The new console is designed to take market share away from PlayStation 4

Jul 24, 2013 06:53 GMT  ·  By

A rumor that Microsoft is actively working on a cheaper version of the Xbox One that will lack a Kinect motion tracking system has surfaced once more with sources saying that the new version of the device will be launched in the summer of 2014.

InsideGaming is quoting an anonymous individual familiar with the matter as saying that the new Xbox One will also have a smaller hard drive and will sell for a price between 350 and 375 dollars or Euro.

Microsoft is creating the device specifically in order to sell it for a price that’s lower than that of the PlayStation 4 from Sony, which is set to cost 399 dollars or Euro on launch.

The source also says that more versions of the Xbox One might be created and launched as Microsoft identifies more market niches that can generate significant sales.

It’s unclear why the Kinect-less device is delayed, considering that many gamers have expressed a desire to buy it when the regular Xbox One is out, in November of this year.

When the Xbox 360 launched in 2005, Microsoft offered two versions of the hardware platform and it waited for two years before it implemented a price cut.

When the Xbox One was first announced, Microsoft said that it was only preparing one version of the device because it wanted to have a unified player base.

The company also says that Kinect is integral to the console’s functionality and will be used to direct the new user interface and to power new game experiences.

Gamers believe that the device could be used to track them even when the console is not in use.

Since the Xbox One was revealed, Microsoft has already made a big change in its Digital Rights Management solution stance, so it’s possible that the company is also considering eliminating Kinect.