$399 Xbox One Without Kinect Coming in June

Want an Xbox One, but don't have $500 to drop on a new console? We have some good news.

Microsoft on June 9 will start selling the Xbox One without a Kinect sensor for $399, the company announced Tuesday. The new option will be available in all markets where Xbox One is currently sold, bringing the console's price in line with Sony's rival PlayStation 4.

The move is an about-face for Microsoft, which previously said it would not sell the game console as a standalone product without the accessory. A spokesperson last August said the company felt that its second-generation motion sensor "is still an essential and integrated part of the Xbox One platform."

The new console option comes as the result of user feedback, new Xbox chief Phil Spencer wrote in a post on the Xbox Wire.

"We've heard that you want more choices from Xbox One," he wrote. "You want a wide variety of options in your games and entertainment experiences and you also want options in your hardware selection."

A standalone Kinect for Xbox One will be available later this fall for those who decide they want the accessory after all. Microsoft will also continue to sell the existing Xbox One with Kinect bundle for those who want to take advantage of features like voice and gesture controls and biometric sign-in.

"To be clear, as we introduce this new Xbox One console option, Kinect remains an important part of our vision," Spencer wrote. At this point, more than 80 percent of Xbox One gamers actively use Kinect to execute an average of 120 voice commands per month. Some of the most popular voice commands include "Xbox On,""Xbox Broadcast"and "Xbox Record That."

Meanwhile, Microsoft also on Tuesday announced that Xbox owners will no longer need a paid Xbox Live Gold subscription to access popular streaming media apps, including Netflix and Hulu. Other apps exiting the Xbox Live Gold paywall include gaming favorites Machinima, Twitch, and Upload; video services Univision Deportes, GoPro, Red Bull TV and HBO GO; and sports experiences like the NFL app for Xbox One, MLB.TV, NBA Game Time, and NHL Game Center.

Last month, Sony said that its PS4 sales have topped 7 million. At last count, the Xbox One was at 5 million.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade.

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes.

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app.

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth.

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light.

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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