Is Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) Dis-Kinecting from Xbox Fans?

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has been dealing with various amounts of pushback in the weeks since it unveiled its Xbox One gaming and home entertainment console. (This article covers some of that.) With the competition heating up with Sony and its launch of PlayStation 4, loyal gamers – either of the Xbox or PlayStation tent – are watching very closely at the various features and benefits each  company  provides for gamers.

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), at least in some regards, was initially failing  Xbox loyalists. First, there was the belief that the retail price was to high for what the console was offering. Then there was some outrage over Microsoft not allowing reselling of used games. Then there was the row about the Xbox One needing to be “always on” the Internet and there being no option to turn it off.

Some of these things have been addressed already, while others are still being considered or not. Another big point of contention among gaming fans has been the Kinect system that was such a staple on the “old” Xbox 360.

But this various issues  have sort of led to the question as to whether Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) did its market-research homework when it put together  the Xbox One system. With this latest issue, Microsoft  might have painted itself into a corner when it reportedly said that the Xbox One would not work without Kinect. Xbox gamers apparently did not like Kinect as a whole and have basically suggested if not urged Microsoft to not include it with the system bundle. It seems that Microsoft has reconsidered this policy – at least for now. But what might this mean, ultimately?

According to a report submitted by InsideGaming based on an interview with a source, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) will be offering two options for Xbox One bundles – a standard bundle that does not have Kinect and a “budget” bundle that will feature a smaller hard drive, priced in such a way as to perhaps underbid PlayStation 4. While this rumor of a summer 2014 release date for these bundles and the idea of having two bundles to choose from is not substantiated at this point, it does seem to make some things interesting. Like what, you ask?