It could cost an additional $150 to interact with Cortana on Xbox One. During E3 2015, Microsoft made a big splash by announcing that Cortana is coming to Xbox One later this year. However, it seems that the new functionality will require the Kinect sensor to use voice commands.
This could be an issue for many users, as the company originally bundled the console with the Kinect sensor, but after feedback from users and trying to cut cost to compete with Sony’s PlayStation 4, Microsoft made Kinect a separate accessory, and now there are many consoles without the sensor. But it could also be the case that Xbox On owners will be able to speak to Cortana directly into a handset.
Windows Central has manage to obtain an image from a video showing off the new user experience the company is building for Xbox One, and toward the end of the video there is a statement saying that Kinect is required for Cortana speech recognition.
However, it’s unclear what Microsoft is really planning to do, as another report from ZDNet, written by Mary Jo Foley, says that Microsoft also offered a “rather oddly-worded response”:
“Coming Holiday 2015. Some features require Xbox Live Gold (sold separately). Kinect required for Cortana speech recognition. Cortana available in select jurisdiction only.”
Microsoft is expected to update the Xbox One operating system in the fall to align the code with Windows 10, as the current software is built on top of Windows 8. The company will also deliver a new dashboard that is much more simplified and focus on games and social interaction, moving away from content, but content will still be a big part of the console. “Windows 10 will enable faster and more intelligent experiences on Xbox One.” — The company said.
“We want to enable the intelligence and power of Cortana for all customers across a wide set of devices. What we announced is that Cortana with Kinect on Xbox One delivers great gaming specific capabilities. We have no further details to share at this time.”
Source ZDNet, Windows Central
