...

Lots of change happening lately over at Microsoft yes?

Argue against that one disagree'ers!

[cyclindk]

Son of a...

[Thomaticus]

This good but pointless if MS doesn't have a SKU without the Kinect. If you're forced to buy Kinect, then you might as well use it.

[AceBlazer13]

well hoooly shyt hell just froze over. good for microsoft

[scorpio_gamer]

Why don't they name is Xbox 180? that suits them better :P

[HalfNerdHalfAmazing]

I'm starting to respect M$

[xc7x]

cool,then for sure i'll eventually get an XO if there's a sku without Kinect

[NarcolepZZZZZZ]

I really don't see the big deal. Microsoft is selling a product. Part of that product is a kinect sensor. It's there, in the box. When you buy a car for example you're pretty much guaranteed, even on a zero option model that it comes with an a/c, spare tire, radio, probably cruise control, reclining seats and a cupholder or two. NONE of these are essential to the operation of the car but all of them raise the price of it. Why aren't you in an uproar? Because that's just how it comes. Oh, you're deaf? Still comes with a radio, too bad. What's that you say? You don't have kids? Well you still get rear seats and child safety locks.

Xbox one comes with kinect whether you are missing an arm, leg or eye because that's the product. You prefer your cheerios in a plain white box? Well F you. We're gonna put yellow ink all over it (which raises cost) because that's how we make friggin cheerios. Get over it.

[AceBlazer13]

All those items you listed are things a majority of people use and prefer,sure there will be a minority who would prefer to not have it.With the Kinect however it's a product that only a few people bough into he they try to force it onto those that would rather not have it.If they are So sure of their product let the consumer vote on it with their wallets.

[JoseV76]

Nice, now i can get xbox and ps4 and kick some ass on bf4!!

[JoseV76]

Funny how ps fanboy or whatever they call themselves still try to find something bad about xbox, i will be getting both and have best of both systems!

[Gameking29]

That's what ms gets for trying to put all there eggs in one basket. They were trying to make Xbox an all in one entertainment hub. They coud have kept some of the features they reversed if they just kept the features simple but they confused everybody with all the crap they put in it. I just can't believe ms had more then 7 years to come up with a great next gen console and they didn't so far.

[Nik_P757]

Come on Xbox, just be yourself. Why go from trying to be an industry leader to clearly being an industry follower?

[AJ Hartley]

The damage has already been done f**k microsoft they dont deserve s**t

[uncharted56]

oh wow thats a real 180 now. Well f this! Now I don't even know what console to get :/

Gamescom it is I guess. Sony better have something good bcuz as much as I am a sony fanboy MS looks so strong right now and god damn it but Dead Rising 3 8)

[badboy776]

Microsoft is backtracking too much. Kinect should especailly be a mandatory selling point for Xbox One. The Kinect should be the main difference between Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Sales must be really bad!!!

[d4sholil1]

I think this is great for Microsoft and for all its adopters of the XBox1. Just removes some weaknesses down the road when they run a SWOTT analysis.

[TimeSkipLuffy]

the privacy setting won't help if the US government will want to watch you (and enforce it in a way you never know that it happened). And then it will take another guy to reveal this... and the government will try to let time bury the subject again...

nonetheless the decision to make Kinect not mandatory is a good thing! Developers should decide if they want to use it or not. And the XBOX fanbase might be happy to choose as well.

Now give me the XBone for 350 bucks without Kinect and I'm in! I believe MS said Kniect would cost about $150?

[memots]

So everyone was saying how this was the future and that was some kind of an advantage on feature... So now that pretty much everything is behing paywall , thats its under powered.
What the hell does it have to offer?

[Krosis]

I've never seen a more confusing launch.

[Flipflopp]

How many SKU# does this make

[ElementX]

Um.... one because it's still bundled?

[wheresmymonkey]

I really don't understand how making two comsoles that are basically interchangable is good for sales. Neither one of them has any real killer feature to out do each other with.

It's now down to games, I'm honestly starting to think MS should have stuck to their guns with absolutely everything.

Least it would have made for an interesting next few years as it stands next gen is now going to be nigh on identical to this gen but prettier.

Seriously guys this isn't progress. Thanks christ for Nintendo or we might as well just have one single platform.

[Elda]

Again MS trying to make their console a PS console.

[KeePeR_21]

"Like the PS4" Microsofts new sales pitch.

[_FantasmA_]

The M$box is like the younger, dumber brother of the PlayStation. It gets no chicks, has pimples and acne all over its face and tries too hard. It has a small wiener. Nobody laughs at its jokes, and when people do laugh, they laugh at it, instead of with it. It is jealous and will do anything to ensure that its grown up and succesful sibling doesn't enjoy its life full of happiness, even if it has to destroy itself in the process. Now I know why xbox uses green.

[KeePeR_21]

Everything Microsoft does or announces from here on out should end with "like the PS4"

For example: You don't have to be check in online every 24 hours, like the PS4.

You don't have to have the camera plugged in for the console to function, like the PS4.

You can trade whatever games you buy in, like the PS4.

You can buy used games and lend them to a friend, like the PS4.

get where this is headed......

[tuglu_pati]

It also can be like:

Everything Microsoft does or announces from here on out should end with "like every other console"

For example: You don't have to be check in online every 24 hours, like every other console.

You don't have to have the camera plugged in for the console to function, like every other console.

You can trade whatever games you buy in, like every other console.

You can buy used games and lend them to a friend, like every other console.

But you can only say...

You can cross chat on the PS4, like the X360 and Xbox One.

see where this is headed...

[FlunkinMonkey]

Microsoft - "I don't know what I'm doing!!"

[_FantasmA_]

Microsoft: "Everything you can do, I can do worse. You only do everything?, I can do nothing. Dump In."

[vigilante_man]

Kinnect 2 is now dead in the water!

When they release a kinnect-less sku - and they will chasing sales - who is then going to pay another $100 at a later date for Kinnect 2?

R.I.P. Kinnect 2!

[Indo]

Mandatory or not, you got a $500 console with KINECT always on in mind. If PS4 had a $500 price, I safely bet it would include either a PS Move or a PSVita.

[tigertron]

Great news, now if only they sold Xbox One Kinect-less bundles at a lower price...

[dp_simbol]

Microsoft gamescom announcement

xbox one basic: xbox one 350gb HD, kinect not included. Only for 350 USD yey!!!

xboxone/ps4 FTW!!!:)

[Jiggy7d]

Interesting what a company will do when it bleeds money real bad.....next thing they gonna say is:Xbox one is compatible with p4 controller xD.

[_FantasmA_]

M$ should just name their console the Copycat One. Clearly xbots buy their consoles to get spit in their face. They obviously don't like tons of high quality exclusives spread out over many years. They hate better hardware, better quality parts, free games, and deep discounts. They hate playing unique games and having little to no advertisements. They hate playing with more mature people and having true 1080p movies. They hate playing for free, but most of all they hate gaming.

[MyWordIsGospel]

One of the worst launches of any product in the |History of consumerism, Arrogant, bloated, greedy and out of touch. Now they go back on everything they originally set out as the 'future of gaming' . Damage has been done PS4 will win next gen hands down, the only people looking to buy the bone are 'US brainwashed patriots' and bloody Tele addicts, steer clear of this awful company who have shown nothing but disdain for gamers as a whole and the market in general.

And lets not forget batteries required for controllers, hahahahahaha what is this 2002?

[drsfinest72]

The troll on this one is high.

[NeloAnjelo]

Still digging yourself out of that hole Microsoft? Keep digging and hope we'll forget.

[mmj]

They just need to release Kinect-less SKU now, only a minority of people will buy Kinect based games and developers will soon stop supporting it.

[bobdog626]

Great news ms now all that u have 2 do is add the start button 2 windows 8 for the win and I mean with all the funtions of windows 7 not just some of them k

[BlaqMagiq24]

Its about damn time!

[MasterCornholio]

Now an SKU without Kinect is possible with the system.

:)

[Sharius]

lol, the more of xbone U-turn, the harder i laugh, MS, you make the great comedy this generation

[LiQuiZoN]

Microsoft is doing all this for one reason and one reason only....Sony is demolishing them in preorders and their retail buddies have and are showing the statistics to prove it. Now it's a drunken run down the street screaming whatever they need to scream to win back loyalty.

Too little, too late. Their true intentions have already been openly revealed. Still Microsoft buys timed exclusivity and doesn't invest in true first party development. We all know value and variety is with Sony.

[Prcko]

gogoggo microsoft!

[Mister_G]

Lolz! :)

[AceBlazer13]

Gotta wonder how complete this console was for them to b able to make all these 180s

[Picnic]

It might not help pre-orders if everyone now thinks that they can just wait for an XboxOne version where Kinect isn't in the box to come out. Because now - and this is painful - Microsoft have admitted that you don't need Kinect for Xbox One. So the logical question for the consumer is - so why, when buying an Xbox One, do I have to pay the extra £80 over the PS4 to have one?

I wish that MS had stuck to their guns on all of their policies. It should still be necessary to always have the Kinect plugged in even if you are allowed to switch it off. Only then can games makers know that there is a full actual and potential audience willing and ready for their Kinect features.

Their original policies genuinely created a single minded community. Yes, it might have looked scary to outsiders but that's why they're outsiders. But now it's just back to how Xbox360 was. Cheap second hand disc game trading and Kinect in a back seat. It's not good for either the loyal or newcomers to look like you're playing to Sony's tune.

[thisismyaccount]

I was willing to pay 500$ for a DRM, Kinect version of the Bone. Now.. after the 4th 180 we have a console like the PS4 making it pretty much a reduntant thing.

Thank yuo all hypocrites rats, who escaped a sinking ship (during DRM + e3) and believed they had the rights to change a companys policy and/or their beliefs.

Thanks again, hope you have fun kiddos playing another shitty Halo 4 on the Box 1 version 2013.

It is simple as = YOU can afford to pay 400, you can AFFORD to pay 500$ as well... its not like the shit has a 200$ higher price tag. I´m going to buy some popcorn now, the market has now it at best price = will sit on top of the roof (house) and wait for the first rats to bitch and moan about the box 1 again, this time :

- Box 1 without Kinect (ppl. buying it this year going to be mad....)

[Bercilak]

Ah ha ha haaaa!

Now I know that I can wait for the Kinect-less version at $100 less.

[dafegamer]

The most epic 180 move of all time, from a big company

[Phoenix76]

Just a thought here, but I wonder how many xb1's did MS produce before the removal of kinect was possible? And how much will it have cost them to send all of those pre-made units back to the factory for new firmware updates to be installed? Just a question? I'm betting a hell of lot. Especially this close to release.

[zekk]

for the first batch? it is probably too late for that and the cost would be ridiculously high. its a safer bet that it will be part of the day one patch. with all the backtracking and changes to the os on day one though i'm curious to find out how big the day one patch will be

[headblackman]

why be an ignorant asshole and use that lame term of 180 as view of something bad, when its clearly something good that the people have asked for. stop being so petty and hypothetical when your crybaby ask for something and get it and then cry again because you got exactly what you asked for. why not just call it an improvement or a correction? both ps4 and Xbox one have neither been released yet so changes and or corrections are gonna be made. no one person or company is perfect, but at least Microsoft is trying to correct their mistake. stop being stick in the but fanbots. everyone here have made a mistake that they needed forgiveness for. this is Microsoft's moment.

[CalibriSerif]

from xbox one to "xbox 180" to "xbox trying hard to be ps4" i feel that microsoft doesn't even recognize honor.

goodbye 5 years of endless meeting and planning. now xbox one is just trying hard to be a playstation. but then xbox doesn't have worldwide brand recognition like playstation is.

the more they backtrack on their plans, the more i see microsoft are managed by clowns with with questionable integrity. i feel sorry for bill gates hardwork; microsoft is now turning into the biggest laughing stock of the mobile, search, operating system and entertainment industries.

people will see microsoft, years from now, as the biggest joke ever happened that didn't stand by their decision and tried to destroy the gaming industry.

i am formally an ex-xbox fan.

[mrdeli]

Now if Microsoft comes out with a cheaper SKU for launch day this system will be back on track.

[josephayal]

$350 Xbox one PLZZZ

[Orionsangel]

Damn, I was so excited to talk to my console. Oh yeah, nope!

[Prcko]

:DDD

[redwin]

Lol, PS wished they had a console like MS and couldn't compete with the level of innovation it had, everything was different and next gen, so they sent their cyber military to change your minds and it worked, just like politics. If you get enough people to tell you that they think differently, it will get you to change your opinion . Shame !

[e-p-ayeaH]

MS is playing a dangerous game while this may atract more buyers for the console it also brings more questions about MS´s way of business.

MS already gave xbox one a bad name that´s something they cant amend.

[Sikct9a]

Everyday this thing keeps on changing until it becomes a ps4.

[MonkeySkull]

With the 180's and the 360's am I the only one that the only one that has that old Macho Man Randy Savage promo come to mind??

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Doing a 360, and pulling 2 180's. Not to mention he called the kinect spying on us: "the video's scopey eye looking right into you."

I smell a cover-up...

[THEMIGHTYDOOVDE]

180 or MS listening to the consumer?

[tuglu_pati]

It depends here in N4G 180, for the rest of people MS is listening

[-Gespenst-]

The damage has already been done to their reputation. An about-face on highly controversial features of their console doesn't somehow make them good people all of a sudden. They still chose to include those features in the first place. The only reason for the revisions is so that the console can perform better on the market, they clearly don't actually care about consumers or gamers for that matter.

As far as I see it, they're trying to match Sony's strategy with all these revisions, which ultimately will unfurl into what the X1 initially was. I honestly think we got a glimpse of a dark future when the X1 was first announced. If a console like the X1 (when it was announced) ever becomes accepted, that's when we'll know that we've been completely brainwashed. Never let them have their way with this DRM, data-mining BS, no matter how much they try to entice and tantalize you with flashy products. Keep in mind that most of the AAA stuff they tout to win you over is absolute garbage compared to most stuff outside of it, you just need to break away from this shallow, broad triple-A trend. No little transient piece of mindless entertainment should ever come before your rights as a person. Don't let these corporate entities assume too much power.

[N7Lukas]

Do 2 180's make a 360?

[stage88]

Still not interested.

[ScepticTankAvenger]

Sooo why couldn't this be from the beginning? This whole situation has made me very untrusting of Microsoft.

[voodoogts]

Time to per order and Xbox one now!

[ZBlacktt]

Here's the problem. The bad taste is already in everyone with a brain's mouth. All this flip flop is because they are so far behind the PS4. Why? Because they tried to stick every gamer out there. Then little by little they have been forced to back track. This is why I do not care to support this company. They have nothing exclusive I could even care for to begin with. The PS4 has everything, even Ubisoft exclusive content. Who also has the best 3rd party games coming out. So most of us have guest every step MS has done along the way since the X1 was first brought out.... So no surprise here with this news.

[N7Lukas]

Until they can make real games with kinect, not just kiddy games or games with pre designated paths where you do crappy basic hand gestures, i can't see myself ever being interested with kinect.

Its gimmicky and always has been, proof of that is the lack of hardcore games for it, you could never play a kinect game as comfortably and as easily as if you had a controller in your hands.

[brewskiebob]

what if yall get yalls hands on the kinect and its awesome? They seem to be very confident in it...

Either way its nice to see that Xbone is on even grounds with ps4 now...(except for hardware. ofcourse)

[reaperofsouls]

no your still being forced to buy it.

[gdguide]

My main issue with Kinect being mandatory isn't whether I need to have it plugged in or not. It's the price of adding it to a console that should cost probably $350. Even with the lower specs of the X1, they could do amazing things with a price of say $350 and no Kinect. My other issue is Microsoft putting a load of resources and developer time into it and not into more core gaming experiences.

[reaperofsouls]

Where do people get this $100 price for kinect from ? it probably costs twice that amount. So if M$ brings out a kinectless sku it should retail at about $300

[The_Sneauxman]

That's very true but a next-gen console placed at 300$ almost makes it seem like there's a liability attachment to it. If they do sell a Kinectless SKU than I think it should at least par up with the competition to maximize profits.

[reaperofsouls]

but its not on par in terms of spec, so how can a kinectless sku of $400 by justified

[devilhunterx]

M$ is a Wapanese?

[EliteGameKnight]

All this second guessing is going to kill their fanbase that still believes in them. who would want to trust a company that doesn't go through with their decisions. Even if those decisions aren't apealing to the mass audience, it ruins their credit. How would we be able to trust them to go through with good decisions if they don't suck it up and go through with their mistakes.

[xKugo]

Microsoft making yet another 180 on their previous assertions during pre-E3/E3 announcements. Really starting to gain some momentum and actually regaining some of the millions who abandoned them for their ridiculous policies. However, it is in my opinion that we won't know the winner of this pre-launch year until Gamescom 2013 is over. Sony has been strangely quite throughout this entire resurgence of Microsoft, which begs the question: What exactly are they doing?

It would be foolish to think that they are willingly laying down while their advantage is being shattered by all of these announcements and 180s from Microsoft. Remember that their launch line-up is significantly smaller than the PS3's, PS2's and PS1's. You could make the argument that this is because of the huge AAA-titles they dropped this year, but you would expect Sony, the universally recognized gaming powerhouse, to have more than what they have shown us so far, despite that fact.

This is really getting interesting. I thought for a moment that this gen would mark the end of Microsoft in the gaming industry, but fortunately I've been proven wrong.

[Godlovesgamers]

It's an absolutely beautiful thing when people stand up, make their voices heard and force a company to listen, how awesome is that??!!

Now if we would only put this much effort into changing something that matter even more, like the government, imagine the good we could do!

[feraldrgn]

This is because pre-orders were still low enough for MS to be concerned.

Nice to have the privacy options there now.

I think the next thing to change will be an optional Kinect, when you go to the store there will be 2 models, one with Kinect, one without.
That's if customer interest (pre-orders) isn't high enough anyway.

[Spontogical]

their preorder numbers must've been so far behind the PS4 that they just had to do this!

Good move for us all though!

[Aleithian]

You are all aware, I hope, that Microsoft has just admitted that they lied to all of you. They said that the X1 requires kinect to function. Clearly, it does not. Similarly, they said the X1 requires internet to function - it does not. They have lied to their fanbase twice, and now everyone is rejoicing and proclaiming the power of the consumer. You are all pathetic puppets. If I had ever been remotely inclined to buy the X1, these lies would be sufficient reason to abandon that plan. Thankfully, I never planned to buy an X1.

[Chris12]

The only puppet is you for not understanding the basic difference between a lie and a change of policy. Dear oh dear

[Aleithian]

No, I think you totally misunderstand what's going on. They have built the hardware and software. They have planned and invested for years in this machine. If this machine REQUIRED internet and kinect, that requirement is an integral part of the way the machine works. This requirement cannot simply be changed as a change of policy.

For example. It was argued that internet was required in order to offload processing tasks. If this was true, they could not simply change it at the drop of a hat, because the very machine itself would be designed in such a way as to rely upon offloading processing tasks. Hence, when it became apparent that, contrary to their claim, the machine doesn't need to offload tasks, it is fair to say that they LIED, not merely that they changed policy.

An analogous case is that of SimCity 5. It was claimed it HAD to be online in order to offload tasks. It has since been revealed that that claim was FALSE. However, not just false, because they stated it KNOWING it was false. Hence, it was a LIE.

Microsoft has stated that the machine was designed to rely on internet and kinect, that they are VITAL parts of the machine. They have since done a 180 on both claims. They knowingly spread falsehoods to the public - that constitutes LYING.

[Chris12]

Show me where they said the on line connection was vital for offloaded cloud tasks? The check in was required for digital software checks.

Its all software's driven and therefore easily changed. Your conspiracy nonsense is a joke.

[moscardini7]

I An Enjoy Every Minutes Off This , Soo Funny , I Happy In10 Or 20 Years From Now I Wil Remember This Desperate Times For Microsoft

[mmj]

Someone needs to do a spoof article about a physical redesign with a photo of PS4.

[Picnic]

The Xbox One is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get...

[i8urCAKE]

What amuses me is that some xbox fans say the 500$ price is good and kinect will be awesome to function with some games, LOL " its just a 100$ more, im sure people that get the ps4 will spend like another 200$ for games," Yea well if i pay 600$ for ps4+PS+and a game THAT means people will spend 700$ for xbox+Live+game so yea price does matter. And no one will use kinect in-game..

[joeorc]

I would like for people to check out my post in the forum on here and see for yourself, i knew this was going to be a problem and i was right.

"the change over at microsoft and why hardcore gamers may be worried"

http://forums.n4g.com/tm.as...

Key points

in under 10 years Microsoft has Lost all Key XBOX project founders ie: the people who worked and brought up the very project to bill gates to even get the xbox platform to even be in existance. one of the key people Ed fries was there @ Microsoft for 18 years! he thought so much about the project and pushed for it to be a reality.

why do you think some of the orig. team Left?

well here is Ed's answer

http://archive.org/details/...

listen close as to his reason's

Take heed of 13:20 into the video and all the way up to the 20 min + mark listen to him

Look I understand you may Have some idea that, Some Gamer's are looking at this as all negative to trolling the fanbase of the xbox platform, but the fact that many gamer's who like gaming are in fact interested in the xbox platform for Gaming, the fact that many of the main people who started the xbox platform in under 10 year's all of the main team are now gone. that's not something you can just ignore about how is the xbox as a platform going to cater to me as a gamer if the core concept of the xbox platform when it was pitched ; is not looking like it was when the reason as a gamer decided to get the xbox in the first place as a platform and people in charge to be changing direction of its core concept.

Gamer's who really care about this platform are not just saying this outright to be slaming Microsoft, its about what the people in charge are doing with this platform.

that's the blunt truth of the matter the people who are running the xbox project have lost the focus for the xbox project! this is not about people trolling, this is to be frank, the orig. 10 key people who started the xbox project as a platform are all gone!

[Jagsrock]

Some of you guys are sad, It's like you're upset that the list of things wrong with the xbone is getting smaller.