Killing the Kinect was a horrible move

Why would you remove one of the best features for the console?

[Neonridr]

best features? I mean I guess it had a few uses, but I would hardly call it something that was utilized for any real purpose.

[darthv72]

the tech behind it just wasnt suitable for gaming needs. It has been reverse engineered to do some amazing things outside of gaming but the game space it did deliver was not thought out to the fullest extent.

Had they opted to not make statements like "you are the controller" and instead found ways to make using kinect WITH a controller something acceptable then it could have gone on to get more support as a companion to, not a replacement for, the controller.

[Skull521]

Na smart move, the horrible move was making everyone buy one when they didn't want it.

[Neonridr]

I still remember the initial concept videos. That would have been a lot cooler, but ultimately it was nothing like anything they showed.

[RacerX]

Last year, I got an Xbox One S. I got the kinect adaptor because I thought I would miss the kinect. I never hooked it up and forgot it existed. Guess that says enough for my house.

[TheCommentator]

They really could have made it useful alongside a controller, and I always imagined its potential in that regard. Lean to peek around corners. Silently send orders to troops with hand gestures. Head tracking to look into corners in Forza. As it turned out, I disliked the first Kinect so much that I never even hooked 2.0 up to my XB1.

You said it though; people hacked Kinect to do some amazing things for remote surgeries, optics for robotics, ghost hunting, etc. I honestly think Kinect motion tracking is really just evolving to become part of the AR space with Hololens and other similar devices anyways.

[Unspoken]

Click bait approved article...hmm

[bouzebbal]

Fanboys a always defended it by saying that they always used it.
Now that they killed it those same trolls think it's ok to do so.
Kinect tech was garbage and hardly works. It works so bad that MS never showed live demo and the few they showed were biaised (star wars)

[letsa_go]

This is just one horrible move in a series of horrible moves that the xbox division has made since about 2012-2013. We saw a preview of what was to come when MS stuck microtransactions in the free-to-play Doritos Crash Course 2. That was when I first noticed a change in their strategy and I didn't like it. They wanted those casual gamers and kinect was part of that strategy to get the wii crowd. They completely abandoned their core gamers and left them to sony to gobble up. It wasn't until the past year or so that they realized their mistake and have been trying to get those gamers back. It might be too late this generation though! Imagine if they had a 3D platformer from Rare ready to compete with Mario Odyssey! They could've easily! But they didn't. I am so confused by their strategy, hopefully they can work it out next gen.

[Bigpappy]

People on this site should really put some effort into speaking for themselves. Because you dont like the device, does not mean it didn’t serve a purpose.

I still have and use my Kinect. I wish the option was still there. I would have continued to purchase one when it needed to be replaced, it was the best device of its kind.

[Neonridr]

well I am speaking for myself. I didn't feel it had enough purpose. Hence why it was deemed useless... in my opinion. Take it for what it is I guess. I am glad you found good uses for it, I am sure some people really enjoyed it. It just felt gimmicky to me dating back to the 360 days.

[-Foxtrot]

Keeping the Kinect as a core feature for the Xbox One was a horrible move

[gangsta_red]

I wouldn't have mind if MS actually supported the thing but yes, it was a bad move having it come with. It not only was not supported but it added an extra 100 to the price tag.

[Godmars290]

It is why the XBX is a thing. It not being built around Kinect as well as having beefed up hardware.

[fivoleka]

I quit working at shoprite and now I make $35h - $80h...how? I'm working online! My work didn't exactly make me happy so I decided to take a chance on something new… after 4 years it was so hard to quit my day job but now I couldn't be happier. Heres what I do, •••••••••>> http://bit.ly/2C5JZ3f

[rainslacker]

Yep. If they hadn't of tried to force the Kinect, they could have come out stronger in hardware sooner, and maybe they wouldn't have had to rely so much on a new console to try and bring sales up. They could have focused more of software, and maybe built their brand over the generation, instead of spending the entire generation playing catch up to the competition, and realistically, falling behind whatever good they built during the 360 days.....where I actually felt they did more for the brand than I ever would have thought them possible for.

Right now, despite all the stuff that MS has done for the X1, they haven't built the brand at all. IT's remained stagnant, or even regressed, as I haven't seen so much animosity towards their lackluster gaming line up in their entire history. Even when they cut back at the end of the 360 era, it wasn't as bad as it is now.

[SCW1982]

Because the data showed that hardly anyone in the user base was actually using it.

[Aenea]

Yeah, but 'journalists' tend to not think properly and/or are just more interested in the clicks!

[SCW1982]

agreed.

[Sciurus_vulgaris]

The Kinect took money away from AAA games, the device overstayed its welcome.

[Profchaos]

Also stole ram from the os and games

[Aenea]

MS has plenty of money to have done both if they had wanted to...

[Nyxus]

What do you mean, it can still be used as a paperweight, which was its main functionality to begin with.

[PhoenixUp]

“The Kinect was a system seller”

Extreme hyperbole right there. The device has some nice functionality, but nobody is going to buy an Xbox One just to experience Kinect.

“Microsoft didn’t try to push the Kinect’s features”

They did try. They tried to shove it down consumers throats with stuff like a Kinect focused UI.

“Microsoft jumps ship as soon as it starts to take on water.”

That pretty much applies to the majority of Microsoft’s gaming efforts. They aren’t committed to a lot of things that aren’t immediately ubersuccessful.

[SegaGamer]

These people should check their facts before spreading nonsense. We all lived through it only a few years ago, our memories aren't that bad.

[rainslacker]

If anything, I'd say it probably helped kill system sales. It increased the cost of the base console, and made it so MS didn't go with as much power in the base console in order to include a Kinect.

Sure they eventually removed it, but it's not like that really bolstered sales. Might have helped because then they actually had a system that was more reasonably priced, but I'd wager that by then, the damage was already done.

[Aenea]

If the Kinect is the best feature and it's being discontinued you gotta wonder what that means for the console as a whole!

But then again, I think the author is just wrong about how good a feature it is....

[Blu3_Berry]

I think getting rid of the Kinect was one of the best moves.

[AmUnRa]

Blu3_puls3, Yeah..for Microsoft, not for the costumers, Microsoft was pushing Kinekt down there troaths, and hyperbowling what kinekt could do....hyperbowling...like the Cloud that would make the XboxOne 3 times stronger.🙄

[MagicBeanz]

No the horrible move was hanging on to the thing for as long as they did.

[rainslacker]

Making it a part of the original console release was the worst move. I wouldn't care if they had it as a peripheral. The original Kinect did well, and recieved pretty good support. In that vein, I'd rather they keep supporting it longer, but as it is now, since it's not used for many games since launch, I don't really see a purpose in keeping it around, although I'd suspect it'd have to be doing surprisingly bad right now if MS is actually abandoning it.

[MetroidFREAK21]

This thing died out for me in 2011... The fact the XB1 released with in 2013 was stupid. Why it took them so long to finally kill it for good baffles me

[PlayableGamez-]

"Killing the Kinect was a horrible move"
Said no one ever.

[gamer7804]

Also was a nice way to video chat with skype

[kneon]

Sure, but a simple webcam could accomplish the same thing

[gamer7804]

on the xbox? the Kinect could capture audio the same way and follow the people in the room, I mean yah you could get a separate game console, blu ray player, laptop for skyping. but i'd rather have it all in one.

[kneon]

My webcam does face tracking, actually it's just the software, any decent HD Webcam should be able to do it.

[TheSplooge]

It was hated on for its entire lifespan, but now its one of the xbox's best features since it was shut down? Wtf lol

[gamer7804]

They should add webcam support with video for those who kike streaming on mixzer and twitch

[Ittoittosai]

It had potential when it was first annouced I was excited for it for x360 but when they made it manditory for the xbone along with all the other nonsense I checked out and focused on Ps4.

[Profchaos]

Pretty much confirmed to be the worst thing about the console who wants to have their FIFA game listen to them and give them red cards when it gears you swearing who greenlit this feature.

Also it was consuming ram that could have been allocated to games.

If they did bother with VR than yeah sure but they didn't

[Vegamyster]

It adds too much to the console for what it did, it was a cool piece of tech but not suited for gaming.

[FPS_D3TH]

This thing has many well implemented uses... It’s just that playing console games isn’t one of them. I always find it interesting what people innovate on with using Kinect devices however. It was a wasted gimmick for consoles though

[quent]

Time lost by Rare where they couldve created some great games in the last 10 years but instead ms in they're infinite wisdom kept them occupied by making shovelware for this motion control camera that only ever worked correctly with one type of game, good riddance

[ApocalypseShadow]

Cool tech with no notable core game to mention. Could have been used possibly for 180 degree VR motion tracking.

And, it's telling that VR games in its first year, is embarrassing the whole time kinect was out. Microsoft could have done more.

[BlaqMagiq1]

Getting rid of something unnecessary and irrelevant is a horrible move? Really now?

[Pantz]

Buh Bye Kinect *waves*

[TheColbertinator]

The tech was interesting but a "me too" attempt by Microsoft to go into the Wii market share which was at the time massive.

Project Milo in particular was smoke and mirrors.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

Hush

[XMarkstheSpot]

They removed it because the Xbox One S and X have the IR blaster on the console itself instead of just the Kinect, voice commands can be used from the a headset if you want not just the Kinect, and soon there will be universal USB support for webcams so you can use whatever you want for the most part if you don't want to use the Kinect. If you want one, you can buy the Kinect and an adapter on eBay probably and probably for cheap. But there isnt anything the Xbox cant do without the Kinect.

Im surprised this article is even up. Every article on Kinect since the Xbox One released took an absolute dump on the Kinect with many ppl saying they didnt even want the thing.

[PUBG]

Kinect was never needed. I was reading a thread over at Windows Central, and there were only maybe 10 posts, but 8 of them were complaining as if Microsoft ruined their lives lol. Personally, I think talking to my console feels weird. If you actually need a web cam for whatever reason, you can just use a 3rd party web cam now anyway, and I believe Cortana still works with an external mic too. People who adopt early hardware releases should be smart enough to know that certain technologies may end up being redundant if they don't catch on with consumers. I think that ditching Kinect was one of the best things Microsoft has done this generation.

[DarXyde]

Obviously, it didn't get much use from people since Microsoft found it to be in their best interest to kill it in the first place.

Be that as it may, I think the best way to avoid upsetting anyone (the earliest adopters, I suppose) is to just finish the generation supporting it. Just make sure that the next Xbox either doesn't have it or, if you really don't want to abandon it entirely, have them built to order.

[n1kki6]

This was the dumbest crap i have ever read. You can plug in any usb webcam and get most of fhe functionality other than the crap hand waving stuff.

[drdare]

said no one.

[bahabeast]

kinect for motion gaming is horrible, voice controls and multitasking it was wonderful. they kept removing features until they just gave up completely.

[NeoGamer232]

"Killing the Kinect was a horrible move"

Yup, because since Kinect was released a good 100% of non-Microsoft gamers and a good 75% of Microsoft gamers didn't like it much.

I thought Kinect was the best motion control on the market. But the issue was that it was only really good for a few scenarios... Dance games, Kinect Adventures, D4, and Child of Eden were pretty much the highlights from 7 years of Kinect.

[Knightofelemia]

Time to take it out back and put a bullet to it the thing was under untilized hardley any games utilized it. Only thing I see it as a thing for people to yell at the damn Xbox or use it as a camera when they are streaming to Twitch right off the console. The thing should have been killed during the 360 era. Only way I see the Kinnect actually being worth it is if Microsoft brought VR to the Xbox but I doubt that I say snag it up if you're a collector.

[TheOttomatic91]

U Wot M8?

[Elda]

It was basically a waste otherwise this article wouldn't be.

[LP-Eleven]

Can always tell when the holidays are over. Broke people look for any and every way to make money. :P

[Sircolby45]

The mistake was not realizing that Kinect was not going to happen when they tried it on the 360. It should have died there.

[LandoCalrissiano]

Eh, I never had one. With Cortana, voice commands work through a headset mic and with the new update you can use any brand camera (which usually come with a mic anyway). For games, it sucks, but it's probably time soon anyway.

[The_Sage]

Why be glad it's dead?.. Because Microsoft, or the government had access to the gamers and mic at all times?

[DillyDilly]

News flash anything with a camera & a mic the government likely has access to

[The_Sage]

Of course, but my laptop is usually closed and my phone is usually facing the ceiling on the charger, or in a case. The Kinect points towards you in your living room at all times.

[Destiny1080]

there was zero reason to kill it, Kinect had become legendary among the xbox community, anyone who played it came away with a smile and now its dead, killed off by phil never to be seen again

Kinect, you will be missed

[xX-oldboy-Xx]

....said no one ever.

[Smokingunz]

To be fair, Sony fans hated on the Kinect so much to the point where Microsoft actually gave in and called it quits on the Kinect.

[Vectrexer]

To be honest Microsoft can give a crap how much Sony fans hated on it Microsoft listens to its fan base and obviously the majority does not want it the majority of Xbox users not Sony fans

[AmUnRa]

Wait Smokinggunz, so Sonyfans are to blame that Microsoft killed Kinekt??

O boy you are delusional🙄

[sprinterboy]

I can't think of 1 game worth playing in all the yrs kinect was on sale

[sprinterboy]

Who ever disagreed, name one.

[Vectrexer]

That's fine if they want to kill Kinect but don't punish those of us who enjoy it and want to use it with their XBox One X.
They should keep selling the adapter until everybody that wants one has one.

[porkChop]

No, it was a smart move. Two generations in a row, gamers have shown that they don't want or need the Kinect. There's no reason to continue wasting resources on a product that your customers clearly don't want.

[chobit_A5HL3Y]

it was an interesting concept in theory, but it was executed very poorly. they pushed it on their consumers when no one really wanted it, and it didn’t do anything for the xbox as a gaming console. if they sold it separately as a media add-on, then it probably would have been received better. i mean, it makes sense at that time, since ms thought they could dictate the console landscape, and what a **** up that turned out to be lol

[Edito]

I think it was a good move kinetic was holding them back for nothing.

[About30Ninjas]

If you ask me it was the best move M$ done in a long time

[Ashby_JC]

As a person that spent $500 on release 4 years back. I was happy with my purchase. But what got me out of console gaming was 1. the kinect being useless after awhile...and cell phones having better voice recognition!! 2. The announcment of mid gen consoles from Sony then eventually MS.

MS just never did anything with the kinect that was worthwhile. It was a gimmick. It did work for some things that I did like like turning the system off and on. But being that you can talk to a cell phone I dont see why you need a huge ass kinect to talk to. It should have been built into the xbox one X.

[Imalwaysright]

Best thing MS has done since they introduced it. Killing a gimmick that did not improve gaming in any way whatsoever.

[hamburgerhill]

Well maybe now they can focus on games. Hopefully no more gimmicks.....if Crackdown 3 turns out to be one I'll vomit!

[chris235]

it‘s time the 2 manufacturers of the gaming market stopped hopping on every gimmick the arrogant bunch from kyoto is throwing at people. everytime they want to mimick what they are doing they are falling flat on their noses because the initial idea behind it is either crap or no one in the industry has got the time (aka money) to invest heavily into a gimmicky piece of tech. just ignore them. their hardware stuff is never suitable for serious gaming needs. especially not their gimmicks.

[cyber_daemonx]

Maybe if it had been optional it would've fared better. Like a lot of xbone stuff at the start of the gen that they tried to enforce it was a bad idea.

[MrEnglish]

I love that they discontinued it. I sold mine along with the free adapter on eBay for $190!!! Big calling for it on the PC

[greywolf39]

Kinect had such a huge potential, but Microsoft did not knew how to make best of it

[lellkay]

Killing the kinect was 100% the right move.

[drunkenspy007]

I think they could have utilized it better

[mochachino]

I'm not even going to bother clicking this one, at least try and hide being click-bate.

[sonarus]

It sure wasn’t selling like one of the best features that’s for sure. If you thought it was great you probably own one if you thought it was great and don’t own one I’m sure will show up on ebay

[KickSpinFilter]

I always felt they just should of took the hit and cut the price of the XB1 at launch and kept the kinect included.
Would have been the same price as PS4 but with kinect.. Ya I know there were other issues but think that would have helped. Developers would have kept making stuff for it / implement it into games also if everyone had one. Once they removed kinect it was done.

[FGHFGHFGH]

Why would third party devs making games for ps4 and xbox go out of their way to put kinect features in a game, unless Microsoft paid them?

[KickSpinFilter]

Who knows if every XB1 user had Kinect by default perhaps some would of implement it.
As is absolutely not.

[RyanDJ]

I'll agree that it's not a solid piece of equipment. But, I think that it sucks they took out the functionality on systems that still have the same engine running in them. It actually deters me from upgrading to the X.

It isn't without precedent, though. I remember when PS2 killed my iLink cable, making it to where I couldn't play Time Crisis 2 as it was meant to be played.

Let's go even further back when Genesis killed the reset button, making it impossible to legitimately beat the X-Men game.

Sometimes when video game companies cut a corner they lop off an ear at the same time. Might not matter to the mainstream crowd but it's a hurt to some consumers.

[PurpHerbison]

Didn't the Kinect mark the point in time where Microsoft started to fall downhill? Something about putting all their eggs in one basket and abandoning the core gamer.

[Nodoze]

No, the Kinect was a horrible me too product. Only reason it even existed was to try to capture the Wii success. It was a complete and utter failure from the get go.

[InTheZoneAC]

Designing the Kinect was even worse

[Saijahn]

I still have my OG Xbox One Kinect lol. It was awesome for navigation but nothing else lol.

[ocelot07]

This garbage is one of the main reasons why I went from mainly gaming on Xbox to PC/PS4 gaming.

[fingazblank]

The Kinect was pants, screwed everyone over with the launch, making people buy the piece of crub no one wanted. It was and will always be, pants... Goodbye

[Fearmonkey]

Kinect never had a killer app or great game tied to it. If it would have, then it would still be around.

[Soy]

You can't kill a corpse.

[Tazzy]

I think them killing off the Kinect was smart it really didn't catch on I had it for the 360 and didn't like it why waste money on something that really didn't appeal to people?

[rapidturtle]

They should have killed it before the launch of the Xbox One. It hindered the Xbones sales, and helped Sony to gain a big lead.