Kinect News

March2024

February2024

  • Talking Point What Did You Think Of The Xbox Kinect?

    Were you a fan, or did you end up avoiding it?

    These days, there aren't many Xbox fans still using their Kinect Sensors - and that's because since the launch of the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, there hasn't been a way to utilise them at all during this console generation. Even though Microsoft has clearly moved on, the Kinect was undoubtedly a...

November2023

July2022

March2022

December2021

October2021

July2021

  • Random The Xbox Kinect Is Being Used To Help Run A Grocery Warehouse

    It's far from useless, even in 2021

    As the years have gone on, the Xbox Kinect has sadly become something of a paperweight for many console owners, especially since the Series X and S don't support it. Visit your local second-hand shop and you can often find them piled up looking sad in the corner. Yet, despite never truly catching on, there's no...

January2021

  • News Thought The Kinect Was Dead? It's Getting Another Game In 2021

    But it's for PC, not console

    When Microsoft announced last year that the Xbox Series X (and Xbox Series S) wouldn't have a port for the motion-tracking Kinect controller, it was assumed the device was pretty much finished in terms of getting new games. While that might very likely be the case for console, developer Strange Scaffold has bizarrely...

November2020

October2014

  • News Microsoft Releases Adapter to Make Your Xbox One Kinect Sensor Work with Windows

    Only $50 to you

    Microsoft has released a new adapter which will allow you to take the Kinect sensor that came with your Xbox One, and connect it to your PC and tablets that are running Windows 8 or Windows 8.1. A few months ago, they released Kinect v2 for Windows at four times the price of the $50 adapter, and the functionality is reportedly...

  • Review Disney Fantasia: Music Evolved (Xbox One)

    Not taking the Mickey

    Enough words have been written about the history of Microsoft’s second attempt at motion controlled gaming and how it was a mandatory purchase for all bleeding-edge Xbox One owners. We all know how a lot of people – probably the majority, in fact – don’t see even the second iteration of Kinect as being a viable input...

June2014

  • News Kinect-free Xbox One Flies Off Shelves

    "It's a huge win" says GameStop

    Last month we reported that Microsoft would be releasing a new Kinect-less Xbox One SKU and that the unit would go on sale on June 9th, the day before E3, at a cheaper price point. Now, the Kinect-less Xbox One is on the shelves and according to Bob Puzon, GameStop senior vice president of merchandising, they are...

April2014

  • Review Kinect Sports Rivals (Xbox One)

    Do or die.

    To say that Kinect Sports Rivals is a high-profile title for Xbox One would be something of an understatement. Being the only game (barring the violently bad Fighter Within, which barely passes as a game) available that’s been designed for the much-maligned Kinect device that’s included with every console, people were looking to...

December2013

  • Review Fighter Within (Xbox One)

    Fighter Without.

    In a world where Kinect for Xbox One is seen as nothing but a gimmick designed to ensure that you pay more for a console than you otherwise would, it was imperative that the first Kinect-only experience was compelling. A Wii Sports for the Xbox One, if you will. So who better to leave in charge of such a thing than Ubisoft, the...

August2013

  • Hands On Kinect for Xbox One

    Believe in it.

    At a small building in London’s Waterloo area on a bright and sunny Wednesday, Microsoft decided to give the UK press their first taste of the Xbox One. Spread across three floors, the event showcased Kinect, Forza Motorsport 5, Kinect Sports Rivals, Ryse: Son of Rome, Killer Instinct,

January2013

  • Feature Kinect in 2013

    Happy New Year!

    Some Kinect owners – OK, a lot of Kinect owners – are probably feeling a little bit as if Kinect is done and dusted. A quiet release schedule in 2012, where most of the blockbuster titles that featured Kinect support were limited to voice commands or tacked-on mini-games that didn't work, combined with a somewhat thin release...

December2012

  • News Kinect Christmas Day Deals from Xbox Live

    Three titles discounted.

    Major Nelson has confirmed that Microsoft's Countdown to 2013 Deals for Christmas Day are somewhat Kinect-heavy. Today, Mini Ninjas Adventures and the awesome Fruit Ninja Kinect have 50% slashed from the price, and are 400 MSP each. Konami's Leedmees has a whopping 75% off (200 MSP) as well. If you already own Fruit Ninja...

  • News Kinect Party to be Free Until 2013

    Double Fine by us!

    Major Nelson has just dropped some knowledge on us that confirms that Double Fine's next Kinect title - Kinect Party will launch on December 18th on Xbox Live Arcade. Not only that, friends, but it'll be FREE up until December 31st. That's right! You'll be able to get your hands on the new game - which features eighteen...

  • News Next Xbox Codename Uncovered

    The Kryptos Factor

    While everyone winds down for Christmas, some hard-working software engineers will surely be burning the midnight oil over the festive season, thanks to rumours coming from SemiAccurate.com this morning. They're stating that the next-generation Xbox's test system chip - codenamed "Oban" - is all but complete and ready to be...

  • Competition Win a Limited Edition Fable: The Journey Console!

    Spellbinding.

    KINECTaku and Microsoft have teamed up to provide a boomer of a competition for you this holiday season. We're giving away an electric blue custom Fable: The Journey Xbox 360 console, complete with Kinect, Kinect Adventures!, a copy of Fable: The Journey, and a copy of Christie Golden's new novel - Fable: Edge of the World. Not only...

November2012

October2012

  • News Kung Fu Superstar Leaps to Kickstarter

    Fifth of a million.

    The web's most popular crowdfunding site - Kickstarter - opened its doors to UK-based projects this morning, and one of the first on deck was former Lionhead staffer Kostas Zarifis. He and his new team - collectively known as Kinesthetic Games - announced back in May that they were working on a martial arts title for current...

  • News SmartGlass Comes To Forza Horizon

    Tablet-tastic.

    Microsoft and Turn 10 have released the official SmartGlass app for Forza Horizon today. Dubbed the "Forza Horizon SmartGlass Experience", the app comes as a free download for Windows 8 PCs and provides gamers with a tablet-based interactive map of the game's take on Colorado. Players can view the entire map and zoom in using pinch...

  • News Free Kinect Game from Intel Goes Live

    Featuring Chris Evans, Chanel Iman, and LMFAO.

    Finally, a nice bit of good news for Kinect fans this morning. Intel have released their free Kinect game on Xbox Live Arcade overnight. The game - named Intel Discovered - stars Chris Evans (Scott Pilgrim vs The World, Captain America: The First Avenger), Victoria's Secret model Chanel Iman, and...

  • News Nike+ Kinect Training Demo Goes Live

    Get your sweat on.

    Major Nelson has confirmed that a demo of Microsoft's Nike+ Kinect Training is now available from Xbox Live. Those without Xbox Live Gold will be able to pick it up from the 18th. The new fitness product is designed for "the elite or the everyday athlete" and promises to deliver personalized workout programs that match themselves...

September2012

  • News New Dance Central 3 Tracks Confirmed

    Pre-order bonuses detailed, too.

    Harmonix has today announced ten new tracks for the upcoming Dance Central 3. The new tracks are an eclectic mix, firing all the way back to the height of late 80's chic with New Kids On The Block's "You Got It (The Right Stuff)" and running all the way through to a bit of Nicki Minaj and...gulp...Justin Bieber...

  • News Harry Potter for Kinect Demo Goes Live

    Expeliamus!

    The demo of Warner. Bros new Hogwarts-'em-up Harry Potter for Kinect is now available for download from Xbox Live. The game, which is based on all eight of the Harry Potter movies, allows players to scan their face into the game so that they can create a unique witch or wizard to study at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy. A...

August2012

  • News Zumba Fitness Core Confirmed for November UK Launch

    New trailer released.

    Good news for Zumba fans today, as 505 Games has confirmed that - as expected - they've picked up the European publishing rights for Majesco's Zumba Fitness Core. Core will the third Kinect-based Zumba title to hit the shelves, following the lacklustre Zumba Fitness: Join The Party! and Zumba Fitness Rush. Despite not being...

  • News Forza Horizon VIP Membership Package Detailed

    Koenigsegg, Lamborghini, Pagani - Oh My!

    Turn 10 Studios has confirmed details of Forza Horizon's VIP Membership programme. The VIP package is included with the Limited Collector's Edition of the game, which has an RRP of £59.99 in the UK, as opposed to the standard edition's £49.99 price tag. We would assume that the VIP Membership will be able...

  • News New Hip Hop Dance Experience Trailer Busts a Move

    Hippity Hop to the Barber's Shop.

    Ubisoft's upcoming street dance title The Hip Hop Dance Experience has been dated and detailed. The game is set to release in the UK on 15th November, with lucky US-based gamers getting their hands and feet into the action two days earlier, on the 13th. The Hip Hop Dance Experience is currently in development with...

  • Gamescom Just Dance 4 Full Tracklist Revealed

    Elvis, Maroon 5, and a bit of Rickrolling.

    Gamescom is in full flow in Cologne, Germany, and Ubisoft have confirmed the final tracklisting for Just Dance 4. The final set contains 44 tracks, including the likes of Carly Rae Jepsen (really?!), Rihanna, Flo Rida, and Skrillex. Still, you'll be concentrating on your moves, so you'll be able to block...

  • Gamescom FIFA 13 Demo Dated, New Mode Detailed

    EA attempts to blur the lines.

    At EA's Gamescom press conference today, FIFA 13 information was up for grabs. Executive Producer David Rutter outlined a whole new mode in the form of "Match Day", which draws on real life data in order to attempt to replicate some of the experiences that will occur throughout the course of the real football season...

  • News Power Rangers Super Samurai Headed to Kinect

    Morphin' it up.

    Namco Bandai have today confirmed that they'll be releasing Power Rangers Super Samurai for Kinect towards the end of 2012. The game was long suspected to be in development after being leaked over a year ago by several retailers, but this is the first the Japanese giant has said on the matter. Details are few and far between at the...

  • News NBA 2k13 Kinect Support Confirmed

    Crash the boards.

    2k Sports have confirmed - via a reveal of the game's final cover art - that NBA 2k13 will indeed be "better with Kinect." There's been no confirmation on what to expect in terms of support, but we're relatively sure that on-the-fly play calling and substitutions will be the order of the day via voice commands. The game is...

  • News Zumba Fitness Core Tracks Revealed

    New trailer drops, too.

    Majesco have today confirmed the 23 licenced songs that will appear in their third Zumba Fitness title, Zumba Fitness Core. The company claims that the game will feature the most diverse range of dance styles seen in a Zumba title yet, with 33 different styles being represented. Liz Buckley, General Manager of the Zumba...

July2012

  • News Need For Speed: Most Wanted Headed to Kinect

    Criterion racer gets Kinect support.

    Those beady-eyed folks over at VG247 have spotted something rather special. It appears that Criterion's 2012 reboot of the game is more than likely coming to your Xbox 360 complete with Kinect support in October (or November if you're in Europe.) The official packshots for the game released at E3 don't contain...

  • News FIFA 13 Voice Commands Detailed

    Come on, Ref!

    We found out about FIFA 13 getting Kinect voice support back at E3, but details were a little bit sparse. EA have today confirmed a few more pieces of information about the new functionality, with voice commands promising to provide a surprising new layer of depth to the game. As well as being able to call for substitutions and change...

  • Feature Kinect PlayFit - First Impressions

    Free. Worth every penny.

    So, Kinect PlayFit has been out for about a week, and it seems that folks are racking up the burnt calories like there's no tomorrow. The free app (available from your Xbox dashboard) tracks your play across 10 different Kinect titles, tracking how many calories you burn and awarding achievements and avatar awards based on...

May2012

  • News This is How You Scan a QR Code in Dragon Ball Z Kinect

    Quite simple really

    Dragon Ball Z for Kinect lands in October with an interesting QR feature to add new characters and content to the game. Hold up a special card to the sensor and you'll unlock in-game content. Presumably you'll get some of these cards for free with the game but the rest, we expect, will set you back a few dollars. Will you take a...

  • Guide The List of Skyrim Kinect Voice Commands is Here

    English and Dragon supported

    The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim gets Kinect voice command support today, and we have a list of supported commands. Use a dragon shout in English without holding RB, or push down the bumper and say one, two or three words of the dragon language equivalent and magic happens. You can also use Kinect to navigate menus and...

April2012

  • News Ice Age Tie-In Coming to Kinect This Year

    Arctic edge

    Activision's just announced it's bringing Ice Age: Continental Draft — Arctic Games to Kinect in 2012. Guess what? It's a minigame compilation. Nobody could have guessed that. If you're saying you guessed that, you're lying. The story says something about the team splitting a secret treasure through a series of "off-the-wall...

  • First Impressions Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor

    Metal madness

    Pack it up, folks: with Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor, we have reached the apex of video games as an entertainment medium. We now have the technology and, apparently, the desire to fist-bump our computer cohorts, and there's no going back. "Bro-op" aside, From Software's Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor's mammoth task is...

March2012

  • News Disney Wants You to Be Brave on Kinect

    Red hair optional

    Not content with inspiring Kinect Rush: A Disney•Pixar Adventure with its past works, Disney•Pixar's next movie Brave will get its own Kinect-powered game too. Coming this summer, the third-person adventure game isn't Kinect exclusive: sounds to us like the sensor will only be used in an archery spin-off mode, but we've been...

  • News Fit Music is Kinect's Most Self-Explanatory Game

    Can you tell what it is yet?

    Fitness, dancing, Kinect: the holy trinity for game publishers. The next company to try its luck is Oxygene Media with the ingeniously titled Fit Music. Fronted by European fitness champion Patrizia Salviato — described as "one of the best body building superstars ever" by Oxygene — the game is coming to...

February2012

  • News BBFC Pegs Dragon Ball Z Kinect for June Launch

    Just Saiyan

    After Korea rated Dragon Ball Z for Kinect last week, now the British Board of Film Classification is on on the act, slapping a 12 rating — and release date — on the game. According to the BBFC, the game's release UK date is 15th June 2012, not too shabby considering Namco Bandai is yet to announce the game officially. We imagine...

  • News Country Dance All Stars Song List Confirmed

    Yeehaw

    Want to know which of your favourite country music stars will feature in the upcoming Country Dance All Stars, due out later next month? Well boy howdy, have we got a treat for you. Featuring no fewer than three artists called Josh — Kelley, Thompson and Turner, of course — as well as classic acts Johnny Cash, Carrie Underwood and, er,...

January2012

  • Blog Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 Kinect

    Straight from the horse's mouth

    Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13's Kinect features were detailed in a video yesterday, and now we have a developer blog from EA Sports explaining more about Kinect integration in Tiger Woods this year. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 Kinect Features: Hi, my name is Eric Busch, and I’m one of the designers on Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 13...

  • News Zumba Fitness Rush North American Release Date Announced

    Out in February

    Zumba Fitness Rush is coming to Kinect in North America just in time for Valentine's Day. Majesco's second Zumba game lands on 13th February. The game will receive extra content after launch in the shape of add-on songs and workouts. MAJESCO ENTERTAINMENT BRINGS THE DANCE-FITNESS PARTY HOME ON FEBRUARY 13TH WITH ZUMBA® FITNESS...

  • News SEGA's 2012 Olympics Game Gains Kinect Support

    Back on track

    SEGA' has today announced London 2012: The Official Video Game of the Olympic Games will include Kinect features. By the sounds of it you won't be able to take on all 30 events with Kinect: the press release only mentions 110m hurdles and beach volleyball, already seen in the likes of Kinect Sports of course. Here's the first trailer,...

  • News Kinect Rush: A Disney Pixar Adventure Scans You In

    Get into the game

    Kinect Rush: A Disney Pixar Adventure uses one of Kinect's most-vaunted original features: the ability to scan yourself in to create a virtual avatar. Of course we've seen this feature used in Kinect Fun Labs so it's not a first, but if it works as well as this trailer below promises — a wish that rarely comes true, admittedly...

December2011

  • News Kinect Fitness Games Go Cheap for New Year

    Save some pounds (or dollars)

    If part of your New Year's Resolution is to get fit and you want to use Kinect to do it, we've rustled up some superb deals to help you do so cheaply. Don't forget we also have a Guide to Kinect fitness games and Kinect fitness game reviews too. UK Kinect Deals: January sales are a big deal in the UK — imagine...

  • Guide Starting Out with Kinect

    Get the most from your sensor right away

    So you've unwrapped all your presents and found a shiny new Kinect and games. Congratulations, and welcome aboard! Unlike every other motion controller on the market, you don't need anything in your hands to play Kinect — with no controllers and no buttons you're free to use your body and voice to play the...

  • News Even Kinect Star Wars Succumbs to Kinect Dance Mania

    Is nothing sacred?

    Kinect does some things very well — dancing, for instance. That's why there are 13 Kinect dancing games out now, but the genre's seeping into other games: games we thought were safe from move-busting. Games like Kinect Star Wars. The ESRB has rated the game and revealed it now includes dancing tournaments alongside the...

  • Competition Put Your Darts Skills On the Line with Kinect Contest

    Can you hit the bullseye?

    Microsoft is giving UK gamers the chance to put their darts skills on the line with a new Kinect Sports: Season Two competition. To enter, download the free Kinect Sports darts Gamerpic before Sunday 18th December and play a single-player darts match on Live between 1pm and 5pm on 7th or 8th January. Three players will be...

  • News Kinect Sports: Season Two Golf DLC Out Next Week

    Fore-hundred MSP

    You can treat your caddy to some new sights next week, as Kinect Sports: Season Two is due to get nine new holes from the Xbox Live Marketplace. The Maple Lakes golf pack launches on 20th December for 400 Microsoft Points, adding nine new holes alongside new Challenges and Achievements. On the same day the game will also get a free...

  • News Kinect-Powered Dance Evolution Arcade Game On the Way

    Kinect leaves the living room

    Next year Kinect will throw off its living room shackles and join the arcade scene, as Konami has announced it's working on an arcade version of Dance Evolution (or DanceMasters) for release in 2012. The game is currently on test at certain locations in Japan, with the sensor tucked away inside the arcade cabinet...

November2011

  • Rumour Kinect 2 Capable of Reading Lips and Emotions

    Project Skynet commences

    After last week's next Xbox rumours comes another set from Eurogamer, this time focusing on the upgraded Kinect said to come with every machine. Anonymous sources have apparently told Eurogamer Kinect 2 is capable of lip reading, and can detect emotion in the user's voice. Eurogamer also claims the next Kinect can...

  • Rumour Next Xbox Split in Two Models for Kinect and Core

    Which would you choose?

    Xbox 360 has been around for six years now, and although regular Dashboard updates and the introduction of Kinect have kept things fresh, eyes are starting to turn towards the next machine in the Xbox line. The latest rumours, from technical wizards Digital Foundry (via Eurogamer), claim that the new machine will come in two...

  • Feature Kinect Holiday Gift Guide 2011

    What's worth your money?

    There are over 80 games available for Kinect now, and knowing exactly which one to pick up as a present can be a tough proposition. That's why we've put together our Kinect holiday game guide 2011 to let you know exactly what you should be looking for when picking a game this season. We've split this article into five...

  • Talking Point What's Kinect Doing Right or Wrong?

    One year on, how's it going?

    Kinect has had a full 12 months to bed itself in, and arguably the standard of releases this Christmas is higher than what the sensor launched with last year, but the sensor still hasn't established itself as a home for quality games. In the past few days we've seen an encouragingly healthy discussion about the matter...

  • News Be Soothed by Deepak Chopra's Leela's Soundtrack

    It's Sumthing Else

    A good soundtrack is crucial to any relaxation experience, so it's probably good news that the tunes accompanying Deepak Chopra's Leela will be released separately on 15th November. The soundtrack, put together by Sumthing Else Music Works, draws from "traditional string instruments and dubstep" and features artists...

  • News Free Kinect Sports Season Two DLC Out Now

    Up your game

    We're big fans of Kinect Sports: Season Two here at KINECTaku, especially now Rare's released some new downloadable content for free. Available on Xbox Live Marketplace today, the Kinect Sports: Season Two Challenge Pack #1 adds new modes to each sport: Crazy Kicker (American Football), Frantic Fielder (Baseball), Cool Ringings...

  • News The Worst Kinect Photoshop We've Ever Seen

    You won't believe your eyes

    You'd think paying some actors to stand in front of a TV and Kinect and pretend they're having a great time would be among the easiest parts of releasing a game. You'd probably be right, which makes this back of box art for MotionSports Adrenaline even more brilliant. We're no Photoshop experts, but even we can tell that...

October2011

September2011

  • Hands On Kinect Sports Season Two

    We visit Rare's UK HQ to experience what could be this Christmas' biggest Kinect title

    Given the incredible commercial and critical response to the original Kinect Sports, it was inevitable that a sequel of some description would occur. What was slightly less predictable was the news that the legendary British code house Rare would be co-developing...

  • News First Puss in Boots Screenshots Look Furry Good

    You might be surprised

    Licensed games rarely look good, but we have to say that the first screenshots of Puss in Boots don't look bad at all. The Kinect-exclusive title puts you in the feline footwear of the titular cat, with the official details laying out a three-stroke gameplay system: Master the style and charm of Puss in Boots in an engaging...

  • News Playing Cabela's on Kinect Makes You Look Like This

    "We're having a great time!"

    You wanted more hardcore games for Kinect, and you've got it: Cabela's Big Game Hunter: Hunting Party combines all the fun of body-tracking with the thrill of hunting animals with a plastic gun. Activision has just released the first screenshots and 'lifestyle' photos of the Top Shot Sport, the plastic gun necessary to...

August2011

  • News GamingZap Shows Off New Powerless Kinect Adaptor

    It'll make sense

    When Microsoft launched Kinect in November 2010, it faced a problem: how to get the sensor to draw power from older Xbox 360 consoles, as well as the newer S models. The simple solution was to bundle a USB to mains adaptor, but that still requires a separate plug socket. UK retailer GamingZap has just launched a way around it: the...

  • News You Can Breed Horses in Champion Jockey

    Just think that over for a second

    The road to becoming the ultimate jockey isn't all about being short and light: it's also about riding a top notch horse, bred for speed. That's one part of the process Champion Jockey is eager to represent, with an in-depth breeding mode shown off in these new screenshots. Each horse has an individual personality...

  • News Microsoft UK's Release Dates for Kinect's Biggest Titles

    Get informed

    You want to know when you can expect some of this year's biggest Kinect games, right? Well then, you've come to the right place, as Microsoft UK has just sent us a press release full of calendar-marking goodness. Here's a round-up of when you'll be able to pick up the brightest lights for your sensor this year. Bear in mind these...