When the Xbox One was revealed last week, Microsoft confirmed that the Kinect 2.0 is needed to be connected at all times for the console to function. There were fears that Microsoft would breach your privacy because of this, but Microsoft has said this isn’t the case.
Microsoft Games Studios vice president Phil Harrison confirmed the following to Eurogamer:
“Microsoft has very, very good policies around privacy. We’re a leader in the world of privacy, I think you’ll find. 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.”
He went on to say that Microsoft isn’t forcing developers to integrate the Kinect 2.0 onto every game for the Xbox One. He did say that they wanted to make the Kinect more appealing to gamers however.
Still, the policy of needing you to connect the Kinect in order for your Xbox One console to function raises a lot of questions. Not to mention the console needs to be connected to the internet frequently too…
oldtaku
May 27, 2013 at 2:59 AMOh yeah, your spotless record on security is completely convincing here.
Robert Jackson
May 27, 2013 at 7:30 AMI don’t believe a word they say. They need to prove they care about our privacy but not requiring the Kinect 2 to be plugged in.
Using Kinect 2 to turn on a game console is a really stupid, silly, bogus, and frivolous reason to require it to be always connected. As far as I’m concerned they are liars.
Greg
May 27, 2013 at 3:23 PMThey’re so concerned about privacy yet won’t even give us the option of turning off the camera and microphone. I’m completely convinced, guys.
Josh
May 28, 2013 at 3:35 PMHonestly what gamers were clamoring for more Kinect and kinect integrated games? The only thing the mandatory voice requirement to turn it on helps is overly obese gamers that can’t stand up without breaking a sweat. I’ve been quite happy getting up to turn my console on or hell even using the center button on my controller.
But nope….the system with such a lackluster gimmick is becoming mandatory. The only thing the kinect has been used properly for has been those DDR style games, everything else featuring kinect has be been utterly pointless.