Following the announcement earlier today that Microsoft will sell a Kinect-less Xbox One from June 9th for $400, Xbox boss Phil Spencer has told IGN that the company does not yet know when a standalone Kinect sensor for the One will be available. He also said they're unsure of the asking price but it probably won't be the $100 which was charged for it as part of the Xbox One bundle.
Spencer commented, "the price probably won’t be exactly $100. There is some efficiency in putting everything together in one box. So we’ll announce more on pricing later.”
He added the sensor will be available “a little later” than June 9th but wouldn't reveal exactly when. Despite repeated public declarations that Kinect could not be removed, Microsoft discussed the possibility "even a year ago," Spencer revealed.
As to whether a game will bundled with the standalone Kinect sensor like Kinect Adventures was included with the camera for Xbox 360, Spencer had this to say:
“We haven’t made a decision yet, but I think you’re thinking in the right way.”
The Kinect free Xbox One will be available on the same day as Microsoft's Xbox E3 media briefing and Spencer says they decided to announce this news now because:
“We wanted to get this out of the way so that E3 could be about the games and the great platform lineup.”
In another interview with OXM, Spencer insisted this move doesn't mean the end of Kinect development or Microsoft's support for the periphery.
