In the biggest 180 since their DRM reversal, Microsoft has now announced a new Xbox One – one without the all-seeing-eye of the Kinect. While most are rejoicing at the new price and absence of useless motion commands, some feel that this is a step backwards for Microsoft. So, to help you form your own opinions, here are the views of the Lazygamer crew.
Gavin: Mistakes keeps happening
I think the scariest thing about all of this is how obvious it has become that Microsoft really don’t know what they want to offer or what their long term goal is.
I would have preferred them to have taken the financial hit and dropped the price to $399 while keeping the Kinect bundled in as it really is quite an awesome piece of kit. The price cut will definitely help shift some units but what is left of the Xbox One from what was originally announced?
Let’s hope Microsoft blows us away at E3 2014
Geoff: It’s about time
Honestly, I think Kinect was a mistake to begin with, made to try capitalise on the Wii’s motion control success. That was a flash in the pan, and motion controls are nearly unanimously worse for games. It was Kinect that turned gamers away from Microsoft back with the 360 already, and the company’s resolute focus on it then meant they focused less on actual games. Its forced inclusion in the Xbox One just added fuel to the fire.
Kinect should have been excluded from the get-go. I get Microsoft’s stance on media, and taking over the living room, but the early adopters – gamers – don’t give a damn about any of that. They want games. When the Xbox One had already had some level of market penetration, then throw in a Kinect and herald its media capabilities for the mainstream.
Hopefully, Microsoft’s learning its lesson.
Darryn: Can’t we all just get along?
How about that Xbox One huh? Doing another 180 huh? Kinect not so essential after all huh? HUH? You can say plenty about Microsoft right now, dropping that mandatory feature and making it a choice that most folks will choose to ignore. But the fact is, I honestly don’t care about any of that criticism.
Last year, I was convinced that I’d be buying an Xbox One. And then after every press event and every time someone at Microsoft opened their mouths, my resistance was worn down. So I scrapped that plan to import, and got a PlayStation 4. And I love that console. That didn’t mean however, that I had sworn off Microsoft.
Because the fact is, they still make solid games. You can chide them for nabbing several exclusives, but that’s business. And now, with another about-turn, they’ve made the Xbox One console something that I want again.
Sure, it’s slightly less powerful than the PS4, but I don’t give a toss. I want something to play games on. I’m dying for a new Gears of War. i want a new-gen Forza Horizon. Sunset Overdrive tickles my prostate with its daring use of more than grey colour scheme. So I’ll let folks make their jokes, and grin and bear the reactions. Because now we can finally focus on just the games again.
And that’s an infinitely more interesting topic for me.
Zoe: Finally! But…
The whole idea behind the Kinect creeped me out. I didn’t like this all-seeing, all-hearing device in the living room. It seemed stupid, and added a ridiculous amount of cash to an expensive piece of tech. I didn’t see myself using it for much more than redeeming codes (who wants to type those things in if there’s a camera in the room) and maybe capturing video clips via voice command. By getting rid of the Kinect, Xbox is showing their focus is on the actual content of games, not the bells and whistles.
However, there is a tiny part of me that’s a bit sad about it. No, I don’t think the new Kinect is the future. No, I don’t think voice or motion controls work well. However, if we’re ever going to get to the future we see in games and on TV – the one with holographic computers and stuff, not the zombie apocalypse one – we are going to need a device that can see what we’re doing with our hands, can check our biometrics and adjust our surroundings accordingly. It has some horrifying implications, but it is the future that we’ve imagined, and the future that we’re slowly approaching.
Meanwhile, I’m incredibly happy to see Microsoft focusing on the games again. Dropping the Kinect requirement frees up developers to make things that are controller only, using resources for stories and characters, visuals and sounds rather than bizarre swipe motions and heartbeat scans.
Last Updated: May 14, 2014
McBeanoO
May 14, 2014 at 15:07
The peanut gallery will be here anytime now to poke fun at the Xbox One. Not like they’ll own any next-gen console but like Liverpool supporters, PS fanbois love getting the last word in.
RinceBroken
May 14, 2014 at 15:09
No. The ‘peanut’ gallery are poking fun at MS and their terrible planning. Huge difference.
Hammersteyn
May 14, 2014 at 15:12
Remember him?
https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/7586714368/h8CA2A8F6/
Norm the Horrible
May 14, 2014 at 15:22
HAHA! Yeah.
McBeanoO
May 14, 2014 at 15:17
You speak as if the Xbox One isn’t selling or hasn’t sold one console out the door. Typical fanboi deja poo.
Hammersteyn
May 14, 2014 at 15:19
Such potty mouth 😛
RinceBroken
May 14, 2014 at 15:22
If they are selling so much, prey tell, why are they now doing ANOTHER 180 and offering the console without the Kinect, FANBOI?
McBeanoO
May 14, 2014 at 15:26
If you read the official response from Mr Mehdi, you would understand but it’s pointless explaining things like localization and affordability to fanboi-troll.
Kinect 2.0 ain’t going anywhere.
RinceBroken
May 14, 2014 at 15:27
You are right! IThey’re going to stay in the factories because no one wants the piece of crap! HAHAHAHA!
Spathi
May 14, 2014 at 15:27
*BOOOOOOOOOOOM*!
Hammersteyn
May 14, 2014 at 15:28
I think it’s still nice that the now give you the option whether you wanted it or not. Most hardcore gamers probably won’t buy it I think.
Umar Returns
May 14, 2014 at 15:29
Yet another member of the internet that doesn’t understand what a troll is
RinceBroken
May 14, 2014 at 15:30
I swear it’s Gavin…
Spathi
May 14, 2014 at 15:30
Quiet you fanboi-troll!
Umar Returns
May 14, 2014 at 15:34
Shutup you bloody freaking troll, I hate you!!!!!!!!!!!
Spathi
May 14, 2014 at 15:35
I hate you times infinity!!!!11!1!!!!!!!!!
Rikus
May 14, 2014 at 15:33
“Kinect 2.0 ain’t going anywhere.”
You do realize that it just went somewhere?
RinceBroken
May 14, 2014 at 15:40
Down double negative valley?
Mark Treloar
May 14, 2014 at 21:38
Wow did someone touch you on your Xbone?
Martin du preez
May 14, 2014 at 15:25
Shhh no tears. Just cloudz…
RinceBroken
May 14, 2014 at 15:27
HAHAHAHAHA! 😉
Hammersteyn
May 14, 2014 at 15:39
LOOOOOL
KingKappie
May 14, 2014 at 15:17
Hyy I don’t always want to get the last word in
RinceBroken
May 14, 2014 at 15:18
Or me… 0-O
Spathi
May 14, 2014 at 15:26
Me neither!
Hammersteyn
May 14, 2014 at 15:26
Stop it all of you, dammit now I’ve done it.
Admiral Chief in Space
May 14, 2014 at 15:27
Done what?
Spathi
May 14, 2014 at 15:28
Don’t you dare…
Hammersteyn
May 14, 2014 at 15:29
dare what……… oh snap
KingKappie
May 14, 2014 at 15:32
Stop being a fanboi
RinceBroken
May 14, 2014 at 15:37
Oi!
Umar Returns
May 14, 2014 at 15:22
Well, to be fair, it is really warranted though, MS has been fairly idiotic since the get go
Alien Emperor Trevor
May 14, 2014 at 15:32
Would you like a hug?
Martin du preez
May 14, 2014 at 15:33
http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1510/15104833/2528215-4536717510-iwBeH.gif
Rikus
May 14, 2014 at 15:35
hahaha! man, that gif is awesome!
Hammersteyn
May 14, 2014 at 15:09
I wouldn’t mind the Kinect at all, if it work in the first place like it should. Plus no one I know has a living room big enough for it to work. Yes we need to move forward with technology but a gimmicky device that isn’t very reliable to start with isn’t the way forward. More work is required so I would implore MS to continue development. There is potential and with the right games (Not like Star Wars dance dance) it can succeed
RinceBroken
May 14, 2014 at 15:13
The whole point was forcing people to have to buy it for more when they only wanted a console. Think fanbois miss that point.
Hammersteyn
May 14, 2014 at 15:15
And MS ignored them till now
RinceBroken
May 14, 2014 at 15:17
Exactly. First they lie to us about not being to ‘flip a switch’ which the bloody well did, then they lie and say in no uncertain terms “we will NEVER sell the Bone without its Kinetic”. Well done MS…
Alien Emperor Trevor
May 14, 2014 at 15:17
Gavin, don’t you think the problem wasn’t that they didn’t have a plan or long-term vision, but that they overestimated how much people would go along with it?
RinceBroken
May 14, 2014 at 15:18
Or underestimated how we would rage at them… I suppose same thing, but a lot of pressure has been from the community.
Hammersteyn
May 14, 2014 at 15:22
What happens about the plans to dominate the living room now?
Gavin Mannion
May 14, 2014 at 16:19
well yes of course they had a plan, but how could they get t so badly wrong
Brian Murphy
May 14, 2014 at 17:33
That’s really the most curious aspect of this whole thing, gamer’s reaction to their vision was not surprising at all. What was surprising is the absolute disparity between the great PR/Vision they had with the 360…to their roll-out and first 6 months of the X1.
KingKappie
May 14, 2014 at 15:22
i’m glad thy did it, now the Xbone is cheaper
oVg Errorist
May 14, 2014 at 15:47
Can it play Titanfall in South Africa? 😛
KingKappie
May 14, 2014 at 15:54
Do you want to play Titanfall is South Africa
HvR - THE Average GAmer
May 14, 2014 at 15:56
“Titanfall is South Africa” is that the DLC where you get to ride on traffic lights and punch street vendors?
oVg Errorist
May 14, 2014 at 15:58
Titanfall South Africa 😛
KingKappie
May 14, 2014 at 16:05
O man I love SA
oVg Errorist
May 14, 2014 at 16:09
I bet you have never seen a ZULU in NIKE air pumps and Ray Bans.
RinceBroken
May 14, 2014 at 15:23
Cool, now the Bone doorstop is even cheaper.
Umar Returns
May 14, 2014 at 15:30
to sum up Xbone in a few words….TV…TV TV TV TV TV TV TV, experience…TV
oVg Errorist
May 14, 2014 at 15:51
You forgot the 55million to the NFL sports sports sports sports
RinceBroken
May 14, 2014 at 15:31
From a few months ago “”Kinect does require to be connected to Xbox One in all cases, yes,” Microsoft’s Harvey Eagle told press “
Hammersteyn
May 14, 2014 at 15:33
Should have named the console XBOX 180
Alien Emperor Trevor
May 14, 2014 at 15:37
They started to, but only got as far as saying “Xbox One…” before changing their mind.
RinceBroken
May 14, 2014 at 15:38
Nice 😉
Spathi
May 14, 2014 at 15:38
Hahahaha dammit that made me laugh!
oVg Errorist
May 14, 2014 at 16:13
bwahahahaha COMMENT OF THE WEEEEEEEK
Double-O-Six and a half
May 14, 2014 at 16:26
Nah! with all the turnarounds they’ve done they should have named it the “XBox Spin” from the start…
As in… get your “XBOx Spin” – more hairpin u-turns than a Forza track…!
Hammersteyn
May 14, 2014 at 17:21
LOL
Umar Returns
May 14, 2014 at 15:33
Gamers have been saying since the start, it’s a lie. Where are the defenders of this? Where is your God now??
RinceBroken
May 14, 2014 at 15:36
Indeed. That’s why I find it hysterical when fanbois try defending it by saying that those who are not happy with something are being unreasonable.
Umar Returns
May 14, 2014 at 15:40
Blind bro, I hate blind loyalty with all my being
RinceBroken
May 14, 2014 at 15:41
Exactly http://squareportal.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/iqgdezdlyhxry.gif
Umar Returns
May 14, 2014 at 15:43
LOOOLZ, I loved the game, so what!!!!!!!!!!
RinceBroken
May 14, 2014 at 15:45
😉
Hammersteyn
May 14, 2014 at 15:45
Nothing wrong with the game, it’s just not what I want in FF
Umar Returns
May 14, 2014 at 15:46
Yeah exactly, tell that to ol grump rince here. I’m done, he can speak to my hand, the one I masturbate with!
RinceBroken
May 14, 2014 at 15:49
0-o http://mrwgifs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Tom-Delonge-WTF-Blink-182-Gif-Classic.gif
Umar Returns
May 14, 2014 at 15:50
Man I love that song though!….First Date Blink 182
RinceBroken
May 14, 2014 at 15:50
What, first date with the hand I must speak to? *RUNS
Umar Returns
May 14, 2014 at 15:51
0-o http://mrwgifs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Tom-Delonge-WTF-Blink-182-Gif-Classic.gif
oVg Errorist
May 14, 2014 at 15:50
Umar Returns
May 14, 2014 at 15:54
LOOOL pink fluffy emo chicks dancing on rainbows
RinceBroken
May 14, 2014 at 15:33
After a Microsoft-hosted London event around the Xbox One reveal, Xbox’s UK marketing director Harvey Eagle has said that the console will not function without Kinect connected.
“Kinect does require to be connected to Xbox One in all cases, yes,” he said. Asked whether the Xbox One will accommodate people who perhaps play in their bedroom rather than their living room, Eagle replied: “Yes, absolutely. We use the living room almost as a moniker – that’s where we assume the best screen is in the house. But if you like to play in any other room in the house, the Xbox One will deliver the same quality of experience whatever the environment.”
oVg Errorist
May 14, 2014 at 15:35
IRRELEVANT!!!!
The day one update to enable the device to work is where they lost my vote.
Hammersteyn
May 14, 2014 at 15:35
Forgot all about that.
oVg Errorist
May 14, 2014 at 15:36
Thats because 99.9% of gamers are online. Except me and the other 44 million XBOX 360s that never registered to XBOX LIVE.
Hammersteyn
May 14, 2014 at 15:35
Oh Internet, you never forget
http://wpmedia.o.canada.com/2013/06/bnjr_ukceaag2xg.jpg
RinceBroken
May 14, 2014 at 15:44
Oh Adam Boyes, where are you today? http://squareportal.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/iqgdezdlyhxry.gif
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
May 14, 2014 at 17:41
Don’t be sad Zoe. You can still get it extra if need be. That’s the power of choice 🙂
V For Vincennes
May 14, 2014 at 17:54
Early adopter here. Systematically f**ked by Microsoft. Kinect for sale! Only 100 dollars!
WHAT A DEAL!!!!!