Microsoft Offers Xbox One At $399, But Without The Kinect

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The Xbox One has been priced at $499 since Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) launched it in time for the holidays last year. However, The Verge reports that Microsoft has closed the pricing gap between its console and Sony Corp (ADR) (NYSE:SNE) (TYO:6758)’s PlayStation 4—by offering one which sells without the Kinect accessory.

Consumers clamor for Kinect-free Xbox One

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) had said previously that it would ship all of its Xbox One consoles with the Kinect sensor. However, consumers have apparently been asking for Microsoft to sell some without the sensor. Xbox Chief Phil Spencer said consumers have been telling them that “they just like to play games with a controller in their hands.”

The Xbox One will still be offered at $499 with the Kinect Sensor. Also Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) said it plans to start offering a Kinect sensor for the Xbox One all by itself. The sensor is expected to go on sale this fall.

Microsoft changes Xbox Live Gold

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) also said today that it is making some changes to its Xbox Live Gold subscription service. We’ve already heard rumors that the company would stop requiring users to have a subscription in order to use streaming apps, and it turns out that those rumors were accurate. Now owners of both the Xbox One and the Xbox 360 will be able to access the Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) and Hulu apps, as well as many others, without a subscription to Xbox Live Gold.

Microsoft looks to close Xbox One gap with PlayStation

Since the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4 both launched, unit sales of Microsoft’s console have been lagging behind those of Sony Corp (ADR) (NYSE:SNE) (TYO:6758)’s console. However, as time has gone on, the sales gap between the two consoles has been closing. In March, some retail stores slashed the price of the Xbox One bundle with Titanfall to $450, which was a $50 price reduction from the price of both items combined.

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