Microsoft has stopped making Kinect sensors seven years after releasing its first model in 2010.
Microsoft officials confirmed to Fast Co Design on October 25 that manufacturing of Kinect has officially shut down. Microsoft officials said they've sold about 35 million units of the device. Microsoft will continue to support those who've purchased the device but the Kinect software development kit will likely no longer be refreshed, officials said.
Microsoft hasn't been actively marketing the Kinect sensor for Xbox for a while now. In 2015, the company ceased making its Kinect for Windows sensors, which Microsoft introduced back in 2012.
Microsoft officials say the core sensor in the Kinect will live on in side the HoloLens. Microsoft decided last year to drop a planned 2017 refresh to its HoloLens goggles, and instead emphasized the company's Mixed Reality software and third-party mixed (virtual) reality headsets...
The Kinect sensor was a good idea, but because of competitive pressure to reduce prices Microsoft had to make it an option. It is always more profitable to write software for the lowest common denominator which would be a X-Box without the Kinect sensor.
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- it's now possible to hook up any USB webcam to the Xbox One
- though the Kinect will remain the superior webcam, bristling with sensors..
- get one while you still can..
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