Kinect-less XB1 fallout thread *spawn

[Deleted member 11852]

Both sony and ms are going to walk away from this generation thinking making the barest bones system with the most power is the only way to win.

It's a bit early to sum up this generation. But if both companies take away anything it's that the hardware in your gaming system needs to have an application to gaming.

Microsoft failed Kinect 2. They had very interesting hardware but apparently no killer games that used it. I just can not fathom how this has happened.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Finally MS buckled completely. Really looking forwards to the 'insider story' book about XB1. I expect to hear about in-fighting, lack of cohesive vision, resulting in half-baked ideas and a finally 'me too' product.

Probably the best thing to happen to XB1 since launch, but it could have been so much more.

 

[MrFox]

If their market share rise in the next quarter, it will have been the correct decision. A year too late.

Well, what other choice did they have? The BOM was estimated at $471, and Kinect is $75 of that bill. Do the math. With the retail profit involved ($20?) it's now sold with a loss per console.

 

[Scott_Arm]

Finally MS buckled completely. Really looking forwards to the 'insider story' book about XB1. I expect to hear about in-fighting, lack of cohesive vision, resulting in half-baked ideas and a finally 'me too' product.

Probably the best thing to happen to XB1 since launch, but it could have been so much more.

They clearly had lofty goals that they could not achieve. The idea of having a box with Kinect that could be the center of your home and run applications made a lot of sense, but the apps aren't there and they still wont' be until their new universal apps launch. They didn't have Kinect games ready for launch. The OS was missing basic features at launch. Their digital strategy was panned nearly universally (even though I think people overreacted massively). I think the X1 is still a very good product, and they're getting the software side of things fixed up and improved pretty rapidly. It wouldn't surprise me if Microsoft was expecting this gen to launch in Q4 2014, but rushed a launch for Q4 2013 when they found out Sony would be ready.

 

[wco81]

It's a bit early to sum up this generation. But if both companies take away anything it's that the hardware in your gaming system needs to have an application to gaming.

Microsoft failed Kinect 2. They had very interesting hardware but apparently no killer games that used it. I just can not fathom how this has happened.

What happened was, they chased a better Wii, got seduced by the technology, without concrete ideas on how it would enhance gameplay.

It would have had to revolutionize gameplay, considering the costs it added to the system.

But in the end, all they could do is put together some tech demos, none of which inspired developers to come up with some radical new gameplay that made up for the higher costs and the higher latency.

 

[iroboto]

It wouldn't surprise me if Microsoft was expecting this gen to launch in Q4 2014, but rushed a launch for Q4 2013 when they found out Sony would be ready.

Seems to be the story, they didn't want to go through what Sony went through when the PS3 came out a year after the Xbox 360.

 

[xexuxjy]

Can't say I'm hugely shocked. They needed some games to really push this and I don't think they managed that at all with the original kinect, let alone the v2. I've had my xbone kinect disabled for months now and not noticed anything I miss. I think all the high profile departures have given them room to scrap someone's pet project, just a shame it's hamstrung them this much. They're really going to have to have some impressive exclusive games at e3 to ride this out....

 

[Scott_Arm]

I suppose it's good they're making changes early, because this gen has a very long way to go.

 

[Dave Baumann]

http://kotaku.com/kinect-cut-could-lead-to-two-interesting-xbox-one-devel-1575767624

Good points here. Less need for the default system resources to still be in place for Kinect processing reservation. Also, announcing now to ensure the E3 story is about games rather than having something like this to sidetrack it.

 

[XpiderMX]

If they want to follow Sony, the next step is change the OS, no more "apps+games" in the same screen, no more virtual machines, more power for games.

 

[Scott_Arm]

http://kotaku.com/kinect-cut-could-lead-to-two-interesting-xbox-one-devel-1575767624

Good points here. Less need for the default system resources to still be in place for Kinect processing reservation. Also, announcing now to ensure the E3 story is about games rather than having something like this to sidetrack it.

So what would they do, remove features like UI control through voice and skeletal tracking to free up resources? Otherwise, how would those resources be freed up? Are there a bunch of resources for Kinect just sitting there not being used for anything? They could cut back on the system reserve, but my guess is those were just as much for apps than Kinect. Cutting back on those resources before universal apps is even out would be weird.

 

[Silenti]

Rumour has it Xbox is pulling Netflix and Hulu out from behind the paywall. Very good idea, if true.

Seems legit. All the game sites are reporting it. $400 console without Kinect. I'm pretty disappointed. Kinect is probably dead now. Maybe they just didn't have any software coming for it and they decided to cut the cord now.

Looks like they killed the paywall for most apps, which is a great decision. Game discounts coming for Gold subscribers on X1.

So they dump the always online post E3, cut the price to equivalence with their major competitor and lose the Kinect in the process. I am ecstatic. All this turns out to be true and I will probably get one. All I have to do is justify buying a system that is a bit less powerful but no longer offends my principles. Assuming MS is responding to consumer pressure it looks like I am far from the only one who feels this way.

Finally MS buckled completely. Really looking forwards to the 'insider story' book about XB1. I expect to hear about in-fighting, lack of cohesive vision, resulting in half-baked ideas and a finally 'me too' product.

Probably the best thing to happen to XB1 since launch, but it could have been so much more.

The 360 released Nov 22, 2005. "The Xbox 360 Uncloaked" released May 17, 2006. I checked around a bit and can find no mention of a book on the Xbox One coming up. Least not from Takahashi. Maybe it is not happening?

 

[Scott_Arm]

If they want to follow Sony, the next step is change the OS, no more "apps+games" in the same screen, no more virtual machines, more power for games.

The OS is actually one of the good things about the system. With minimal overhead, you can run two VMs at the same time and switch seamlessly between the two. Each space is protected from the other. Sony has resources reserved for the OS as well. In that regard, they are the same. Both could reduce the amount of resources reserved.

 

[Deleted member 11852]

If their market share rise in the next quarter, it will have been the correct decision. A year too late.

I think there are probably too many factors to attribute an increase in market share (or just increase in sales month-on-month) to this unless Microsoft publish a breakdown of Kinect vs Kinectless SKU sales, or imply it in a financial. There could be people adamant getting an Xbox One that are still saving, or won't until they old consoles dies, or are waiting for some other reason not related to the inclusion of Kinect.[/QUOTE]

But the 'excuse' of less marketshare because of cost will soon be gone.

 

[steveOrino]

Still too expensive, a weaker box @ the same price is silly but w/e. Kinect's fate was already sealed during the 360 era. To limited to justify its inclusion with the system no matter how good the sensors were. Interacting with air isn't appealing way to play games. I guess new management agreed.

Honestly I thought they would wait till oct-nov but they are losing too much mind share at this point @ $500.

 

[Deleted member 7537]

They had to do this. However i'm somewhat exceptical about its effect. XB1 got some nice unofficial pricecuts during March. You could get a titanfall bundle for 450€ and that didn't help much in sales.

 

[Shortbread]

http://kotaku.com/kinect-cut-could-lead-to-two-interesting-xbox-one-devel-1575767624

Good points here. Less need for the default system resources to still be in place for Kinect processing reservation. Also, announcing now to ensure the E3 story is about games rather than having something like this to sidetrack it.

This would make sense if there wasn't a current XB1 Kinect user-base. What will they do with current users, or future users purchasing Kinect bundleds? If resources go away, doesn't that essentially kill the Kinect? The "resources" (reservations) were in place for a reason...

Or am I missing something from your statement?

 

[RancidLunchmeat]

I suppose it's good they're making changes early, because this gen has a very long way to go.

I don't think so. This gen was based on tech that was already years old - not cutting edge. After MS cuts the One's price tag to below that of the PS4 and still fails to gain any momentum, MS will announce a successor or leave the line of business entirely.

They've made their bed with the integration of Kinect - it isn't something they can just "Drop". It's something that was vital to the vision and that's demonstrated by the fact that they've removed it and still only reached price parity with the PS4 and are supplying a weaker console.

What compelling reason is there for anybody to purchase a One over a PS4? Many PS4 purchases already said there wasn't one at a $100 premium and Kinect. But many One purchases said there was, even with the $100 price point... with kinect.

No cost premium, but no kinect? There's no reason to buy what is essentially an identical console that performs worse.

So they need to drop the price below the PS4, not equal to it. They'll probably due so for the 2014 Holiday season, but it might all be way to late at that point.

This console is now nothing like the original vision and is simply a gimped PS4.

Which, curiously enough, is very close to what Sony fans said after the original announcement and specs. That it was a gimped PS4 with an NSA spy device built in.

So now it doesn't have that and is simply a gimped PS4. Yep, I can see people lining up to buy them in droves over the equally priced, better performing PS4.

 

[-tkf-]

This is a huge mistake from MS .

As an early adopter I'm quite upset with this, there are few games for Kinect and now thanks to this it will stay that way. While I love it for voice controls , knowing it was in with every system sold bolsted my confidence in it getting more games through its life. Now the lack of games will keep more people away from it and in turn reduce the amount of games we get.

Whats more , there is no sorry to early adopters , at least when Nintendo did this to me with the 3ds they gave me a bunch of games

Didn´t you win your Console? or maybe i am confusing you with some other, in that case forgive me.

 

[Bagel seed]

What happened was, they chased a better Wii, got seduced by the technology, without concrete ideas on how it would enhance gameplay.

It would have had to revolutionize gameplay, considering the costs it added to the system.

But in the end, all they could do is put together some tech demos, none of which inspired developers to come up with some radical new gameplay that made up for the higher costs and the higher latency.

Bang on. Kinect obsession by way of the Wii infected the minds of the suits at MS.