Despite Microsoft backpedaling on a few key features involving the Xbox One, such as its requirements to sell and trade games, its connectivity to the web and its necessity to use Kinect at all times. However, one feature that it is steadfast on keeping for its next-generation gaming console is its mandatory bundle with the Kinect motion sensor.
"Xbox One is Kinect. They are not separate systems. An Xbox One has chips, it has memory, it has Blu-ray, it has Kinect, it has a controller. These are all part of the platform ecosystem," Phil Harrison, a Microsoft corporate vice president, told CVG in response to a question on whether or not the Xbox One will ever be sold without the Kinect.
As CNET points out, this might not be the best move for Microsoft as the inclusion of the Kinect is one of the main factors in the price difference between the Xbox One and its rival competitor the PlayStation 4. Right now the Xbox One is priced at $499 while Sony's PS4 is only $399. Although Microsoft has made up a lot of round since its highly criticized showcase at this year's E3 2013 gaming conference, it's still losing the PR battle against its competitor and the $100 difference has a lot to do with that. It's possible that by offering the Kinect separate from the console itself, Microsoft could close that gap and finally make the Xbox One sound as appealing as the PS4.
Despite the PR battle, Harrison remains adamant about keeping the console and Kinect bundled the way they are.
"I have an Xbox One at home, and being able to walk in and say 'Xbox on,' and for the system to recognize me, launch and load my profile, and put my choices of content on the font page is a very magical experience," he said. "It makes you think about your relationship with technology in a slightly different way. It's personal. It makes you think, I wish more devices would do this."
