Kinect-free Xbox One 'all but kills the chance of original Kinect games'

May 14th, 2014, 22:48 Posted By: wraggster

British development studio Zoe Mode has expressed its disappointment at Microsoft's decision to release an Xbox One without Kinect.
The Brighton-based studio is known for its work on Sony's SingStar and EyeToy Play series, and most recently found success with its Zumba Fitness titles.
Zumba Fitness World PartyStudio head Paul Mottram has told Develop that while he understands Microsoft's decision to no longer make Kinect mandatory, he's unhappy at what this will mean for the future of the peripheral.
"I imagine this decision wasn't taken lightly, but it's understandable as they need to compete with the PS4 on price," he said. "However, whilst it wasn't perfect, Kinect helped differentiate the platforms, which can only be a good thing.
"From a developer point of view it's a shame, as it all but kills the chances of making an original Kinect title unless it is a major licensed fitness or dance product. And even those will suffer as it's unlikely we'll see Kinect 2 units even come close to the installed base of the original now. Even then it was a challenge."
Mottram has also expressed sympathy for studios currently working on Kinect titles, suggesting they have "had the rug pulled from beneath them and may now stand little chance of seeing a return on their investment".
This week a number of Harmonix staff members currently working on Kinect-only title Fantasia: Music Evolved took to Twitter to express their disappointment at Microsoft's decision.
A CVG poll asking whether Microsoft was right to drop mandatory Kinect on Xbox One is currently 50/50 with almost 2,000 votes cast.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...-kinect-games/

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