Official: Kinect priced at £130, new 4GB Xbox £150
High price for motion controller - but bundle with both is £250, including Kinect Adventures
Microsoft has finally revealed recommended retail pricing for its Kinect motion controller, following weeks of speculation.
Fears that the camera and microphone sensor array would cost over £100 have been confirmed, with Microsoft setting the device at £129.99 (€149.99 / $149.99). The add-on will also include a copy of Kinect Adventures.
Also unveiled is the much-rumoured cheaper model of the new Xbox 360 S. The £149.99 (€199.99 / $199.99) console will include 4GB of built-in flash memory instead of a hard drive, and will sport a matte finish rather than the glossy shell of its bigger brother.
Onboard wi-fi remains, and the console is officially known as the Xbox 360 4GB. It will be available at retail from August 20 in the UK and August 3 in the US.
A bundle containing Kinect, the Xbox 360 4GB and Kinect Adventures will be released in tandem with the seperate Kinect launch this winter. The package will sell for £249.99 ($299.99).
"Kinect for Xbox 360 offers tremendous entertainment value, transforming our living rooms into fitness classes, dance clubs and sports stadiums through full body, voice and multiplayer games," said Chris Lewis, Microsoft Europe's vice president of Interactive Entertainment Business.
"Whether you’re new to Xbox 360 or an existing console owner, we’re committed to offering Kinect experiences that offer controller-free fun and entertainment right out of the box and these unique products and retail offers provide the most complete and affordable way for everyone to enjoy Kinect this Christmas."
Microsoft has also revealed that Kinect titles will retail for less than core Xbox 360 games.
The launch line-up of 15 games, including Kinectimals, Kinect Sport and Kinect Joy Ride, will carry a RRP of £39.99 (€49.99) per unit - suggesting that, despite the hardware's high price, the company is set on pursuing a more casual audience.