Even though we have learned that you don’t absolutely need the Kinect for the Xbox One to function, we keep hearing about how it makes the experience so much better. The main reason? Voice commands! Well, now it turns out that only a handful of countries will have that functionality at launch.
According to the fine print on the official Xbox One product page:
Xbox voice commands will not be available in all markets on the product release date. Voice commands will be available at launch in US, UK, CA, FR, and DE.
Microsoft already reduced the number of launch countries to 13, but now only five will be able to say “Xbox On” or “Skype my mistress”. So, if you live in the US, UK, Canada, France or Germany, you can talk to the Kinect while it watches you. Otherwise, if you are based in Australia, Austria, Brazil, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Spain or New Zealand, it will just watch you.
I’m not sure I understand why this might be. It can’t be a language issue – Australia and Ireland speak English – the differences between American and British accents are far greater than the differences between English and Australian. At least, they sound that way to my Yankee ear. It seems particularly strange considering that the Xbox 360’s speech recognition is currently supported in all the excluded countries except Austria.
Of course, as it currently is with the Xbox 360. this means that when the console comes to SA, you will just have to pretend to be in the UK to speak to your Xbox One.
I don’t think most people were planning on purchasing an Xbox One because of the voice commands, but it’s just a bit strange that this hyped aspect won’t actually work at launch in most countries.
Last Updated: August 30, 2013
Hammersteyn
August 30, 2013 at 11:36
Maybe the problem is accents. There is a difference between your average loud overweight American and the panel beater from Dannville even though they both speak English. Hell other countries even speaks Engrish. XBROX RON!
Mossel
August 30, 2013 at 11:56
That is probably correct. I changed Siri to the british version, because the american one wouldn’t recognise my words. Apparently the ausie one is even better.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
August 30, 2013 at 11:59
Aye, British (and even Australian Siri) is a saucy minx! She can always understand me! American Siri… not so much!
Mossel
August 30, 2013 at 12:07
Also, dont know if you guys listen to Pendulum, but British Siri is the same guy that speaks in Blood Sugar!
RinceThisNintypoo
August 30, 2013 at 12:05
You forgot to say ‘even though they both speak English and are both overweight’ trololo!
Hammersteyn
August 30, 2013 at 12:20
LOL
TiMsTeR1033
August 30, 2013 at 11:37
@ Zoe It is complete…. 😉
Spathi
August 30, 2013 at 11:51
It is shocking to see MS actually releasing a console this far from being ready. Day 1 patching on games is bad enough, I really don’t need an incomplete console too.
/rant
Fuck this, I’ve been all nice and fair for the last few weeks regarding the XBO. Anyone who still thinks MS knows what they are doing, or that the whole shitstorm regarding the DRM and 2nd hand games was actually a clever marketing ploy, is a fucking idiot.
I’ll consider the XBO in 2016, when all the kinks have been ironed out and MS got medication for their bi-polar disorder.
//rant
Umar Kiiroi Senk?
August 30, 2013 at 11:58
Finally, someone speaks the truth and just let’s it all out
Spathi
August 30, 2013 at 12:16
I’m trying to smoke less. Get easily agitated when I don’t smoke. I’ll be back in a hour to apologise for calling people idiots 🙂
Umar Kiiroi Senk?
August 30, 2013 at 12:36
LOL the truth is the truth………….
Brady miaau
August 30, 2013 at 13:26
Be strong. I did it (quit completely). But I got some drugs (zyban) from the doc to help. Also changed my habits, i.e. as soon as I drink I smoke, so drinking was out. That type of thing.
If you are just trying to cut down, good luck with that too.
Spathi
August 30, 2013 at 13:48
Well done on quitting
My exact problem. I don’t drink a lot (frequently), but I LOVE beer, red wine and whisky (with cigars…). Especially like to drink beer when I braai, and even more when I don’t braai. When I drink anything, I want to light up.
Will have to make a change though.
Brady miaau
August 30, 2013 at 14:28
Look, no preaching from me. It is difficult, possibly in the top three most difficult things I have ever done.
I smoked two to three packs of strong ones a day for about twelve to thirteen years.
Also I realised I cannot quit for another person, i.e. if my wife asked me to quit it would not work so well. I decided for myself AND I quit for no other person than ME. Perhaps that may help you.
Oh, aged Scotch, cigars. Yeah man.
Hermann Schwindt
August 30, 2013 at 13:30
Also try exercising, it helped me a lot. Jogging relieved me from blurred vision when I quit.
Spathi
August 30, 2013 at 13:44
Thanks man, I’m going to start exercising at the end of September, firstly by going for a swim at the gym in lunch and then slowly staring a gym routine!
Brady miaau
August 30, 2013 at 14:53
I have pool at home, just over 9 metres long. Nice swim after work. But also in September, thanks!
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
August 30, 2013 at 12:01
They were definitely caught with their pants down. I think Microsoft was banking on a 2014 reveal and launch, and they probably thought Sony was serious about that 10 year console cycle.
Spathi
August 30, 2013 at 12:06
It really is worrying. MS are masters with software*, and they are doing so much right. But the whole XBO ordeal really doesn’t make any sense.
*Yes they are. All you Win 8 haters and Linux lovers, get over yourselves.
HvR
August 30, 2013 at 13:53
Windows XP after SP3 brilliant; still running on my old laptop to do long list of thing I can not on my brand new Win 8 laptop.
Windows 7 was the only OS MS launched that worked correctly day one and is still rock solid. Still running on my main gaming machine.
Win 8 however sucks more and harder than Thailand hooker getting a $3 bonus.
New issues to my list after the latest round of updates:
No longer able to take my laptop out of hibernation.
Laptop crashes on when undocking.
Still unable to make proper and stable VPN connections.
USB devices that get powered, detected and enumerated but Win8 will not allow me access to the devices.
Only thing it is good for browsing the inter, get mail and play with Metro UI blocks.
Spathi
August 30, 2013 at 14:05
I also still use Windows 7, no reason to upgrade. Win 8 will get better and more stable. Was just trying to make a point that MS ain’t all suck, especially when concerning their software. This is why the XBO is such a shock to me.
OVG
August 30, 2013 at 12:38
HELL… you get today’s BELLS 🙂
Spathi
August 30, 2013 at 12:46
Well thank you. And coming from the rant master himself, that really means a lot! 😀
Marc O Polo
August 31, 2013 at 10:33
been thinking the same thing since they cut down the number of countries the initial launch, think they were caught out by the initial PS4 reveal and have been trying to play catch up ever since.
Alien Emperor Trevor
August 30, 2013 at 11:51
It’s looking more & more like they’re not really ready & are rushing the release.
Umar Kiiroi Senk?
August 30, 2013 at 11:58
Which should make the normal person suspicious about Day 1 purchases. but no one wants to heed the warning
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
August 30, 2013 at 11:58
Whut du u meeen, Kinect Cunna undustun mu unglush? Dus uh Truvusty! <— This is not my real accent! Or Maybe it is!
Umar Kiiroi Senk?
August 30, 2013 at 11:59
What accent it is that? capedurbian?
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
August 30, 2013 at 12:00
Port Elizabethian East Londener…. tis true bru! They tune funny words dun tha!
HvR
August 30, 2013 at 12:02
Cape Town: Slat daar ‘n aan my Xbox laanie.
Umar Kiiroi Senk?
August 30, 2013 at 12:06
Lol Would love a Capetonian to interact with the X1.
Yhor Xbox why don’t you wana turn on mos. Naai, you mos not lekker Kinect. The brasse wana slat some Dence Central. Yasis
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
August 30, 2013 at 12:08
Duidelik! Naai my broe, djou eks-doos is kak sleg. Die fokken ding verstaan n’ man dan nie. Yasis!!!
Umar Kiiroi Senk?
August 30, 2013 at 12:11
Naai die f*kken Kinect ken mos nie die ding nie. Ek wil mos met Tracey-lee jol met Dence Central. Kinect is suma kak, daar is n mooi kin by die joint nou wil Kinect suma nie werk nie. Voetsek Microsoft
Alien Emperor Trevor
August 30, 2013 at 12:28
LULZ. *feels bad* LULZ MOAR!
Vampyre Squirrel
August 30, 2013 at 12:02
Banana MacJim?
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
August 30, 2013 at 12:02
😮 ArRR.. hund mey du haggis!!
Marc O Polo
August 31, 2013 at 10:35
imagine a cape coloured trying to use voice commands… would be hilarious!
SaintsRowLee
August 30, 2013 at 11:59
En wat van onse Afrikaanse aksente vra ek julle???
I can laaik to say Xdoos Aan!
OVG
August 30, 2013 at 12:50
fokin doos!!! AAAAAN!!! 😛
Gustav Willem Diedericks
August 30, 2013 at 12:57
Dis ‘n upvote daardie!
Hermann Schwindt
August 30, 2013 at 13:31
Op daardie noot, lmga
RinceThisNintypoo
August 30, 2013 at 12:07
Lol, Major Nelson: “We are going to offer the best entertainment experience ever, just not in most countries at first, and heck, probably not the others for a while”
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
August 30, 2013 at 12:19
Translation: “USA USA USA!”
HvR
August 30, 2013 at 14:03
Merica!!!!
Alien Emperor Trevor
August 30, 2013 at 12:30
He had everyone believing he meant the Xbox, when what he really meant was the hours of fun we’d all have watching MS run around like headless chickens.
RinceThisNintypoo
August 30, 2013 at 12:59
Are you not entertained?!
DAS
August 30, 2013 at 17:10
Just another reason to not pre-order or buy at launch. As a budget strapped college student I do not have the money to shell out for multiple consoles as they slowly fix them by producing new models like they did with the 360. While I will be getting ONE for the launch of Destiny, I hope they have ironed out some of the issues that will no doubt be prevalent at launch.