Microsoft releases cheaper Xbox One bundle, minus Kinect

You’ll be very happy to know that Microsoft has announced a new lower-cost Xbox One bundle. The only problem? It comes without the Kinect sensor.

While the new Kinect is really cool, being able to track your heartbeat by watching for tiny colour variations in your skin, games for the camera haven’t been as cool, and now Microsoft looks like it’s realised that a lot of Xbox One users don’t require the camera at all.

Originally the Xbox One was intended to require the Kinect sensor to be connected at all times, so it’s now a good thing that that idea was ditched before the console’s release last year.

A spokesperson at Microsoft said the company was still “committed” to the Kinect, and would still offer the full bundle with the camera included. They also said they would offer a separate Kinect later in the year.

They added: “Kinect remains an important part of our vision. Many of you are using Kinect for Xbox One every day. In fact, more than 80 percent of you are actively using Kinect, with an average of 120 voice commands per month on each console.”

As well as this new Kinect-free bundle, Microsoft also announced that from June an Xbox Gold account would not be required to use apps like Netflix.

The £349 Xbox One bundle will be available on June 9.