Microsoft Corporation (MSFT): The Xbox One Lacks This Key Accessory

The fact that millions of people are looking forward to the Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) Xbox One being released in November is no big surprise. This gaming console is being touted as the next big thing, and with a long list of features it is safe to say it will pick up where the Xbox 360 is going to leave off. We have discussed this console in great detail, including a closer look here at the exact date on which it could be released.

If you are expecting your Microsoft Corporation Xbox One to be shipped with a headset, you are going to be disappointed. This is something Ars Technica has covered in great detail, including this information from a recent story:

“Amid the fallout from an explosive E3 earlier this month, Microsoft quietly revealed some of the official accessories that will be released alongside the Xbox One in November. On this list was a one-ear mono headset that seems relatively unremarkable except for one well-hidden fact: it apparently will not be included in the box with the Xbox One.”

Many will not find this to be a huge deal, being that they will still be able “to chat with friends using the included Kinect and its multidirectional microphone.”

While Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) feels comfortable with this trade off, there are others who are not so sure that it is the answer. At this point, nobody really knows how well Kinect will perform, when compared to a standard headset, especially in a multiplayer environment.

Ars Technica reached out to Microsoft for a response, and here is what the company had to say:

“Xbox One does not include a pack-in headset accessory. Each Xbox One includes the new Kinect sensor, with a highly sensitive multi-array microphones designed to enable voice inputs and chat as a system-level capability, both in-game and with Skype and other experiences. For gamers who prefer a headset, we have a variety of offerings that you can find on the Xbox Wire.”

As you can see, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is not going back on this decision. Instead, the company is letting consumers know they will be able to purchase a variety of headsets via Xbox Wire.

It is going to be interesting to see if this works out in the favor of Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) or if consumers come away disappointed. We should know the answer by some time in late November.