The Kinect’s rather expensive $150 entry tag was confirmed by Microsoft yesterday. Whereas the standalone product might be deemed to pricey by some, there can be no denying that the 4GB Xbox 360/Kinect bundle, priced at $299, represents good value, and especially to the value conscious costumer.
British publisher Codemasters, which was acquired by Indian firm Reliance ADAG earlier this year, believes that while Kinect will be succesful in its first year, several factors will force Microsoft to drop the price of the accessory next year.
“The price point will doubtless have been researched and influenced by the timing of release and the anticipated achievable volume from the Xbox 360 devotees who will want to be first in line for the latest offering,” Codemasters CEO Rod Cousens said.
“Microsoft will be confident about selling all it can make this year. Thereafter, it will be interesting to see if there is rapid downward price migration early on in 2011.”
Cousens stated that there could be several ways Microsft could drop the price of the accessory, the likeliest of which would probably be removing the bundld Kinect game, Kinect Adventures, from the core package, bringing the price down to $100.
“By bundling with a game, it implies a standalone price target of sub-£100 – which is where Kinect will need to be if it is to attract mass and establish itself as a platform,” he said.
The Kinect is Microsoft’s foray into the lucrative motion control dominated casual gaming market established by Nintendo. The accessory will cost $150, nd will be launching with several titles.