Microsoft has just announced that the Xbox One will be receiving its own Media remote. This news comes as somewhat of a surprise, considering that everything with controlling your TV should have, at least in theory, been handled by the newest version of the Kinect. The Xbox One remote will be launched early this March, and will be priced at $25. Here’s the official Microsoft announcement:
“Releasing across Xbox One markets worldwide in early March, the Xbox One Media Remote lets you control video playback for Blu-ray movies and streaming video on Xbox One. Additionally, there are dedicated Back and OneGuide buttons. The OneGuide button provides one-touch, quick access to your favorite TV shows and movies through the Xbox program guide. This simple, yet powerful remote is designed to help you listen, watch and switch among experiences instantly. The Media Remote can also control TV/Receiver power and volume through Kinect, which uses IR blasting to send signals to your TV and/or receiver.”
So, basically, Microsoft is manufacturing a remote as an accessory to a console that was marketed exactly on the lack of need for such a device. Wasn’t the fuss about the Kinect exactly about this? Controlling your TV or console through easy voice or motion commands? Why then, would users need a remote, when the Kinect technically speaking should already be covering these aspects. Even more interesting is the decision to build a remote that works exactly through the Kinect. One that would be independent of the device would have probably made more sense, but in this case, we’re left wondering if the new remote will be nothing else than an acknowledgment of failure for the Xbox One’s Kinect. If however, the Kinect does what it was marketed to do, what’s the point in Xbox One owners spending more money on a remote?
What’s your take on the matter? Do let us know in the comments below.