Xbox One will not require Kinect to function

Written by Brandon Hofer on August 12, 2013

Xbox One News: Marc Whitten confirmed Microsoft’s latest reversal on XBox One earlier today revealing that Kinect is no longer required.

Kinect will not be required for you to use Xbox One. In another stunning reversal by Microsoft, Mark Whitten, Chief Xbox One Platform Architect, confirmed this earlier today during IGN’s, “Ask Microsoft Anything” segment. Here is what was said:

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IGN: Since Kinect must be plugged in for the Xbox One to function, what happens if your Kinect breaks? Like if it falls off the top of your TV onto a hardwood floor or something? Will the console cease to function?

Whitten: 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.

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People who are celebrating this latest reversal should do so cautiously. Be careful before you run out and sell your Kinect unit on eBay. It should go without saying that if you don’t have your Kinect plugged in to your system that you won’t be able to take advantage of the capabilities that Kinect has to offer. Any functionality that relies on voice, video, gesture or more won’t work. If you do have your Kinect plugged in to the system you will be able to control it through the settings, even turning it completely off. If you try and do something that requires Kinect (such as play a game that requires Kinect) then you will be prompted to turn it back on so you can continue.

What do you think of this latest reversal by Microsoft? What kind of system will we be picking up in November? Will you keep Kinect plugged in to your Xbox One anyways?

Source: IGN.com