Home Gaming Will Microsoft drop the Kinect? Absolutely not.

Will Microsoft drop the Kinect? Absolutely not.

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You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs

Microsoft recently announced that they are going to be making the biggest announcement since that meteor hit the planet a while back. This announcement is going to be made at E3 but what could it be?

One of the most divisive parts about the Xbox One is the mandatory Kinect that is bundled with it. It’s also the reason the Xbox One –  with lower-specced hardware – is so much more expensive than the PlayStation 4.

However pretty much every single hard-core gamer on the planet hates the Kinect and how Microsoft is attempting to force it on consumers.  So could Microsoft be ready to announce that the Kinect will no longer be bundled with the console and at the same time drop the price of the Xbox One to $10 under the PlayStation 4? I severely doubt it.

The Kinect is a solid piece of kit that really does help casual gamers and general non-gamer who wants to watch Netflix and the like. So what are Microsoft going to do here? They are stuck with an overpriced gaming console and an overpriced entertainment unit which is one of the reasons the sales figures are dragging behind the PlayStation 4.

Being the centre of the living room is one of Microsoft’s core goals and as Microsoft has shown before they are not scared of throwing a ton of money at an idea and hoping that it sticks. Bing must have cost Microsoft billions so far and they have shown no desire to slow down that investment. Yet they are miles away from even competing with Google.

Microsoft entered the console race 2 generations ago and arguably won the last generation when it came to hard-core gamers. They aren’t just going to give up now especially when they are so close to winning. So my prediction is that Microsoft is going to swallow the cost of the Xbox One and reveal a slightly new shape at E3 with the bundled Kinect and at a price point of at least $10 below what Sony is offering.

This will result in them taking about a $100 knock on any console sold but it will definitely get them back on par with Sony. But is that the biggest announcement ever?

What if Microsoft come out and offered a free Xbox One to everyone who signs up for a 2 year Xbox Live Gold membership? That’s a $240 investment requirement from consumers and it will net Microsoft millions of new clients. Granted Microsoft will then be losing $250 on each console but it is a strategy that Microsoft simply can’t lose with and once the critical mass is on the Xbox Platform the money will follow in entertainment subscriptions and games.

Will they do it? We’re going to have to wait and see. E3’s just 3 months away. 

Last Updated: March 10, 2014

40 Comments

  1. CrasH

    March 10, 2014 at 14:10

    Thats like saying I buy a PC over 2 years as i dont have to pay subs just to play online….

    Reply

    • ToshZA

      March 10, 2014 at 14:19

      At half the price over 2 years*.

      Its not a bad deal to be fair, but in the end we don’t know what rubbish MS is going to dump in our faces next.

      Reply

      • CrasH

        March 10, 2014 at 14:32

        The point is i would still rather buy a PC over 2 years than an Xbox or even PS, especially when you consider the price, both are more expensive than buy a PC with the same power… Only reason why Gaming rigs are expensive is the same reason why some people buy a base model of a car and others the with the sports pack…
        Cause you can or cause you reeally want to while console you have no choice in your hardware, just your controllers but thats like saying you fill up an engine and i fill up and Sasol…

        Reply

  2. Kromas

    March 10, 2014 at 14:14

    Will I buy and Xbox …. Absolutely not. 😛

    Then again the only way ill buy a PS4 is if the Last of us 2 is exclusive. 😛

    (Obligatory Master race shout out here)

    That is all.

    Reply

    • General JJ the Fett

      March 10, 2014 at 14:23

      A vote has been cast to you in an upwards direction.

      Reply

    • TiMsTeR1033

      March 10, 2014 at 14:30

      error html coding invaild

      Reply

      • General JJ the Fett

        March 10, 2014 at 14:31

        Oh look. Tim’s browser is acting up again. Probably uses Windows Internet Explorer. 🙂

        Reply

        • RinceThis

          March 10, 2014 at 14:31

          lol

          Reply

        • Kromas

          March 10, 2014 at 14:34

          I almost changed back to IE after the cool little anime ad.

          Reply

          • General JJ the Fett

            March 10, 2014 at 14:44

            Cool!
            I can imagine what a Firefox one would’ve looked like.

          • Kromas

            March 10, 2014 at 15:11

            Actually the big bad mecha just before the “to be continued” sign was Firefox apparently. 😛

          • General JJ the Fett

            March 10, 2014 at 15:19

            Damn it!

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          March 10, 2014 at 14:34

          Safari. He’s a hipster.

          Reply

  3. RinceThis

    March 10, 2014 at 14:14

    Mandatory Kinect killed the Xbone.

    Reply

    • oVg PAYNE

      March 10, 2014 at 14:24

      That word MANDATORY killed any hope of overtaking SONY.

      Reply

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      March 10, 2014 at 15:22

      Microsoft killed the Boner!

      Reply

      • SheHulkNigri

        March 10, 2014 at 15:42

        Or: My Boner went Microsoft!

        Reply

        • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

          March 10, 2014 at 15:55

          From Major Boner to Minor Boner! 😛

          Reply

  4. Alien Emperor Trevor

    March 10, 2014 at 14:17

    They announce their always-online Xbone for $100 less. Returning to their original idea while letting the suckers think they’re getting a good deal.

    I don’t see them making a dramatic price cut yet, it’s too early & a major slap in the face of all the early adopters, unless they fling them a bone too.

    Reply

    • Kensei Seraph

      March 10, 2014 at 14:36

      They’ve already shown that they don’t mind slapping the early adopters.

      Reply

  5. General JJ the Fett

    March 10, 2014 at 14:21

    Well, since you only drop things when they’re hot, I doubt Microsoft will ever be dropping this.

    Reply

  6. RinceThis

    March 10, 2014 at 14:22

    • oVg PAYNE

      March 10, 2014 at 14:27

      FATALITY

      Reply

      • RinceThis

        March 10, 2014 at 14:28

        Haha!

        Reply

    • Weanerdog

      March 10, 2014 at 14:42

      Good parenting lesson that, just because you are in the lead does not mean you going to win.

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        March 10, 2014 at 14:56

        “I brought you into this world, I can take you out.”

        Reply

        • RinceThis

          March 10, 2014 at 15:03

          Wow

          Reply

        • Weanerdog

          March 10, 2014 at 15:40

          I am so going to use that.

          Hope I don’t get sued for trademark infringements because emperors are like kings right.

          Reply

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            March 10, 2014 at 15:44

            Yes, but I’m benevolent. One day I may ask you for a favour though.

          • Weanerdog

            March 10, 2014 at 15:50

            I don’t think Rince will fit in my freezer.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            March 10, 2014 at 15:53

            He will once I’m done with him.

    • ElNicko

      March 10, 2014 at 22:57

      HEADSHOT !!!

      Reply

  7. oVg PAYNE

    March 10, 2014 at 14:23

    Not interested in the Bone. So Un-Gamecentric, TV TV TV SPORTS SPORTS BING BING BING smoke a Bong.

    I am happy playing VIDEO GAMES on my VIDEO GAME console called the 360.

    Microsoft can keep the multi media entertainment device that plays on-line games (Video Games = Trojan Horse to them)

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      March 10, 2014 at 14:24

      Video games like AC4? How’s your ship upgrades going? *ruuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnn*

      Reply

      • General JJ the Fett

        March 10, 2014 at 14:25

        Don’t be silly. He obviously modded it.

        Reply

      • oVg PAYNE

        March 10, 2014 at 14:26

        Elite Fire Barrel plans for the Jack Daw are only found in the on-line portion of the game. WTF?

        Reply

      • RinceThis

        March 10, 2014 at 14:26

        HAHAHHAHAHAHA! Braver (stupider) man than me 😉

        Reply

  8. Weanerdog

    March 10, 2014 at 14:43

    Probably announcing HBO streaming or something.

    Reply

  9. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    March 10, 2014 at 15:29

    They definitely should. Kinect killed the boner!

    Reply

  10. ElNicko

    March 10, 2014 at 22:59

    More than likely it will be something extra on the lines of more TV TV TV TV !!!

    Reply

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