New Xbox One Experience update drops Kinect gestures; usage was "very, very low"

[Legend]

New Xbox One Experience update drops Kinect gestures; usage was "very, very low" - NeoGAF

This week's New Xbox One Experience update will remove the option to navigate the dashboard using Kinect-based gestures, Microsoft has revealed.
 The feature, which has been present in Xbox One since the console's launch, allowed Kinect owners to operate the dashboard by using their hands, physically swiping through menus and selecting options by raising their hand.
 But its usage was "very, very low", Microsoft's Mike Ybarra admits, leading to the platform holder's decision to drop it in the next update.
 "On gestures, when we looked at the New Xbox One Experience we wanted to prioritize features that customers were asking for, plus areas of improvement from the existing Xbox One UI," Ybarra told Windows Central. "Then, we wanted to look at the use-case model of features that take a lot of investment and say, 'is it worth continuing to invest in that area?'
 "With gestures, the reality was the usage was very, very low. So for now, we've cut that from the New Xbox One Experience. So when we launch on the 12th, they won't be in the product. We'll continue to monitor and listen to feedback to see if people want them in."

 

http://www.videogamer.com/news/new_x..._gestures.html
 

wow

I can understand not wanting to update them, but removing them entirely is pretty poor.

[the-pi-guy]

wow
I can understand not wanting to update them, but removing them entirely is pretty poor.

Agreed.  I'm really not a fan of this.  
It's like you already have it completed, why not just leave it as is?

[Ludicrous Speed]

If no one is using it then I am fine with them not taking the time and effort from something else to incorporate them into NXE. Can't say I have ever purposely used a gesture to control the UI.

[DerNebel]

What was it? "The Kinect is still really important" or something?

[Legend]

If no one is using it then I am fine with them not taking the time and effort from something else to incorporate them into NXE. Can't say I have ever purposely used a gesture to control the UI.

It would be almost trivial to just map motions to button inputs.

[kitler53]

Agreed.  I'm really not a fan of this.  
It's like you already have it completed, why not just leave it as is?

1. takes up QA time.
2. on a highly resource limited implementation like a console,.. takes up computational time.

[Aura7541]

Despite my opinions of the Kinect, I still find this a very odd decision.

[BananaKing]

i been saying nobody will use hand and voice commands on a console. its just much faster and easier to use the controller. i been saying this from before the consoles even launched.

[DD_Bwest]

Not a surprise at all, it just seemed like a gimmick since before it launched.  Was an attempt to make it seem like kinnect was needed or worth it.   After they dropped the mandatory kinnect, this was a matter of time.