Can I Use Xbox One Kinect on Xbox One S

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Question of Kinect

Is Xbox One Kinect still worth buying in 2022?

Best respond: No manner, no how. Kinect is a dead accompaniment, with canceled support by Microsoft. A second-hand unit will still role for the pocket-sized library of bachelor games and provide modest vox command support, only you're far improve off just grabbing an Amazon Echo for the latter feature.

Use voice with your Xbox: Amazon Echo Dot (From $50 at Amazon)

What happened to Kinect?

Microsoft's misunderstood acoustic peripheral was, at one point, the fastest-selling consumer electronics device of all fourth dimension, believe it or non, with over 10 million units sold during the first half-dozen months after its release. Of course, that was the Xbox 360 version, which was vastly junior to the "V2" version available on the Xbox One and Windows PCs.

Despite the superior power of Kinect V2, a combination of poor messaging, bad positioning, and lackluster software support led Kinect V2 as an Xbox accessory down the path of obscurity, correct into being killed off completely. The technology Kinect spawned lives on as role of HoloLens and Microsoft'due south partnered Windows Mixed Reality headsets, and Kinect has been used in a wide assortment of bespoke projects in various other industries. Where Kinect didn't polish, however, is with the Xbox 1. That's not to say information technology was useless. It simply wasn't allowed to realize its full potential.

To fifty-fifty use a Kinect (2nd hand or otherwise), you need a pricey adapter for modern Xbox consoles that can be hard to observe. Yet, there are culling third-party adapters like this one that exercise seem to exercise the chore. There are and then many hurdles to overcome to get your hands on a Kinect that I'd argue it's non worth the effort.

Kinect games?

Microsoft blundered when it launched the Kinect V2, bundling it with the Xbox One and driving up the total price. To bring that price tag dorsum downwards, the Kinect was sacrificed. The stigma information technology generated probably led to decreased interest, and decreased usage led to developer abandonment. In that location's no reason to wait any new Kinect games to hit the platform whatever time presently, and the available ones aren't exactly evidence-stopping "must play" games. They can provide some fleeting amusement, but I nonetheless don't think that makes recommending a Kinect worthwhile.

Why an Amazon Echo is better

Probably the best reason to get a Kinect right now is for the voice commands, assuasive you to navigate the dashboard, command media, and even to use your Tv set with a proper setup. You can issue commands similar "Xbox, play Battleground one," or "Xbox, turn up the book," and you can plough up the functionality to 11 by enabling Cortana (while sacrificing some usability in the process).

Activating Cortana or Amazon Alexa integration will let you to issue more than complex commands like "What'due south the weather condition like?" and "What is my friend Dave doing?" Yous can fifty-fifty do things similar set and receive reminders, and enjoy the vast majority of Cortana features that are available on Windows 10. That said, she is sadly unresponsive compared to the stock Xbox voice commands that are enabled by default.

Ultimately, Kinect will raise your Xbox media viewing experience by giving you admission to vocalism commands, providing you set up the microphones correctly. It doesn't always work, of course, and information technology can exist a little frustrating if it fails multiple times, simply when it's gone, I will miss it.

The thing is, the cheaper, more versatile, and crucially, supported Amazon Echo can do all of the same stuff. Amazon Echo devices are cheap, and have far, far more vox features than Kinect. Cortana speakers like the Harman Kardon Invoke can also accomplish the aforementioned effect, simply Microsoft'south support of Cortana-based hardware hasn't exactly been reassuring.

What about Kinect's IR blaster?

The Xbox Ane S and Xbox Ane 10 come up with an IR Blaster equally standard, meaning that they tin send signals to your TV to control volume and power, but if you're using the original Xbox 1, y'all could catch a Kinect to become that functionality. However, it's a pretty costly pick. Y'all can add IR blaster functionality to your Xbox I with an IR dongle every bit inexpensive as $vii.

Get yourself an Echo

At this point, information technology simply does non make a whole lot of sense to purchase a Kinect. Y'all'll exist much better off with an Amazon Echo.

Our selection

Amazon Echo Dot

Get those voice commands back

With Kinect thoroughly dead (and requiring an unavailable adapter to use on modern Xbox consoles), you should consider picking up an Amazon Echo instead to control your media feel. The Dot is the cheapest of the Echo line.

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Jez Corden

Jez Corden is a Senior Editor for Windows Central, focusing primarily on all things Xbox and gaming. Jez is known for breaking exclusive news and assay as relates to the Microsoft ecosystem while being powered by caffeine. Follow on Twitter @JezCorden and heed to his Xbox Two podcast, all about, you guessed it, Xbox!

Is Xbox One Kinect still worth ownership in 2022?

Our pick

Amazon Echo Dot

From $50 at Amazon