The Xbox One won't be released until Nov. 22, but Microsoft is ensuring anyone who pre-ordered the device or is planning to buy the console early will have plenty of information ahead of launch. Microsoft executive Marc Whitten has been answering questions from gamers directly on IGN, and this week he revealed some intriguing information about the Xbox One's Kinect, as well as new details about the homepage for Xbox One users.
The Chief Xbox One Platform Architect, Whitten answered a few questions about the Kinect that will come standard with the Xbox One. Whitten confirmed the minimum distance a user must stand away from the Kinect in order for it to function properly.
"Well, it depends on how tall you are and where you place your sensor. But on average, a 6 feet tall person can stand 2 feet closer than they could with the first generation Kinect sensor," said Whitten.
Asked about the possibility of Microsoft making extension cords for the Kinect, Whitten said that Microsoft has no current plans to offer an extension cord, but stated that it is something Microsoft is considering. Whitten also went into detail about what the Xbox One's homepage will look like, stating that users can expect to see their most recent games and apps show up on the page whenever they boot up their Xbox One:
"Your home screen always has the five things you've done most recently to give you fast access to the games you play the most. Your library shows you every game and game add-on you own, digital and physical, whether or not you have it installed, sorted by what you've done most recently. But Pins are the best way to organize the games, apps, websites, movies and TV shows, and music you care about."
Finally, Whitten provided a glimpse into what gamers can expect in terms of stat tracking across the Xbox One:
"In Xbox One you will find a consistent and powerful experience for tracking your own activity and progress in any game or app, as well as comparing your stats with the people you care about. Some of the interesting gameplay statistics you can track include how long you have played and your overall progress on each game. In addition to this, each game and app will be able to showcase compelling and engaging aspects of their title (we call these hero stats) and display this directly on the Xbox One dashboard."
The Xbox One is certainly shaping up to be a contender when it is launched on Nov. 22.
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