Between the promotion of Phil Spencer and the new ‘for the gamers’ marketing approach, Microsoft has been attempting to set the Xbox One story straight by emphasizing what they should have on May 21st – games. Today, in addition to these improvements, Microsoft has responded even further to fan feedback by dropping the Kinect, reworking and removing the long-criticized “Netflix Paywall,” and most importantly, reaching price-parity with their only competitor in the market.
Starting June 9th, Microsoft will be offering a new Kinect-less Xbox One SKU, starting at $399. This new console will feature all the same features and capabilities as the original, but without the Kinect. The lack of a Kinect will no doubt affect some of the console’s apps and features – like Skype and the like – but for everyone who already didn’t plan to ever use these apps/features, and who have yet to acquire an Xbox One, this is the moment they’ve been waiting for.
Along side this new new price-point and SKU, Microsoft has announced that coming in June, anyone with an Xbox will be able to access popular entertainment experiences – whether or not you have an Xbox Live Gold membership. Apps such as Machinima, Twitch and Upload, popular video services like Netflix, Univision Deportes, GoPro, Red Bull TV and HBO GO, sports experiences like the NFL app for Xbox One, MLB.TV, NBA Game Time, NHL Game Center – ALL will be available for use on the platform, regardless of your Xbox Live subscription.
Additionally, the cry for Games With Gold on Xbox One has been answered. Since the service launched on the Xbox 360 a year ago, Xbox gamers could only guess when they’d be seeing the same free game incentive make its way to their new console. And like the announcements discussed above, Games With Gold will roll on to Xbox One in June. Just like on the Xbox 360, members will have subscription-based access to free games ranging from top hits to breaking indie stars. The program will launch on Xbox One with “Max: The Curse of Brotherhood” and “Halo: Spartan Assault.” A single Gold membership will get you access to the free games for both Xbox One and Xbox 360.
Aside from the rapidly evaporating resolution debate, these announcements put the Xbox One on more than a level playing field for its upcoming E3 battle, which, like all console wars, will be won with games. It’s clear that Microsoft went ahead and got these announcements out of the way so that they would be going into their event on level ground, and having everything launching on June 9th is no coincidence either.
For those of you who have yet to pick up an Xbox One and were waiting for a price cut/Kinect-less option, do these announcements peak your interest? Between the software lineup and the new hardware options/price point, is choosing between the PS4 and Xbox One even easier now than they already was? Let us know below!
[via, Xbox Wire]
