Microsoft Announces Cheaper Xbox One, Plans for June

Earlier today, Microsoft discussed all of their plans going into June with both the Xbox 360 and Xbox One, including a cheaper, Kinect-less One. Also mentioned are the Games with Gold program, and changes to the apps that require an internet connection. So let’s get right down to it with a good old fashioned bullet list!

• Xbox One, Now Without a Kinect

First and foremost, Microsoft have once again gone back on statements made before the One’s launch and announced that there will be a version of the Xbox One that does not come with the Kinect camera, pricing the system at $399, meaning those who may not be fans of what the Kinect can do are now able to get the system and save $100. This is a pretty big deal, as it closes the price gap between the system and PlayStation 4. It may be exactly what they need to really make a comeback in this new generation of platforms, but at the same time, the Kinect is an important piece in a lot of the things that make Xbox One what it is. Still, it should only benefit them, as it now appeals to more audiences.

• Games With Gold

One of their best features in the last year has been the Games With Gold program, offering multiple free games monthly to everyone with an Xbox Live Gold subscription. Starting next month, Xbox One owners will start to get in on this as well. . . but with a catch. Because they will of course be more recent, the games featured in this version will not exactly permanently be yours to keep. Whereas all downloads on Xbox 360 remain yours to return to at any time in any situation, Games With Gold on the One will not remain on your account if the subscription expires. Fans of Sony’s “PlayStation +” system are already familiar with this, as it acts the same way. However, this will not change the 360’s policies; all downloads on that console will continue as they were, remaining yours no matter what happens to those items in the Marketplace or to your subscription. Lastly, Microsoft revealed that there will be 3 Games With Gold on the 360 in June, to celebrate 1 year since the launch of the program. Those games will be the “Xbox Live Arcade” title Charlie Murder, along with the hits Street Fighter IV and Dark Souls.

• Apps For Everyone

As it was before, streaming apps that required an internet connection also required your account to be Gold, meaning extra fees. Well, not anymore, as they will finally become available for everyone, on any type of account – well, provided you still have that internet available, of course. Apps such as Netflix will only have their own payments required, while ones like Twitch TV will be entirely free and available for all. Honestly, this has been a long time coming, because Xbox was the only platform that required the extra fees in the first place. It’s great to see them really listening to what their audience wants now, though, and that should be a trend that other businesses pick up on (hah, in a perfect world, right?)

So, basically, Microsoft has been pulling out all the stops in their attempt to come out on top in this generation of console wars. It’s certainly been making up for the clusterfuck that was their pre-launch Xbox One rules and policies, if I say so myself. While it’s surprising for a company like Microsoft to make so many big announcements just before E3, one of the most important gaming events of the year, this should really stir things up at just the right time to make it interesting. I don’t even currently own any of the “new generation” platforms myself, but I’m already loving it for how hard the big guys are fighting to give the consumers what they want. The next month or so should prove to be quite entertaining, especially if somebody has a response for all of these efforts.

Jeremy Harrison has been into gaming and just about everything nerdy or out of the norm for as long as he can remember. He likes to keep an open mind about things, but also has a strangely high amount of fun getting into a rant or good debate. . . which is probably why he was recruited to this site in the first place. You can Email Jeremy or follow Jeremy on Twitter @NightmareAsylum or Facebook