Microsoft's plan to release a cheaper Xbox One without a Kinect sensor appears to be paying off.
Redmond on Wednesday announced that sales of the console have more than doubled in the U.S. since it began selling the $399 Kinect-less system on June 9. The company added that Xbox 360 sales growth is "solid," as well. Microsoft did not, however, reveal any specific unit sales figures.
At $399, the new offering is $100 cheaper than the standard Xbox One with Kinect bundle, bringing it in line with the price of Sony's rival PlayStation 4, which has outsold the Xbox One on a month-to-month basis, though Xbox isn't hurting for sales too much. The move to unbundle Kinect was an about-face for Microsoft, which previously said it would not sell the game console as a standalone product without the accessory.
A standalone Kinect for Xbox One will be available later this fall for those who decide they want the accessory after all. Microsoft also still sells 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.
Gamers will have a number of gaming options. "Starting in August with the release of Madden NFL 15, new blockbuster hits will launch for Xbox One at an incredible pace throughout the fall, as we head into the holiday season," Microsoft said. That includes: Halo: The Master Chief Collection (trailer below), Sunset Overdrive, Forza Horizon 2, and Ori and the Blind Forest.
Meanwhile, despite Microsoft's optimism about Xbox One sales, today is not a great day in Redmond. The software giant will be eliminating 18,000 jobs over the next year as it works to integrate the Nokia handset business it acquired in April, CEO Satya Nadella announced on Thursday. About 12,500 of the reductions are expected to come from Nokia, including professional and factory workers.
For more, see PCMag's full review of the Xbox One. Also see Dis-Kinected: What the Xbox One Can Do Without a Kinect.