Fans of game-console wars get excited and listen to this: Microsoft has announced a new Xbox One bundle which comes without Kinect and costs $399 (same as the PS4), less than a year after its release.
Microsoft insists that the change is not only due to faltering sales but to make the next-gen console affordable.
If you remember, the Xbox One originally came with a restriction which made a Kinect mandatory for any usage which, however, was scraped before launch. Still, it will undoubtedly help in close the gap with Sony’s PlayStation 4 which leads sales by several million at this point.
“To be clear, as we introduce this new Xbox One console option, Kinect remains an important part of our vision.”
The PlayStation 4 got a headstart in release in a lot of regions, but its hundred-dollar cheaper price-tag did help move many, many units. The camera can be brought separately anytime later for $60.
However, what can’t be neglected is that its webcam isn’t quite nearly as functional as Kinect, which is Microsoft’s strong point. In fact, so strong a point it is that according to Redmond, about 80 percent users still use the device regularly for an average of 120 commands per month.
“We have 80-plus million Xbox 360 users today who want an Xbox One,” Microsoft’s Yusuf Mehdi said in an interview, “and many of them tell us, ‘For me, it’s an affordability issue. I’m gonna get there, it’s just a question of time. If you make it more affordable, then I’ll upgrade faster.’ So this is an opportunity to really make it easier for them to get there at their pace.”
Not to forget, that the Xbox is a full-fledged entertainment center, rather than just a game console. If it manages to make this bundle widespread, it might have a sleeper-hit in its hands right now.
It is said to hit the market by June. Would you take an Xbox One over a PS4? Or you would like to wait for sometime more? You can’t help but feel that the early adopters must be feeling screwed by now.
Really! never knew that Pakistan had the loaning options for consoles….
No matter how hard Microsoft tries, PS4 is still gonna be better ;3
In the future if Sony goes out of business, will the PS4 still be better than the Xbox?
Sony is loosing money…
we all know that sony is losing market its not a new thing but that doesnt mean that ps4 is not better than xbox one hell ps3 was better than 360 so just admit the fact. every true gamer knows that and even xbox one users admit that just search it every authentic game reviewing site has given thumbs up to ps4 rather than xbox1
its just that we cant afford it whether it is ps4 or expensive xbox1 except the elite ofcourse. now dont u give me that savings b.s
look at the revenue they are generating revenue right now, who have seen the future???
a little while back Microsoft declined to buy Google, now look at Google !
Uh actually it was yahoo who didn’t buy google.
Also, just generating revenue isn’t enough. You need to make profit on it as well.
Comparing apples to oranges?
I said Sony is loosing money, not market.
You’re an idiot if you think the ps3 was better than the 360. Ps3 was more expensive, programmers hated. Even Gabe Newell, CEO of Valve, was openly against it.
Yes the ps4 is superior to the Xbox one when it comes to hardware, and raw specs. But these specs don’t make a great gaming console. Software also matters a lot! And Microsoft has the superior software. Xbox OS runs on Windows NT Kernal, which makes it flexible and allows it to run Windows 8 apps. In the future you will see Windows 8 apps running on the Xbox one.
This was has just begun.
And lastly, Azure. The servers on which Xbox Live runs on. Far superior to Sony’s servers. Do you remember when sony’s servers got hacked? And credit card information was stolen.
Sony is a hardware company, not a software company, and games are software.