Microsoft has driven the final nail into Kinect’s coffin, by confirming that the console will be given a Kinect-less power boost in June.

Initially Microsoft only announced an unspecified increase in GPU bandwidth (i.e. the amount of graphic processing that can be done at once) for the Xbox One.

But in a response to Eurogamer’s US editor Microsoft later confirmed that this was all thanks to Kinect no longer being mandatory:

‘Yes, the additional resources allow access to up to 10 per cent additional GPU performance. We’re committed to giving developers new tools and flexibility to make their Xbox One games even better by giving them the option to use the GPU reserve in whatever way is best for them and their games,’ said an unnamed spokesperson.

‘In June we’re releasing a new SDK making it possible for developers to access additional GPU resources previously reserved for Kinect and system functions. The team is continually calibrating the system to determine how we can give developers more capabilities’, he added.

‘With this SDK, we will include new options for how developers can use the system reserve as well as more flexibility in our natural user interface reserve (voice and gesture). We’ll continue to work closely with developers to help them bring great games to Xbox One.’

Although the power difference between the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 has never been quantified they’ll no doubt be implying that this will close the gap significantly between the two consoles.

When asked whether this would mean more 1080p and 60 frames per second games though they just dodged the question.



Posted: Jun 05, 2014 3:33 pm
Related Forum: Xbox Forum

Source: http://metro.co.uk/2014/06/05/xbox-one-now-10-more-powerful-without-kinect-4750844/