Xbox One Only Accepts Specific Headsets, Microsoft Explains Why

[Saltyk]

PS4 will come with a headset? Any idea what kind it will be? I'm curious. Bluetooth? I wonder how compatible the PS4 will be with that sort of thing.

Oh. Yeah. Xbox One is bad. Microsoft is being dumb. Blah blah blah.
Can we get a standardized response to Microsoft idiocy at this point? It would make this much easier.

Well, I didn't know that the PS4 came with a headset, so thanks for making my PS4 purchase easier every day Microsoft!

Ahem. As this person said.

Oh hi Sony's PR team! Hard at work again aren't ya?

So far, Microsoft's PR/advertising has done more for Sony, than their own PR/advertising. I don't know if I should laugh or cry. It's hilarious.

 

[bigfatcarp93]

Well, at least they're explaining themselves feasibly now.

 

[ZZoMBiE13]

The PS4 comes with an ear bud with a dangling microphone. Not exactly what I'd call a "headset". When I think of headset, I think of something that more akin to the MS thing. Though I still see no valid reason not to include it with the machine. Of course Sony didn't include a mic with the original PS3 and no one cared at all.

 

[Yuuki]

And its controller's expansion port prevents it from taking standard USB headsets through the console's built-in USB ports because...?

Cut the bullshit, Microsoft, we can see right through it.

P.S. Thanks

We can see through it, untold millions of masses out there cannot.

Not much can be done really.

 

[MrHide-Patten]

Because it's the nature of Cap-ie-tal-ism.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Just for comparison, the PS4 will include a basic headset in the box.

Oh, burn.

But...eh. TBH, it's the Xbox One. Maybe if someone else had pulled this stunt, but really, can anyone say they are too surprised?

 

[Azure Knight-Zeo]

Well it's a good thing that:

A. I never used my 360's headset
B. rarly play games that aren't TF2 online
C. plan on getting a PS4 (as soon as Sony proves that the busted PS3 I got was a fluke)

 

[Severian]

Waiting for reversal of the DRM reversal announcement soon. Wouldn't surprise me at this point lol.

 

[Raioken18]

WTF is Microsoft doing... Stop trying to serve the needs of shareholders and serve the needs of the customer.
Plus not having a standard headphone jack but selling an adapter... What?

I'm just insulted by how much BS Microsoft is trying to get away with and that it's allowing Sony to get away with lesser BS that really should matter as well.

Sony's earbud is pretty crappy, but the standard earphone jack is... well standard! So lots of people will be able to use it without stocking up on console specific peripherals. It's common sense.

It really does feel like Microsoft is making a grab for every cent of disposable income that you have, not realizing that most people are connected enough to have some insight into how greedy they are being. It's gone on long enough so that it won't just hurt them short term, but also in the long run.

Next they'll try release a Windows OS that only allows Microsoft branded games and tries to kill the indie scene.

 

[Infernal Lawyer]

I'm getting really, really sick of Microsoft claiming that the Xbone is 'Your all-in-one entertainment box!'... And then telling us all those old games, and now accessories, etc., won't be compatible at all with it. I mean, call me a snob, but I have a 7.1 surround headset for my PC, and that piece of shit looks like it could have been easily replicated by two earbuds and a mic. How about some actual specs for the damn thing, rather than your usual PR blathering?

 

[frizzlebyte]

Because they want more money. Seriously, it seems pretty obvious they're trying to milk as much accessory money out of the xBone as possible.

I just can't figure out why they think this is a good business strategy, even though it is all about milking the consumer for everything they have. I mean, it's hilarious as hell, but from the way Microsoft is playing this thing, you'd think that everyone on the Xbone team suffers from a traumatic brain injury.

It's like when everyone was screaming about the always-on connection and DRM, Don Mattrick said gamers are passionate and "loving what we do," and that's where the vitriol was coming from.

Seriously? That's why? How about gamers aren't stupid and can see when you're trying to ram a knotty stick up our asses?

I just don't get it.

 

[lacktheknack]

(designed to work with the controller's uniquely-shaped auxiliary port)

BULL. F***ING. SHENANIGANS.

"The Wireless Controller has been redesigned to allow for higher data transfer speed between the controller and the console," a Microsoft representative explains. "This also required creating a new expansion port design for headsets and future controller add-on devices which is different from a standard audio plug input."

BULL. F***ING. SHENANIGANS.

Microsoft says that there are plans to develop some kind of port adapter which would allow other headsets to connect to the controller

SEE?

BULL. F***ING. SHENANIGANS.

You know how people react badly to a TV show that doesn't respect it's audience's intelligence? Same problem right the hell here.

 

[Atmos Duality]

What's this? A proprietary system employing proprietary standards to make more money than warranted?
WHAT SORCERY IS THIS?

Bonus points for completely undermining their reasoning in the same article.

"We're making a conversion kit."
If your new-super audio plug is too good for mere USB or a double audio jack (it isn't, but I'll humor them), how is a mere adapter going to fix that without causing a quality loss?

They might as well claim the magic Azure Cloud Fairies make this work better too for all the sense that makes.

 

[walrusaurus]

seriously its really hard not to think that this whole xbone thing has been a massive misdirection, to rival that of "new" coke. So that when they release the for real console info everyone will worship at their altar. I mean thats gotta be whats going on right? I mean otherwise they're practically a self parody at this point.

 

[Not G. Ivingname]

Translation: We are greedy and think constantly treating our customers like #$%^ is a good business strategy.

Seriously, are they trying to sell PS4s, which might I remind you do not come with any of this bull@#$^?

 

[Kaymish]

whats the bet its just a funny shaped USB 3.0 port? hardware hack in 3... 2... 1...

 

[TexDangerfield]

I like how everyone suddenly forgets that it includes a microphone system in the form of Kinnect but because it's Microsoft it's still cool to moan about.

 

[unstabLized]

I like how everyone suddenly forgets that it includes a microphone system in the form of Kinnect but because it's Microsoft it's still cool to moan about.

Kinect's microphone is a piece of shit, as is the Kinect itself.

 

[TIMESWORDSMAN]

Microsoft could learn a thing or two from Will Rogers.

Here's the problem, I think:
Some time ago, Microsoft was staffed entirely by engineers. These engineers were very good at their jobs. They could make their machines more efficient at what they did than anyone else could. Their machines worked perfectly and did precisely what the engineers wanted them to do.

There was only one problem.

The rest of the universe didn't work perfectly, and no matter how many flowcharts and diagrams the engineers showed the Universe, the Universe refused to behave in such a way that their machines worked the same for everyone, everywhere.

So what did they do?

The hired some marketers.