Tech giant Microsoft has announced that it will not longer include the Kinect gaming peripheral with future shipments of the Xbox One video game console, a clear sign that the company is pulling back on this innovative controller.
Microsoft enjoyed early success with the Kinect, but it eventually ran into a similar situation experienced by gaming giant Nintendo and its various attempts at introducing new controllers such as dance pads and the Wii Remote. Nintendo knows that gamers tend to show initial interest in controllers that involve some sort of physical experience, but in the end they revert to the traditional gamepads and headsets. The Kinect supports more than just physical gaming gestures; it also allows video conferencing, multimedia management and speech recognition.
Although the Kinect will no longer be produced, this does not mean that the underlying technology of a 3D sensing camera will stop completely. Microsoft is testing a Windows Holographic operating system as well as future integration of advanced camera sensors to augment the Cortana virtual assistant. The Kinect enjoyed a successful run in terms of attracting interest from tinkerers who adapted the camera for robotic projects, film production and 3D scanning. The peripheral was also used in experimental development of operating systems and applications that can be controlled by gestures, thereby increasing the functionality of the Xbox One to be used as a traditional desktop PC.
Some gaming industry analysts believe that Microsoft did not strike the right partnerships with game developers with regard to the Kinect. The most prominent titles are too physical; they include dancing, sports, fitness and activities for children. What may have expanded the Kinect universe would have been major game studios creating exclusive titles of established franchises.
The Future of the Kinect
As an accessory, the Kinect will still be available to purchase separately for the upcoming Project Scorpio, an advanced console that will be the next generation of video gaming. Over the last few years, development of the Kinect has slowed down considerably, and Microsoft is prepared to let it fizzle. Investors are somewhat concerned with this announcement because it is not the only product that the company has abandoned in recent years.
Earlier in 2017, Microsoft stopped production of new Lumia smartphones and announced that the Windows 10 Mobile operating system will not be developed any further as the company is focusing on Project Andromeda, which may include features found in the popular Android mobile platform.
