Microsoft’s next-generation console will take motion gaming to its core it seems, with latest leaks suggesting the Kinect peripheral will be a ‘mandatory’ addition to the Xbox 720.
Claiming that the Xbox 360 follow-on will only work when paired with a revised edition of the current Kinect peripheral, it has been reported that the camera equipped add-on will be required for the expected PS4 rival to function, with the motion gaming enabler coming boxed with every Xbox 720 sold.
Citing “a source who says he has access to development hardware,” gaming blog Kotaku has suggested that the next-gen Xbox “will only work when a much-improved version of the popular but divisive Kinect sensor array is plugged in.”
With the insider source, known as SuperDaE, suggesting he has played a selection of test Xbox 720 games and is in possession of an Xbox 720 developer unit, latest reports have claimed the second-generation Kinect must be plugged in for the console to function, a measure that will encourage developers to create titles with the camera capabilities in mind.
“This isn’t an optional accessory. It’s mandatory,” the insider reports have suggested. “Not only does a Kinect ship with every console, but it must be plugged in and calibrated for the console to even function.”
Offering further details on the Xbox 720 bound Kinect add-on, insiders have claimed that the dramatically updated peripheral will now be able to track up to six users, or ‘skeletons’, simultaneously, a feature that would introduce automatic play identification and allow the system to apply custom user settings without command.
What’s more, it has been suggested that the user identification could introduce a new realm of big brother-esque monitoring, allowing the console to track people in the room and even make monetary charges accordingly based on the number of users playing games or watching streamed content.
Seemingly set to amend a number of issues with the first-generation Kinect add-on, it has been reported that the new model will offer a wider viewing angle and be able to independently track users’ thumbs, determining whether gamers’ hands are open or closed. Providing a more immersive experience, it is said the device will be able to read facial expressions.
With Microsoft remaining tight-lipped around the potential arrival of an Xbox 360 replacement, news of an Xbox 720 mandatory Kinect connection come in the same day that the PlayStation rival has confirmed that it has sold a staggering 76 million Xbox 360 consoles to date. Tripling the sale figures recorded by the original Xbox, Microsoft has revealed that since the peripheral’s launch back in 2010, a hefty 24 million Kinect sensors have already been sold globally.
Would you be happy with such a seemingly invasive mandatory addition to your gaming life? Let us know via the TrustedReviews Twitter and Facebook feeds or through the comment boxes below.
Via: Kotaku
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
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We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
