Xbox 720 might require use of the Kinect

With rumors of the new Xbox 720 flying high, the most recent one is that not only will the console come packaged with a newer and better version of the Kinect, but that the console will require use of the Kinect in order to use the console. This news comes reported by Scott Lowe of IGN on Feb. 11.

“Kotaku has published an exhaustive report about Microsoft's forthcoming console, lending credence to many prior rumors about the system's performance and features, but revealing new information about how the system may interact with Kinect, as well as its capacity for running multiple simultaneous games and apps,” Lowe describes.

According to the report, “every Xbox 720 will ship with the next-generation Kinect and will require the sensor to be connected in order to function. The company is apparently building Kinect functionality into the framework of the system, using the sensor to identify players and even accept Siri-like voice commands.” Some of the newer features with this new-and-improved Kinect will include the ability to track up to six people at the same time, substantial performance improvements, and the ability to detect the smallest body, as well as facial, gestures. This will be a big jump for Kinect, as its growth with the current Xbox 360 has been slow, to put it best.

Xbox 720 to Reportedly Require Kinect to FunctionXbox 720 to Reportedly Require Kinect to Function

The site’s source, SuperDaE, also revealed the storage options for the system. “Unlike the Xbox 360, the next Xbox will ship in only one configuration with 500GB of storage, allowing players to install games from discs. Using its powerful new internals, the Xbox 720 will be capable of installing games as you play them, limiting lengthy load times,” they write.

The source also reveals that the system will come with multitasking technology. The new Xbox will have the ability to run multiple games simultaneously, putting some in “constrained” and “suspend” modes. This same jump goes for apps, everything from social media to video software.

With Sony holding an event in New York on Feb. 20, with the strong possibility of revealing their new PlayStation 4 at this event, it shouldn’t be too much longer before Microsoft officially makes a reveal as their intentions. There have been rumors about when and how, but the end is coming. And then, all of these rumors, innumerable in their count (such as the possibility of a Windows 8 interface), will be proven true or false.

For more information, check out Scott Lowe’s IGN article.