The Official Xbox One Thread

[smackababy]

The Kinect is most definitely a $100+ piece of hardware. Maybe you don't think so, or maybe you don't think it's worth that, but it's sophisticated. 1080p RGB camera, depth sensors/IR emitters, multiple microphones, motorized tilt, etc. The V2 hardware is in beta for Windows right now, it opens up a new world for the non-gaming community (medicine has practical purposes for this type of tech, e.g. being able to calculate an estimated BMI just by looking at you).

To give you an idea, the Windows version that lets you program against it (the original V1) was $200-250 by itself. MS surely eats some cost on console hardware to get their foot in the door.

ELmO

I don't think they eat money, they just don't make it. BOM was estimated at around $80, and you know MS gets a better deal than that.

 

[007ELmO]

It's interesting, I guess the profit is limited, I was always under the idea that console makers in general lose money on their console overall and make money on games.

There is a higher profit margin on the Kinect for Windows (KFW) hardware, because they will likely not see another dime from you.

 

[smackababy]

It's interesting, I guess the profit is limited, I was always under the idea that console makers in general lose money on their console overall and make money on games.

There is a higher profit margin on the Kinect for Windows (KFW) hardware, because they will likely not see another dime from you.

Yeah, generally the profit margins on consoles are pretty thin during the start of the generation, if they exist at all. I believe Nintendo was making like $5 off the Wii at launch. The licensing fees for putting the games out on them is where the real money is to be made. And, when it comes to R&D and marketing, the platform might not be profitable for awhile (the Xbox, for example, never was).

 

[Lil Frier]

In a way this is BS because the price should have dropped to $399 WITH the Kinect.

No way is the Kinect worth $100 which is the implication.

Considering the previous Kinect was $150 and sold pretty well, I'd say $100 for the new version is reasonable.

 

[Lil Frier]

Kinect has been around since 2010. In four years, no one has figured out how to make a good Kinect game. Developers have known since months before the Xbox One release that it would include Kinect as standard equipment, and still nothing.

If no one could create a good game by now, it'll never happen. Furthermore, bundling Kinect with all consoles doesn't cause people to actually use it. By offering a no-Kinect bundle, MS can cut the price without losing profit and help drive sales and interest in the console. Anyone who buys a no-Kinect bundle was never going to buy any Kinect games anyway.

I'm speaking solely to this theory that making the Kinect as a required purchase would be an incentive for developers to develop Kinect features for games. Since the One just started this last year, I'd expect it to take a development cycle (a year or so, for many major titles) for the effects to be seen, then another development cycle (another year or so) to see if they reversed the changes towards Kinect development (if it happens) because of the removal of the Kinect from all console sales.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Quantum Break, Sunset Overdrive, and whatever new Halo is released (either Halo 5 or Halo 2 Anniversary) are the big ones I think.

Of those sunset overdrive looks the most promising to me.

 

[Tweak155]

I remember reading somewhere that MS's cost for the first Kinect was ~$53 in parts. $80 doesn't sound all that far off for an improved version.

 

[007ELmO]

I read it cost MS $473 to build XBONE at launch ($499 tag). The sensor in XBOX 360 was $75 in the same article.

 

[Lil Frier]

I read it cost MS $473 to build XBONE at launch ($499 tag). The sensor in XBOX 360 was $75 in the same article.

Yeah, I think that was iFixit's teardown.

 

[007ELmO]

I wish we were not talking about how much the console costs, how its sales are doing vs. playing Mass Effect 4.

 

[Lil Frier]

I didn't like the first, so I can't say I care about the fourth, haha.

 

[007ELmO]

=D

 

[rockyct]

I'm debating on whether to buy the XB1 right now from Fry's for $460 (w/Titanfall) or wait for a better price. The voice stuff with Kinect is much of the reason why I'd be buying it so I'm worried they will treat the removal of the Kinect as its "price cut" instead of actually cutting the price so maybe saving $40 now is a decent deal in the short term.

 

[Topweasel]

I'm debating on whether to buy the XB1 right now from Fry's for $460 (w/Titanfall) or wait for a better price. The voice stuff with Kinect is much of the reason why I'd be buying it so I'm worried they will treat the removal of the Kinect as its "price cut" instead of actually cutting the price so maybe saving $40 now is a decent deal in the short term.

The Kinect removal is the price cut. Basically MS has decided that they need to battle the PS4 at price and they can't for at least another year drop the bone to $400 with the Kinect. The closest we will see is an official $450-$475 without game. Even for people who don't like the Kinect (or better yet think of it like the 360 Kinect) hardware and software wise the Titanfall bundle sub $500 is the best value. Heck a better value than the PS4 options. $400 with no game, so that adding the game makes it $450-460 and no Kinect is a horrible value. Even if you don't like the Kinect asking for a whole lot less in hardware to save $20, seems stupid.

 

[AstroManLuca]

The Kinect removal is the price cut. Basically MS has decided that they need to battle the PS4 at price and they can't for at least another year drop the bone to $400 with the Kinect. The closest we will see is an official $450-$475 without game. Even for people who don't like the Kinect (or better yet think of it like the 360 Kinect) hardware and software wise the Titanfall bundle sub $500 is the best value. Heck a better value than the PS4 options. $400 with no game, so that adding the game makes it $450-460 and no Kinect is a horrible value. Even if you don't like the Kinect asking for a whole lot less in hardware to save $20, seems stupid.

If nothing else you can get the Titanfall bundle for $450 or whatever, then sell the Kinect on eBay for $50 and you now have gotten Titanfall for free.

Hell you can even sell Titanfall on eBay for $30 and you end up getting the Kinect-less bundle for $30 cheaper.

 

[smackababy]

Yeah, I think that was iFixit's teardown.

iFixIt's breakdowns are just estimations though. MS wouldn't be paying even wholesale price for their stuff. So, it is likely going to come in a bit less than they estimate.


I wish the news was about something important though, like you know, games. Those of us that already have an Xbox One don't really give a crap about a price cut or bundle. =)

 

[Lil Frier]

I wish the news was about something important though, like you know, games. Those of us that already have an Xbox One don't really give a crap about a price cut or bundle. =)

E3, man. That stuff will come in a month at E3.

 

[rockyct]

The Kinect removal is the price cut. Basically MS has decided that they need to battle the PS4 at price and they can't for at least another year drop the bone to $400 with the Kinect. The closest we will see is an official $450-$475 without game. Even for people who don't like the Kinect (or better yet think of it like the 360 Kinect) hardware and software wise the Titanfall bundle sub $500 is the best value. Heck a better value than the PS4 options. $400 with no game, so that adding the game makes it $450-460 and no Kinect is a horrible value. Even if you don't like the Kinect asking for a whole lot less in hardware to save $20, seems stupid.

I figure removing Kinect is the price cut, but if I'm going to buy an Xbox, it'll be with the Kinect. Fry's just has the XB1 Titanfall bundle w/Kinect for $460 right now. There have been some better unofficial deals in the last month but missed out on them. I was hoping they would return around E3, but I see that may not happen now.

 

[American Gunner]

E3, man. That stuff will come in a month at E3.

I cannot wait for E3 this year. While some people may act like MS is clueless right now, to me it seems like Phil has his plans mapped out and he has the Xbox division hitting on all cylinders right now. E3 should be full of awesome games, most of which I am going to want to play.

 

[cmdrdredd]

I cannot wait for E3 this year. While some people may act like MS is clueless right now, to me it seems like Phil has his plans mapped out and he has the Xbox division hitting on all cylinders right now. E3 should be full of awesome games, most of which I am going to want to play.

I want to see what happens as well, but there are already a bunch of games we have seen that I will never think about buying unless they get really awesome reviews. I expect E3 to be more of the same. Game trailers for stuff we won't see for a year or more and promises to appease the shareholders and fanboys. I think what the Xbox division has finally realized though is that everything related to the kinect has dragged them down. From the price added onto the console, to the gimmicky nature of it, to the NSA conspiracy types. It all contributed to their lack of sales parity with the PS4. It wasn't the root cause or the only cause but I happen to believe it was something of a factor.

 

[Lil Frier]

I cannot wait for E3 this year. While some people may act like MS is clueless right now, to me it seems like Phil has his plans mapped out and he has the Xbox division hitting on all cylinders right now. E3 should be full of awesome games, most of which I am going to want to play.

It's also going to probably be a lot of disappointment. Dying Light has been pushed to February. Far Cry 4 was announced today, but it comes with the negative that The Division is pushed to 2015 as well, meaning my #1 game (The Division) and my possible-#2 game (Dying Light) are no longer 2014 titles. There's still a LOT, but I think we're also going to hear that Halo 5 is 2015 and Gears late-2015 at best.

The first-party scene for the One isn't going to be that great at the end of the year, IMO. Sunset Overdrive looks really cool, and a Halo 2 anniversary would be welcomed with open arms. If they announce a new Forza Horizon cool, and MAYBE people are lucky enough to get Quantum Break and Fable as well.

I just feel like after having those 2 games pushed back, my interest is pushed back with it. There are probably a dozen games I want to play coming out by year's end, but none are must-haves right now.

 

[American Gunner]

I guess for you that sucks, but dying light was something that I was never interested in. I want The Division, but always had a feeling that it wasn't hitting 2014, so I wasn't too surprised by it.

 

[sze5003]

So we don't really have any good games to look forward to until 2015? Besides watch dogs and Mlb the show I don't think there is anything else for me to pick up for consoles. These delays suck.

 

[cmdrdredd]

So we don't really have any good games to look forward to until 2015? Besides watch dogs and Mlb the show I don't think there is anything else for me to pick up for consoles. These delays suck.

There's a couple games I'm waiting on but have no solid release date. I think only two of them are exclusives.

 

[Lil Frier]

Sunset Overdrive is the only 2014 exclusive I know I want right now. I would likely add Quantum Break to the list if it got a 2014 release date. Otherwise, I'm similarly looking to the third-party stuff this year, but there's a lot of it--Destiny, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, Lords of the Fallen, Watch Dogs, Wolfenstein, The Golf Club, Pure Pool, Evolve, The Crew, Disney Infinity 2.0 (if it's not just Marvel trash), and maybe The Evil Within and Advanced Warfare.

Of course, if Halo 2 gets a remake and Forza Horizon gets a sequel, add those to the list of exclusives. I would also love an HD collection of Kingdom Hearts and another of Assassin's Creed on the One.