Microsoft’s Xbox One will require the use of an upgraded Kinect sensor according to an FAQ posted to Xbox Wire, the company’s new public relations destination for all things Xbox.
“The all new Kinect is now an essential and integrated part of the platform. By having it as a consistent part of every Xbox One, game and entertainment creators can build experiences that assume the availability of voice, gesture, and natural sensing, leading to unrivaled ease of use, premium experiences and interactivity for you.”
As every Xbox One will come with a Kinect sensor, it won’t cost users anymore than the cost of their initial hardware purchase, however those who prefer to not use the Kinect, or are who are a bit nervous about having a sensor that’s always listening may not be to thrilled with the requirement.
Users will even be able to use the Kinect sensor when the Xbox One is in it’s powered down state. During today’s press event, Xbox general manager Marc Whitten actually began the presentation by turning on the console with only his voice.
Hopefully they will have made some improvements to the voice recognition by then. Nothing is more annoying than when I’m watching Netflix or Xbox Video or HBO Go, and the video pauses itself or starts rewinding or just jumps back to the main menu because of something the Kinect thought it heard in the audio.
I have this problem too, though admittedly mine is because I’ve never retuned the device. By all accounts it seems to have upgraded internals so maybe that’s one of the things they addressed, at least I hope so.