Xbox One Doesn’t Require Kinect To Be Plugged In

In a Microsoft “AMA” on IGN, Xbox One console architect Marc Whitten has confirmed that the Xbox One doesn’t require the Kinect to be plugged in for the console to work.

"Xbox One is designed to work with Kinect plugged in…Games use Kinect in a variety of amazing ways from adding voice to control your squad mates to adding lean and other simple controls beyond the controller to full immersive gameplay. That said, like online, the console will still function if Kinect isn’t plugged in, although you won’t be able to use any feature or experience that explicitly uses the sensor."

This is a huge announcement that will ease the minds of those who have privacy concerns over the Xbox One’s Kinect sensor. But it begs the question: why won’t Microsoft create an Xbox One bundle that doesn’t require the Kinect? They’ve already confirmed on multiple occasions that they won’t ship the Xbox One without it, but if the device itself is a deal-breaker for some and you don’t absolutely require the Kinect to be plugged in, then why force consumers to pay that extra $80-100?

Either way, it looks like this AMA is a continual source of breaking Xbox One information, so we’ll be sure to be on the lookout for more information as the weeks go by closer to the holiday launch.