Microsoft is discontinuing the Kinect Adapter for Xbox One S and Xbox One X, effectively putting an end to the infamous accessory originally conceived as an integral part of the console. The company has ceased production on the USB adapter that made possible to connect it to the modern revisions of the console, taking away the possibility to use the accessory for new customers that might be getting their first Xbox One console.
While the original 2013 model included an proprietary port to plug in the Kinect, further revisions like the slimmer Xbox One S or the more powerful Xbox One X needed an USB adapter sold separately in order to hook up the accessory. Microsoft has sent a statement to Polygon saying: “After careful consideration, we decided to stop manufacturing the Xbox Kinect Adapter to focus attention on launching new, higher fan-requested gaming accessories across Xbox One and Windows 10.”
Kinect allows users to navigate the consoles’ interface and use specific gameplay features through voice and motion controls. It was originally introduced on the Xbox 360, but it wasn’t until the launch of Xbox One when the device became an integral part of Microsoft’s game plans.
Bundling Kinect with all Xbox One consoles increased the price over the rival PS4, which the company saw as one of the factors that explained the Xbox lackluster worldwide sales. Following profound management changes at the Xbox division, Kinect was progressively taken off the market, and even some games that could only be played with the camera, such as Disneyland Adventures, Rush: A Disney-Pixar Adventure and Zoo Tycoon, have recently updated to add compatibility with traditional controllers.
