Indeed, Really anything could happen after launch. It could even turn out that the preorder slump is just because a bulk of people are waiting to see the independent third-party feedback on the Kinect 2 after launch. What should be considered is that despite its relative success in sales, the Kinect 1 wasn't quite the tour de force to immersion that was suggested. While the newest model might indeed deliver everything promised, there are probably going to be a number of people who purchased the first one, and didn't enjoy it so much, who are going to sit back and wait until after launch so they can determine if it is something they want. It doesn't help that Ryse, A game that began development as a Kinect-only title for the 360, is being released on the more advanced platform as a primarily controller-manipulated game. Since it is coming from Microsoft directly, it doesn't suggest much faith in their own technology.Baldr said:I think Microsoft has really done a bad job with showing off what they changed in the Kinect 2 to consumers. They really need a solid Kinect/Controller hybrid game to really show off the power of the Kinect to consumers and game developers. Project: Spark seems like a great title to try this.SeventhSigil said:While I agree that an optional Kinect free SKU would likely damage the device's prospects in terms of software, whether or not Microsoft ends up doing it is pretty much going to boil down to what their sales are, versus what they want them to be, And probably even what the competition's sales are in relation. If they think they can make a substantial number of console sales by releasing an optional model, they will.Baldr said:The biggest problem with developing for the original Kinect is there wasn't a large enough player-base to make it worth developing for. If every system has a Kinect, developers do not worry if a player has a Kinect or not. Most of the innovation around the Xbox One was around minizing Kinect latency and integrating it into the operating system. Microsoft spent a lot of money on that part.spartandude said:except isnt making the Kinect an optional thing already doing that? if so then there is no further harm in manufacturing less and opening up your consumer base to a much larger marketBaldr said:Then that is probably what they will end up doing, because they're going to want to make the extra income from higher software sales to recoup their losses. Reversing online connection once a day, I can understand.spartandude said:now when they release a Kinect free bundle (which would be significantly cheaper) i will put strong consideration in buying it
Reversing Kinect always being on, I can understand.
Not including a Kinect would undermind all the technology architecture that went into the Xbox One.
That being said, I don't think we're likely to see it happen until perhaps six months or a year after launch. As you said, they invested a considerable amount of money into its development, and so they are likely going to wait and see how the sales pan out. If there is any chance that the number of sold consoles will reach whatever target they have, being absolute numbers or relative a spot against Sony's console, Then they will be satisfied and leave the Kinect package as it is. If on the other hand they feel they are lagging behind, and whatever analysts work for them suggest that the mandatory inclusion, or even just the price, are what is holding them back, I would be seriously surprised if they didn't take action. Considering just cutting the price but still including all the hardware might just be throwing bad money after good, and dig them a deeper hole, if it is an option, they'll probably just end up releasing a cheaper option without the sensor.
I do agree, releasing a separate option can't help the Kinect's install base. But bottom line is they're always going to be far more interested in helping the Xbox One's install base instead. If the second one is faltering, the first one won't really matter much to them.
Please keep in mind I'm not advocating one option or the other. I am just predicting how the company will respond, in the event their sales continue as they supposedly are.
Then there what could happen to any console, RROD-type problem on the PS4, Network issues to either the PSN or XBL/Azure that hamper cloud abilities, OS glitches that brick the machines for no apparent reason, ect...
Anyway, as said, I'm not really expecting any sort of model without the sensor to be announced before launch, if one ever is. They're going to want to see whether there are a sizable number of customers hiding in the bushes as it were, just to find out if they can have their cake and eat it too.
That being said, it might turn out that the slump continues. In that event, what you should keep in mind, what is pretty much inevitable about any company, is that Microsoft's development of the Kinect was done because they felt that the technology would set them apart from their competitors. In other words, that it would be a dealmaker, and would bring in a flood Of customers on its own merit. Their continuing support of it will last so long as they continue to believe that it brings in more people than it loses. If they believe at any point that continuing to make it mandatory is costing them significant revenue, then they are going to drop its mandatory status.