Microsoft has announced that its upcoming Xbox One console will no longer require the Kinect in order to function. That’s another reversal in its policies that have, for the most part, turned off gamers since the Xbox One first debuted. According to Marc Whitten, Chief Xbox One Platform Architect, “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 answer comes as part of IGN’s Ask Microsoft Anything, where Whitten also elaborated that the Kinect can be turned off in the Xbox One’s settings. While in the off mode, the Kinect will not collect any data and any functionality that relies on voice, video, gesture, or more won’t work. IR blasting however, still functions.
Now that Microsoft has addressed several of the major concerns that gamers had with the Xbox One, namely the online check-in and the always-on Kinect, will that be enough to persuade PlayStation 4 converts to convert back?
Source: IGN
