14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has made a statement concerning privacy issues with its next-generation Xbox One console and the new and improved Kinect sensor.
The company confirms that data gathered by the peripheral, which constantly listens to chatter around it, won't be transmitted to Microsoft or third-party companies.
The Xbox One was revealed to the world last week, and one of its major improvements is a new Kinect sensor that's constantly listening via its microphone for commands like "Xbox on."
This monitoring has sparked quite a few concerns from privacy-focused organizations, and now Microsoft Game Studios Vice President Phil Harrison has talked about the efforts regarding privacy that are made with the Xbox One and Kinect.
"Microsoft has very, very good policies around privacy. We’re a leader in the world of privacy, I think you’ll find," Harrison told Eurogamer.
According to the executive, the Kinect won't be used to monitor or snoop around the life of the Xbox One owner and no data will be transmitted to Microsoft servers unless the customer explicitly wants that.
"We take it very seriously. We aren’t using Kinect to snoop on anybody at all. We listen for the word ‘Xbox on’ and then switch on the machine, but we don’t transmit personal data in any way, shape or form that could be personally identifiable to you, unless you explicitly opt into that."
What's more, Harrison also emphasized that Microsoft isn't forcing developers to use the new Kinect in their games, as it's completely optional.
"It could be just as simple as a voice command, or it could be just as simple as knowing there’s more than one person in the room at the same time, and being able to automatically populate options and user interface – knowing there are two people playing or three people playing," he said.
"Things that can be really subtle but really joyful to the player. It doesn’t have to be jumping up off the couch and running around your living room – it can be quite subtle."
All Xbox One consoles will come with a new Kinect sensor included in the retail box, probably in December this year.