Microsoft Goes Back to What Matters at E3: Games

Earlier this week Microsoft announced that the Xbox One can now be purchased without the Kinect for $399 and can be preordered through Amazon, Best Buy, and GameStop.

“We’ve heard that you want more choices from Xbox One. You want a wide variety of options in your games and entertainment experiences and you also want options in your hardware selection,” Head of Xbox Phil Spencer said. “To be clear, as we introduce this new Xbox One console option, Kinect remains an important part of our vision.”

The removal of the Kinect from the Xbox One could bring problems to game developers, because a Kinect aspect will no longer be guaranteed.  However, Spencer also said that more than 80 percent of Xbox One owners are using the Kinect on a regular basis with an average of 120 voice commands per console a month.  If it becomes something that affects the gameplay, the Kinect will be available for separate purchase later on this year, although a price for that has yet to be announced.  

The Kinect and its  “Snap” feature that allows multitasking, such as between gaming and watching television, has been on display lately.  Especially since Breaking Bad star Aaron Paulwas featured in an Xbox commercial showcasing it.

With all of this in recent news, E3 spectators were expecting Microsoft to talk it, and they did– once in passing. It seemed almost as if they made all of their technology announcements before E3 so that they can focus on the gaming aspect of their gaming console.

Among the most important games were Assassin’s Creed: Unity, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, and Forza Horizon 2 which will all be released later on this year.  But what people were really looking forward to and what received one of the most enthusiastic responses on the game scene was Halo.  

Halo: The Master Chief Collection will allow people to play the older installments of the series with updated graphics on the Xbox One.  The next game in the series, Halo 5: Guardians will be released next year, but those who purchase the Master Chief  collection will have the chance to be a part of the multiplayer abilities in the new game later on this year.  

Perhaps the new Kinect-less bundle and the anticipated games will finally push the Xbox One ahead of its biggest competitor, the PlayStation 4.  Currently the PS4 has sold more than seven million consoles, about two million more than the Xbox One.