Home Gaming Oh look, you don't need the Kinect afterall

Oh look, you don't need the Kinect afterall

2 min read
118

nokinect

Ah, at last, I can feel the wind through my hair again – no more tin foil hat! The Kinect is not necessary for the functioning of the Xbox One. Yes, it adds features, but (contrary to earlier statements) if you don’t plug it in, the console will still work.

In answering questions from IGN, Marc Whitten, the Chief Xbox One Platform Architect, clarified some issues about the Kinect. While he explains all the benefits of using the Kinect, such as being able to say “Xbox On” or having the console know which controller you pick up, the reality is that this is yet another thing Microsoft have done away with:

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.

Also, you can turn the Kinect off in the settings:

You have the ability to completely turn the sensor off in your settings. When in this mode, the sensor is not collecting any information. Any functionality that relies on voice, video, gesture or more won’t work. We still support using it for IR blasting in this mode. You can turn the sensor back on at any time through settings, and if you enter into a required Kinect experience (like Kinect Sports Rivals for instance), you’ll get a message asking if you want to turn the sensor back on in order to continue.

So, after all that “it’s integral to the design” malarkey, the reality is that the console will still work. Sure, you won’t have all the bells and whistles, but you also won’t have the NSA watching you do all those naughty things in your living room… unless you want them to. I wonder if this means that we can expect a cheaper version of the console in the future that will come without a Kinect. Also, they will need to sell them separately for all those DIY disasters where people fail to install them correctly and instead smash them to pieces.

In reality, I think the Xbox One and PS4 are more similar than everyone thought a few months ago.

Perhaps, Microsoft knew their console was basically the same. They decided to come out with all sorts of random restrictions, and then lift them as they “listened to the consumer” so that they come out looking even better? Oh no, I thought I had removed my tin foil hat! In any event, it’s good news for everyone – now you can buy an Xbox One without the fear of that all seeing eye!

Last Updated: August 13, 2013

118 Comments

  1. Admiral Chief Zombie Slayer

    August 13, 2013 at 07:54

    Geez MS backtracking like a mofo

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      August 13, 2013 at 08:07

      Maybe they will backtrack on backwards compatibility next?

      Reply

      • John's cold sweat

        August 13, 2013 at 08:13

        No please man. The rain down in Cape Town is enough at the moment, we don’t need snow too.

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          August 13, 2013 at 08:20

          Bwahahaha. You know what they call German weather? Heil.

          Reply

        • RinceThisandholiday

          August 13, 2013 at 10:37

          WET weather great day for gaming if you’re on leave… Like me! Win!

          Reply

    • Lardus-Wolverine

      August 13, 2013 at 09:59

      Yes they are. A colleague told me back when the crap-storm hit that they will backtrack on most of it because they will “listen to the consumer” and I did not really believe him. But apparently the tin-foil-hat-wearing-crazies were right!

      Reply

  2. Richard Mackenzie

    August 13, 2013 at 07:56

    Its good they are listening to the gamers, but someone still needs an ass kicking for coming up with all that crap in the first place.

    Reply

  3. Umar Kiiroi Senk?

    August 13, 2013 at 07:58

    • Hammersteyn

      August 13, 2013 at 08:01

      LOL

      Reply

    • Richard Mackenzie

      August 13, 2013 at 08:06

      bahahaha, so had that image in my head when I read this article. Nice one!

      Reply

    • John's cold sweat

      August 13, 2013 at 08:12

      Yea yea yea!

      Reply

      • Umar Kiiroi Senk?

        August 13, 2013 at 08:25

        more like hee hee, Chamon!!

        Reply

    • Admiral Chief Zombie Slayer

      August 13, 2013 at 08:23

      Hehe, you beat me to it

      Reply

      • Ultimo_Cleric N7

        August 13, 2013 at 08:28

        BEAT me to IT…..
        Man Im BAD. Sorry, but in all seriousness glad to see the MS exec’s dont just see the world in BLACK & WHITE.

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief Zombie Slayer

          August 13, 2013 at 08:29

          Don’t pull a Billy wearing those Jeans dude.

          Reply

          • Ultimo_Cleric N7

            August 13, 2013 at 08:30

            I would never put myself in that kind of Jam.

          • Admiral Chief Zombie Slayer

            August 13, 2013 at 08:30

            Such a Smooth Criminal you are

          • Martin du preez

            August 13, 2013 at 08:32

            This was a thriller

          • Ultimo_Cleric N7

            August 13, 2013 at 08:32

            True. At first when MS made these policies, I thought “They Dont Really Care About Us”

          • Martin du preez

            August 13, 2013 at 08:34

            Now all they wanna do is ‘Heal the (gaming) world.’

          • Umar Kiiroi Senk?

            August 13, 2013 at 08:35

            DUDE!!! Beat me to it 🙁 Dam you! hehe

          • Ultimo_Cleric N7

            August 13, 2013 at 08:35

            Yeah a month ago they made me want to Scream.

          • Umar Kiiroi Senk?

            August 13, 2013 at 08:36

            Now because of ps 4, the wana be starting something to win back the gamers

          • Ultimo_Cleric N7

            August 13, 2013 at 08:39

            Yip. Well I think the PS4 is a real PYT (Pretty YOung Thing)

          • Hammersteyn

            August 13, 2013 at 08:35

            Don Patrick should have BEAT IT a long time ago

          • Zoe

            August 13, 2013 at 09:39

            No, they’re talking about the gamer in the mirror… or the kinect 😉

          • Admiral Chief Zombie Slayer

            August 13, 2013 at 08:35

            You are not alone in thinking this is Dangerous. I just wanna Heal the World and make it a better place. I just can’t stop…

          • Ultimo_Cleric N7

            August 13, 2013 at 08:36

            Not more jokes!
            This is IT!

          • Admiral Chief Zombie Slayer

            August 13, 2013 at 08:37

            XD

        • Umar Kiiroi Senk?

          August 13, 2013 at 08:31

          do you remember the time when a console was solely for gaming purposes

          Reply

          • Ultimo_Cleric N7

            August 13, 2013 at 08:32

            Nope….. hahaha

          • Martin du preez

            August 13, 2013 at 08:33

            Ah simpler times..All it asked was for you to blow it.

          • Umar Kiiroi Senk?

            August 13, 2013 at 08:34

            And beat it…wait ,what?

          • Spathi

            August 13, 2013 at 08:47

            Comment of the day!

          • Admiral Chief Zombie Slayer

            August 13, 2013 at 08:49

            I ask my wife that too…

        • Wtf101

          August 13, 2013 at 08:37

          MS Exec?

          Reply

          • Admiral Chief Zombie Slayer

            August 13, 2013 at 08:37

            Micro sponge Executive

        • Rock789

          August 13, 2013 at 09:07

          That’s it – I’m off to listen to some MJ while I work…

          Reply

        • Unavengedavo

          August 13, 2013 at 09:22

      • John's cold sweat

        August 13, 2013 at 08:49

        Grab a child and run!

        Reply

    • peter

      August 13, 2013 at 09:01

      Sony Fanboy

      Reply

  4. Pieter Kruger

    August 13, 2013 at 07:59

    Only thing wrong with the Xbox One is that I cannot get it already! Now let’s see this get turned into another negative by out of control & rampant teenage angst! GO!

    Reply

    • Jonah Cash

      August 13, 2013 at 10:47

      Hey dude each to his own!! I think the Xbone has made a miracle comeback, but if it was going down the root it tried to I really think they would have lost at least 50% of their customers to the PS4…. But all in all I am glad that the race will be a tight one, because that is good for all gamers no matter on what side of the fence you sit!! I own the Xbox 360 and PS3, but will get a PS4. Purely because they caught me out once with the Kinect and you know what they say about fooling me once and then a second time…. Have a good one!!

      Reply

  5. Hammersteyn

    August 13, 2013 at 08:00

    Finally. What a serene picture of sanity the next XBOX has become. That’s one more item of my list. Just one more thing required and that is a service on par with PS+ and the XBOX will be neck and neck with the PS4

    Reply

    • Spathi

      August 13, 2013 at 08:29

      That and the option not to buy the Kinect, seeing as the XBO doesn’t need it!

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        August 13, 2013 at 08:31

        I just commented that 😛 But that’s a very very valid point!

        Reply

  6. Craig Boonzaier

    August 13, 2013 at 08:02

    I assume this will elicit another rant from Cliffy B, saying how we dont know how the “Always On” kinect would have improved our lives and that we dont know what we want as gamers …

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      August 13, 2013 at 08:06

      Can’t wait for him to rant. Then we can all laugh in his silly smug little face.

      Reply

      • Martin du preez

        August 13, 2013 at 08:23

        Of course old Clifford would rage. He would do anything to try and stay relevant

        Reply

    • ElNicko

      August 13, 2013 at 08:18

      The less said from him , the Better.

      Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      August 13, 2013 at 09:05

      It’ll probably be something along the lines of because the Kinect is optional the Xbox can’t see your face, therefore people will be able to resell Xboxs because it can’t be linked to a person & then second hand Xboxs will ruin gaming. We’re all idiots. Blood sacrifices are cool. Etc.

      Reply

    • RinceThisandholiday

      August 13, 2013 at 10:41

      Someone said Cliffy B! You leave him alone. He knows all! Lol. Just waiting to see what he tweets tonight…

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        August 13, 2013 at 10:55

        Why do you appear the instant anyone mentions CliffyB? It’s very suspicious. O_o

        Reply

        • RinceThisandholiday

          August 13, 2013 at 11:12

          I don’t know what you mean! CLIFFY B FOEVA…

          Reply

  7. Jakster

    August 13, 2013 at 08:11

    “but you also won’t have the NSA watching you do all those naughty things in your living room” ….. Are you being sarcastic or are you serious because one can’t take journalists that make statements like that seriously???

    Reply

    • Martin du preez

      August 13, 2013 at 08:23

      The internet is definitely not for you..

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief Zombie Slayer

        August 13, 2013 at 08:25

        Hehehe

        Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        August 13, 2013 at 08:27

        This?

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief Zombie Slayer

          August 13, 2013 at 08:35

          Damn dude, that’s a bit dark….

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            August 13, 2013 at 08:37

            The internet is gonna be dark if you can’t take a joke or a bit of sarcasm.

          • Admiral Chief Zombie Slayer

            August 13, 2013 at 08:38

            Ah, I see the context. But still…

        • Gavin Mannion

          August 13, 2013 at 08:46

          lol that’s terrible…

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            August 13, 2013 at 09:09

            Maybe the first link he click was Miley Cyrus twerking?

          • John's cold sweat

            August 13, 2013 at 09:17

            Miley Cyrus is scary.

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          August 13, 2013 at 08:48

          Clearly he didn’t find the cat videos on Youtube :/

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            August 13, 2013 at 09:10

            Clearly.

        • Zoe

          August 13, 2013 at 09:35

          why does this keep making me laugh?

          Reply

          • CaptainNemo42

            August 13, 2013 at 09:37

            It’s funny, because it’s true.

      • Troll Slayer

        August 13, 2013 at 09:44

        Yeah, Lazygamer is a parody site that can’t be taken seriously. I need to chat with Mr Clown over there.

        Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      August 13, 2013 at 08:24

      Tongue in cheek humor. There was a prevalent rumor that people would be able to hack the Kinect and spy on you. So much so that people accepted it as fact and wanted to boycott the XBOX One as is. Why so sensitive?

      Reply

      • John's cold sweat

        August 13, 2013 at 09:00

        Maybe he has something to hide….maybe he’s a spy from MS!!

        Reply

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          August 13, 2013 at 09:07

          He’s a sentient Kinect!

          (Just to be clear, that was a joke. I don’t think that will actually ever exist.)

          Reply

          • John's cold sweat

            August 13, 2013 at 09:18

            Your insight is contradicting that statement.

    • Wtf101

      August 13, 2013 at 08:27

      Oh cheer up Jakster. Here’s a clown to help.

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        August 13, 2013 at 08:30

        Classic movie. Really up there as one of horrors classics. Especially if you can’t understand peoples fear of clowns.

        Reply

        • Sageville

          August 13, 2013 at 09:56

          Clowns…..(Shudder)

          Reply

        • Skyblue

          August 13, 2013 at 10:03

          Mini-series, disqualified!

          EDIT: Tim Curry was the perfect Pennywise btw

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            August 13, 2013 at 10:07

            He was just as scary in Rocky Horror picture show.

          • Wtf101

            August 13, 2013 at 10:45

            No. Movie first. Due to the length of the flick, M-net decided to air it as a mini series

          • Skyblue

            August 13, 2013 at 11:56

            Ah but good sir, it was a 195 min TV movie broadcast as 2 episodes not only in SA but worldwide thus making it a .. ?

          • Wtf101

            August 13, 2013 at 12:16

            I distinctly remember seeing the movie poster at our cinema. But I do see that imdb lists it as a mini series. Meh. Go figure. I am wrong. Just prepare yourself for the universe imploding on itself… 🙂

          • Brian Murphy

            August 14, 2013 at 21:14

            Tim Curry’s pretty much perfect for every role he’s in, ok, except maybe in Congo. But the Butler in Clue? The Prince of Darkness in Legend? Pretty amazing roles…versatile as well.

    • Ultimo_Cleric N7

      August 13, 2013 at 08:29

      To learn sarcasm/wit, please go to the 4chan boards for a week, then come back here.

      Reply

      • Martin du preez

        August 13, 2013 at 08:30

        Dear God no..I wouldn’t even wish that 4chan hell on this troll

        Reply

    • Sageville

      August 13, 2013 at 10:01

      Did some journalist slap you around as a kid?

      Reply

      • Wtf101

        August 13, 2013 at 12:19

        Was that you asking or me?

        Reply

  8. Martin du preez

    August 13, 2013 at 08:25

    Lol listening to the consumer.. IF the PS4 wasn’t here , ya’ll would be DEALING WITH IT

    Reply

  9. Ultimo_Cleric N7

    August 13, 2013 at 08:26

    Freedom 1 – NSA 0
    While the MS tech that was initially launched is amazing, I reckon people are just not ready for it yet. Maybe once the worldwide internet infrastructure is a bit better, it will be the way to go.
    But for now, Well played MS. Well played.

    Reply

  10. Rock789

    August 13, 2013 at 08:29

    Ok, so basically everything Microsoft said at their original conference in May, they’ve pretty much gone, “Actually, you know what? Just forget what we said…”. Hmmmm… Bit weird if ya ask me.

    Reply

  11. Hammersteyn

    August 13, 2013 at 08:30

    Aha! So does that mean you can buy the XBOX without the Kinect for $100 cheaper???

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief Zombie Slayer

      August 13, 2013 at 08:31

      HAHAHAHA, right, pull the other one

      Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      August 13, 2013 at 09:36

      Computer says no.

      Reply

      • Sageville

        August 13, 2013 at 09:53

        Perfect, the MS execs will be rubbing their hands together now that they have something else to do an about-face on.

        MS sure has a weird release strategy:

        Step 1 – MAXIMUM ANAL Restrictions (Tell consumers it’s all cast in stone and immutable – #Dealwithit)
        Step 2 – Let consumers rage
        Step 3 – Do a 180 on said immutable restrictions
        Step 4 – Measure consumer Rage
        Step 5 – If Consumer Rage at maximum goto Step 3 else Release Xbone to public.

        Reply

      • Skyblue

        August 13, 2013 at 10:06

        *cough*

        Reply

    • Zoe

      August 13, 2013 at 09:40

      one day, maybe…. we can only dream

      Reply

  12. Martin du preez

    August 13, 2013 at 08:36

    So they made a 180..this is a 90..one more 90 and we’re back at ‘360’ YAy!

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief Zombie Slayer

      August 13, 2013 at 08:38

      So much of numbers O_O

      Reply

      • Martin du preez

        August 13, 2013 at 08:39

        Math is hard 🙁

        Reply

  13. Jones Jones of Wales

    August 13, 2013 at 08:41

    Everyone talking about the new consoles, and I’m just sitting here PC Gaming…

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief Zombie Slayer

      August 13, 2013 at 08:47

      Same here dude. But I have sympathies with my fellow gamers. I’m all against exclusives and the gaming community getting nailed.

      Reply

      • Jones Jones of Wales

        August 13, 2013 at 08:53

        I can agree with that… Honestly the Xbox One just doesn’t make sense… Either they had not planned their presentation well enough, didn’t know what to present in the first place, or damn near crapped themselves when they saw the PS4 presentation and started to listen to the community… (Waiting on Xbox One fans’ rant)

        Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        August 13, 2013 at 09:31

        Downloaded Rogue Legacy this weekend. Dark souls is nothing compared to this.

        Reply

  14. Alien Emperor Trevor

    August 13, 2013 at 08:47

    Are there any other mandatory, unalterable, set-in-stone policies they can still change or make optional? I don’t know what to think any more. Their whole new console launch is one gigantic mess.

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief Zombie Slayer

      August 13, 2013 at 08:48

      If your avatar is from the Invader Zim storyline (which I love, GIR ftw and all) and you are now the Alien Emperor, does that make you the tallest?

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        August 13, 2013 at 08:51

        Not only the tallest, but also the smartest & best looking. But I credit PC gaming for that. 😀

        Reply

  15. CaptainNemo42

    August 13, 2013 at 09:39

    If Microsoft keeps this up, they will be announcing backwards compatibility for PS3 games next.

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      August 13, 2013 at 09:41

      That has my vote for comment of the week.

      Reply

    • Martin du preez

      August 13, 2013 at 09:44

      Hahahaha!

      Reply

  16. Unavengedavo

    August 13, 2013 at 09:53

    Maybe they should just rename it to the xBox One80 😛

    Reply

  17. Guest

    August 13, 2013 at 10:08

    I Love a good .GIF in the morning.

    Reply

  18. iAmWeasel

    August 13, 2013 at 10:23

    Everyone so stoked about this, but at least when it was required it justified making it a mandatory purchase. Now you’re all paying for it just because 😉

    Reply

  19. RinceThisandholiday

    August 13, 2013 at 10:36

    Good call MS! See xbox fanboys people can say good things about the console… When it’s being GOOD.

    Reply

  20. Alex [SS] PsyChoPanthis

    August 13, 2013 at 11:14

    so essentially the Xbone has become the Xbox 720?

    Reply

    • Skyblue

      August 13, 2013 at 11:54

      They should call it the XBOX 180 with all these turnarounds

      Reply

      • Marc O Polo

        August 13, 2013 at 22:38

        that was my first thought when i heard they did away with the always online thing

        Reply

      • Marc O Polo

        August 13, 2013 at 22:38

        that was my first thought when i heard they did away with the always online thing

        Reply

  21. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    August 13, 2013 at 12:10

    But… TDon the Jacket said…. 😛

    Reply

  22. Brian Murphy

    August 13, 2013 at 16:09

    So basically, about 90% of what Microsoft has said was part of the system design is a lie?

    Can’t just turn off the DRM functionality – Check
    Kinect is integral to system design – check
    The cloud will have a major impact upon games – check

    And they wonder why we don’t trust big business. I wonder how far this will go to restoring trust in the users they…’may’ have lost. We shall see.

    Reply

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