Well, the rumors were true. The upcoming Xbox One console will necessarily require a Kinect to run.
Citing ‘integrated functionality’ as the cause in their Q&A, Microsoft said: “The all-new Kinect is now an essential and integrated part of the platform. By having it as a consistent part of every Xbox One, game and entertainment creators can build experiences that assume the availability of voice, gesture and natural sensing, leading to unrivaled ease of use, premium experiences and interactivity for you.”
Admittedly the new Kinect looked good; however, its integration into the base package raises two significant objections, one being that, unlike the original Kinect, which was just a peripheral, the new one might be mandated to be utilized in every game on the platform, detracting from the core experience a little.
The second, more idealistic objection is that by mandating Kinect to even use the next console, Microsoft is forcing a gimmick upon its users, and not even giving them a choice.