Why Microsoft reserves the most ambitious project Kinect

Why disappeared from sight sensational controller Kinect and how much to blame for the failure of the legendary product itself is Microsoft? His version of events told analysts Business Insider.

In 2009, Microsoft first unveiled Kinect controller for the Xbox 360. Then he became a sensation. Infrared camera, sensors and microphones are fully track the position and movement of the body, and for $ 150 you can manage games and multimedia, using only voice and gestures.

Since then, the company has sold about 29 million copies of Kinect. Success is difficult to name. Once the innovative gadget is almost completely disappears from sight. They are not interested buyers. Developers, too, he is not interested in over the last two years was released only seven games made exclusively for the controller. And Microsoft itself less and less recalls the existence of Kinect, turned his attention to its new product - HoloLens.

What happened?

In 2005 he was presented to the Xbox 360. A few years things went as well as possible, and set-top box was very popular. But as soon as entered the market Sony PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii, the competition has become really tough. Microsoft need to think carefully about their next move and bring the Xbox 360 to a leading position. Therefore, the company introduced the Kinect. The controller looked interesting, promise incredible feeling and created a new niche for the games and content.

Starting was carried out with great fanfare. Marketing on Microsoft spent $ 500 million. Oprah Winfrey in his transfer was giving the Xbox 360 and Kinect, and the media have presented a new controller the best reviews. 60 days Microsoft sells more than 8 million Kinect, setting a world record for the fastest commercially available device. The developers are lining up to begin work on games for the controller.

However, the majority of games released was honored only negative reviews. Of the 17 projects it a good score only got Dance Central. But it was not important. Kinect fans understood that technology is new and needs time to develop. No one worried about the controller, all just move furniture in the apartment, to properly play with the new device.

The first problem: the lack of really cool games

The problems began when six months later games for Kinect does not appear. Fitness training and elementary platformer is not interested in those gamers who bought the Xbox 360. Microsoft has managed to convince the major game developers to integrate support for Kinect in the most popular franchise, but it was done enough. For example, some players in FIFA 15, "issued" red card for what they shouted obscene words into the microphone. The result of this integration, of course, to no avail.

Insiders say, even the best of the best developers do not want to integrate the new controller in their projects. After all, these games have already invested a lot of time and money. In addition, they are great to work with traditional joysticks. At the same time, since 2010, those teams that are the best to create innovative, creative games for non-gamers, focused on iOS and Android. Big jackpot, money, growing audience - it was all there.

The second problem: "85% of the magic 15% of depression"

Kinect also has integrated management of voice and gestures directly into the Xbox 360. You could put the movie on pause or log in to your account, just appeared in front of the camera. But be that as cool as it sounds, the Kinect was still a new technology and all its new features accompanied by bugs. Magic innovation works only 85% user was disappointed in other cases.

Gamers attach great importance to the accuracy of movement - for example, in the embodiment superkombo Street Fighter IV or headshots in Call of Duty. And if you're going to control your TV with your voice, it would be better to work the system perfectly. Otherwise, you'll be screaming "Pause!" Over and over again.

The third problem: you need more space

Worse even more: the longer people have used the Kinect, the more they found places and situations in which the controller is functioning poorly. To play with the Kinect in the apartment, it was necessary to move the furniture. Since the sensor has received the required field for normal operation. On the other hand, you can sit on the sofa in the room of any size and play yourself in the fun - it requires only a joystick.

A second attempt to Xbox One

Despite all the shortcomings, the Kinect quickly came into use, at least in part, because Microsoft was selling the controller bundled with the Xbox 360, which was very popular. But not everyone is buying a complete set: in January 2012, Microsoft announced that it had sold 18 million Kinect and 66 million Xbox 360. A year later, the first in February 2013, head of Microsoft Xbox Larry Mushroom wrote on Twitter, the company sold 24 million Kinect and more than 76 million Xbox 360. It can be assumed that those controllers that have been sold, were included with the console.

When in November 2013 was first introduced to Xbox One, Microsoft has made a shocking statement: the new console will require, and the new version of Kinect. This meant that the Xbox One will cost $ 499. For example, Sony PlayStation 4 - the closest competitor - cost $ 399.

For $ 100 the difference Microsoft has promised to interactive games and TV shows. In addition, you can use the search engine from Bing and preinstalled Internet Explorer.

For Microsoft, it was all part of a long-running and ambitious plan to place the computer in the living room of every house. This can be achieved with Kinect - friendly interface, multimedia platform... all seemed logical for the company. But the core target audience of gamers, this idea once hated. When the Xbox One came out on the market in November 2013, it quickly replaced the PlayStation 4. In three cases out of four buyers chose the console from Sony.

final retreat

In April 2014 it was released the video game Kinect Sports Rivals for Xbox One. Instead, it ended in the triumph of low sales and large losses, which led to massive layoffs in the Rare-developer studio. In May 2014 Microsoft has finally decided to retreat and no longer insist on the need for a new the Kinect, agreeing to sell the Xbox One for $ 399 and then for $ 349. This helped to lift sales Xbox One, and the difference in sales with the PlayStation 4 was reduced by a quarter.

But it meant that about 5 million owners of Xbox One, who bought the console with a controller got an unnecessary accessory that they, in general, and did not want to. At the same time, only a few games have integration with Kinect on the Xbox One, and most units have received decent reviews.

News site Neowin wrote in May 2014: «Microsoft - the only ones who can be blamed for the failure of Kinect». The article also pointed out that none of the flagship game did not come out for Xbox One, this game is not released even Microsoft. Already a year has passed - and it's still true.

In addition, Microsoft shut down a TV studio, which opened to create a unique interactive content for Kinect in October 2014.

In other words, the Kinect, apparently shelved.

This is not the end

It is interesting that the artists and engineers are actively using Kinect in their projects. For example, it has become a key element for the creation of unusual mirrors - PomPom Mirror.

To sum up, it has sold 23 million Kinect for Xbox 360, and at least 5 million Xbox One with a new sensor - and so it is a pity that Microsoft was not able to make it into a future of video games.

But it is good that at least somewhere, they come in handy.