Microsoft will be selling a Kinect-less version of the Xbox One for $399 from June 9th onwards, satiating many a gamer’s demand for a price drop (along with angering many an early adopter). In conversation with OXM during a preview event in London, Microsoft European Studios chief Phil Harrison talked about how this decision will ultimately result in developers making more games for the Xbox One.
“Last week we made a very significant announcement about giving gamers a choice, a choice about how they want to enter the Xbox One ecosystem, by offering them a version of Xbox One both with and without Kinect.
“And fundamentally that is good for opening up the Xbox One ecosystem – the more consumers who buy Xbox One, it’s a virtuous cycle for more developers to make and more consumers to play games, and that is what we’re committed to achieving and continuing.
“But we remain committed to Kinect as the premium way to experience the Xbox One vision. Over 80 per cent of Kinect Xbox Ones are active, over 120 voice commands are issued per day on average by all users of the console, so when you have this premium experience that is where the Xbox One comes alive.”
Kinect has already been announced to retail separately for the console this Autumn, though pricing details are yet to be revealed. Stay tuned for Microsoft’s E3 media briefing on June 9th for more information.