Since Microsoft announced the removal of the Kinect from the Xbox One (and the console’s subsequent price drop to boot), videogame retailer GameStop is already reporting an increased consumer interest in purchasing Microsoft’s current-gen console.
During a post-earnings financial call on Thursday, May 22, GameStop’s president Tony Bartel said that the retailer is seeing a “stronger demand” for the Xbox One console since Microsoft’s announcement.
“I definitely think we’re already seeing in our stores with our reservation program as well as dialogue with PowerUp Rewards [members that] there’s a stronger demand as a result of the price drop,” Bartel said. “The good news for us is… we’ll sell a lot more units.“
“And that means there will be more [Xbox One] units out there to put software on,” Bartel continued.
The head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, recently explained that removing the Kinect was due in part to giving consumers a choice of whether they won’t the console by itself or included with the peripheral. As it also turns out, the Kinect could have been an Xbox One built-in feature.
The Kinect-less Xbox One will start shipping on Monday, June 9 for $399 – $100 less than its Kinect-included counterpart. The package will include everything that’s been in the box prior, just minus the Kinect.
[ GameStop ]