Xbox One Only Accepts Specific Headsets, Microsoft Explains Why

[Gray Firion]

Well, such a pity. It seems I can't really call it the Xbox 1-80 anymore. What with the Kinect still being the same spytoy from hell, the games still requiring always online if they use the cloud, the dashboard being designed for adds (and making them stealthy so we click on them by accident, the most infuriating kind of adds) and now this.

Yeah, still same old Xbone. Shame, I quite liked picking fun at the X180 name.

Also, what they said about the custom jack being necessary? Absolute lie. That little piece of hardware has gone unchanged in every single PC/Console/Stereo/TV/Cellphone/MP3/Insert-your-entertainment-device-here for who knows how long. Older televisions had thicker versions of the 3.5 mm jack, but this is the standard now and has been for a very long time. Sound quality and data trasmission depends on the Program used, not the jack.

Perfect example of idiocy brought about by greed. Absolutely disgusting.

 

[Gorrath]

I don't see anything wrong with only allowing official headsets if they want to. What I object to is that one doesn't come with the console as standard. It seems they have gone backwards while Sony has learnt from their mistake with the current generation.

The issue with not using an accepted standard is that many, many gamers who like to use headsets while gaming have already purchased very good, very expensive headsets to use. I myself have a very nice headset that I use specifically for gaming. Having them include a pice of crap headset with their proprietary standard would still be a big kick in the balls because it still makes my expensive headset worthless.

Seriously, there is no reason whatsoever to not use the industry standard in this case, it's simply a matter of money to them. Even the king of proprietary connectors (Apple) knows better than to use a non-standard headphone jack because they understand that people have very different tastes in size, shape and feature set for headphones. I can't stand wearing most headphones I've ever tried; they make my ears hurt.

 

[SSJBlastoise]

You all remember how people watching the Xbone reveal from their 360's had their consoles shut off because their kinects picked up the hosts saying "Xbox, off"?

Well now every person on Xbox Live will have that kind of power. Oh boy.

Do you have a source for that first part? Because you can't just say "Xbox off" and it turns it off. There are a number of steps to do it so the chances of accidentally doing it are pretty much impossible.

Then that logic about saying it over Xbox Live? Wouldn't be smart if it turns off every Xbox including yours.

 

[faefrost]

Well, such a pity. It seems I can't really call it the Xbox 1-80 anymore. What with the Kinect still being the same spytoy from hell, the games still requiring always online if they use the cloud, the dashboard being designed for adds (and making them stealthy so we click on them by accident, the most infuriating kind of adds) and now this.

Yeah, still same old Xbone. Shame, I quite liked picking fun at the X180 name.

Also, what they said about the custom jack being necessary? Absolute lie. That little piece of hardware has gone unchanged in every single PC/Console/Stereo/TV/Cellphone/MP3/Insert-your-entertainment-device-here for who knows how long. Older televisions had thicker versions of the 3.5 mm jack, but this is the standard now and has been for a very long time. Sound quality and data trasmission depends on the Program used, not the jack.

Perfect example of idiocy brought about by greed. Absolutely disgusting.

Exactly! The high speed data transfer is pure marketing BS. Microphones and speakers are ANALOG devices. They require a pair of wires and bandwidth really does not matter. The bandwidth is between the controller and the console. The special connector plug has noting to do with it.

 

[Doclector]

Okay...I could understand only accepting specific headsets, the only headsets I've ever had that lasted a decent amount of time were the official ones, makes sense to protect customers from such shoddy things.

But not having one out the box? What the fuck is wrong with you? That's not only greedy, but it's gonna hamper attempts to create an active community. I've been in parties with people using kinect as a mic, trust me, it sucks. They can barely hear you, while you can hear everything coming out of their tv and their house. Fuck that shit.

 

[Silentpony_v1legacy]

I have a damned good Turtle Beach headset. Like top of the line hundreds of dollars headset! I was never going to get the xbox 180, but if I was, the news I can't use my headset would be enough to get me to not buy. Its like Microsoft did a focus group on bad choices and somewhere an intern filed the results under TO DO instead of NEVER EVER DO. Honestly, if they came out and said they were scrapping the entire Xbone project and they'll get back to us in a few years, I'd applaud. I'd applaud SO god damn hard!

 

[Irridium]

You all remember how people watching the Xbone reveal from their 360's had their consoles shut off because their kinects picked up the hosts saying "Xbox, off"?

Well now every person on Xbox Live will have that kind of power. Oh boy.

Do you have a source for that first part? Because you can't just say "Xbox off" and it turns it off. There are a number of steps to do it so the chances of accidentally doing it are pretty much impossible.

Then that logic about saying it over Xbox Live? Wouldn't be smart if it turns off every Xbox including yours.

http://www.polygon.com/2013/5/21/4353010/kinect-trouble-xbox-one-reveal

Now, hopefully MS fixes this particular issue for the Xbox One. Hopefully. Personally I won't hold my breath.

 

[tardcore]

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.

Yes it really does seem like this clattering pile of garbage was designed by someone from "Bizarro World". Maybe MS will reveal that the xbone is just a giant April fools mind fuck.

 

[Lo Flying Frying Pan]

I am rubbing my temples with a beleaguered expression ... when will this train-wreck make its last throw and heave into silence? Microsoft ... why?

 

[SSJBlastoise]

http://www.polygon.com/2013/5/21/4353010/kinect-trouble-xbox-one-reveal

Now, hopefully MS fixes this particular issue for the Xbox One. Hopefully. Personally I won't hold my breath.

So they weren't shut off like you claimed, they just exited the stream. That is a problem but nowhere near as bad as you claimed.

I also doubt any xbox commands would come up while playing a game because a) most games dont break the 4th wall/mention the word xbox and b) if someone says it over Live they will ruin their game as well.

 

[Irridium]

http://www.polygon.com/2013/5/21/4353010/kinect-trouble-xbox-one-reveal

Now, hopefully MS fixes this particular issue for the Xbox One. Hopefully. Personally I won't hold my breath.

So they weren't shut off like you claimed, they just exited the stream. That is a problem but nowhere near as bad as you claimed.

I also doubt any xbox commands would come up while playing a game because a) most games dont break the 4th wall/mention the word xbox and b) if someone says it over Live they will ruin their game as well.

Yeah I did over-exaggerate. I've been trying to not do that...

Anyway. While it would ruin it for the speaker as well, they probably wouldn't care. If you're losing, it'd be a great way to rage-quit and take everyone down with you. I've been on Xbox Live, I would not be surprised in the least if this became the new way to grief people.

 

[Ayay]

They just keep shooting their foot off dont they ? If i was working on their Pr department i would just toss all papers in the air and say screw you guys i am going home. Sad part is that the headset could be great for all i know but ordering ppl to use something and the public will hate it.

 

[Haakmed]

When will Microsoft just shut the hell up and stop saying things!?

 

[SonOfVoorhees]

I dont play online, so i guess this is a big issue for some. But i dont think its that big a deal. I just think that even if MS said they were adding £100 worth of notes in every console, people would still moan. We all have our reasons, i know. For me it was the used/renting games thing that annoyed me. But now thats not an issue im a lot happier. Everything else isnt much of an issue now. Though i was never going to buy it till next year.

As for Sony. Well, they couldnt risk making themselves look bad. They need a successful console and cant risk failing. PS3 was a success. But the way Sony is financially at the moment, i dont think they can risk taking a massive hit on the PS4. Maybe they could? But its better for them to make it less of a risk for them. An that is good business, eventhough i bet they wish they had done what MS had done.

But looking at the PS4, why are gamers not pissed at paying a fee to play online? 360 used to be the laughing stock cos we had to pay a yearly fee to play online and PS3 didnt. Now, all the sony fanboys are quite happy and understanding about the reason to pay a yearly subscription for online gaming.

Regardless of the anger and disappointment. I still think 360 fans will still by the XBone eventually.

 

[Terramax]

In other words, Microsoft, this--

 

[TerribleAssassin]

Employee 1: Oh hey, you know that thing we bundled with the 360 to make it appealing to use our online service? Should we include it again?
Employee 2: No, what we should do is not include it and make the consumer be forced to use that thing that isn't too popular or be forced to fork out some more money.
Microsoft: GENIUS

 

[Roxas1359]

On the bright-side of things it looks like a standard connection so you won't have to chuck your old headset away.

According to Tech Radar as well you can still use the current model of Turtle Beach headsets on the PS4 as well. I've seen nothing on the ability to use Bluetooth as of yet, but I'm still looking.

OT: Oh Microsoft, you make it a lot of fun to write the news stories about you on Game Anyone. XD
In all seriousness the fact that Microsoft's PR is doing a better job at advertising the Wii U and the PS4 than the companies that actually make them are kinda sad. I mean I was comparing this to the Sega Saturn, but even Sega knew when to shut the heck up!

 

[lacktheknack]

You know how people react badly to a TV show that doesn't respect it's audience's intelligence?

By making it extremely popular reality TV show that millions watch? (Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Jersey Shore.... i cant really come up with more titles i dont watch them), you get the point)

And notice how much the average denizen of this site DESPISES those extremely popular shows.

The comparison is probably a little bit too on-the-nose.

 

[DTWolfwood]

Its ok Microsoft, you can stop trying to convince me to buy the Sony PS4.

 

[wooty]

Ha! I cant wait for the day they announce that you have to buy a special microsoft TV to play their new doorstop, your current TV just won't be compatible with it....................................for anti piracy reasons.

Hey, the way things seem to be going; its hardly obsurd.