If they're handing out U-turns on street corners I want one there as well.

They've stripped the requirement, so they are pretty much preparing for removing it completely. It's their backup plan in case it doesn't sell as hoped. Of course they don't want to say that or everyone will wait.

I'm not surprised.

September 2014. Kinectless sku, $349, Halo 5 = $$$

Of course there won't.

They spent so much money on the technology and they WANT people to see value in it. They would be working against themselves if they did not include it in the package.

Wow, except that Kinect required for Skype bit, MS is currently listening to users and doing what they prefer a lot of times! Are we maybe all dead and gone to Heaven?

Hopefully having Kinect in every box will encourage more developers to utilize it in their games, even in Xbox versions of multi-plats. The face-scanning tech, for example, could be great for any game with extensive character customization, namely western RPGs.

Expect a 180. I dont trust a word they say anymore. If the PS4 launches and sells better than them (especially in America) they will sell a stand alone standard Xbox without Kinect. People should have caught onto MS sooner, its better to watch their movements than to listen to what they say. Everything they are doing right now is spelling a preparation for a price drop and with a price drop includes dropping Kinect.

I find it is better to sell it as is. So far I do not like the Kinect heavy games, but those that require minor use in interesting ways I find kool. Plus the TV features are decent, especially if you live in the US.

If MS doesn't finish far behind the PS4 this gen, it'll be a modern miracle. I've never seen a company fall flat on their faces out of the gates before and turn it around. The PS3 didn't have 90% of this much hate and even IT struggled for years. Should be interesting.