Microsoft’s newest video game system, the Xbox One, is now available in stores throughout the United States and 14 other countries for $499. The Xbox One is priced $100 more than Sony’s new system, the PlayStation 4, which hit store shelves a week earlier. The price difference is mainly attributed to the Kinect, Microsoft’s motion-sensing camera. This is the new and improved version of the Kinect, better in every way over the original, which launched midway through the Xbox 360’s life and never really caught on. Kinect 2.0 has a better chance to thrive, though, because everyone will have it, evening the playing field for developers. Microsoft’s track record leading up to the Xbox One’s launch was rocky, as the company flip-flopped on many of its policies surrounding games and internet connectivity. Fans seem to be happy now – well, mostly happy anyway – and are turning out en masse to fork over their hard-earned cash for Microsoft’s latest and greatest. Will you be joining them?
About Shelly Palmer
Shelly Palmer is the Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and CEO of The Palmer Group, a consulting practice that helps Fortune 500 companies with technology, media and marketing. Named LinkedIn’s “Top Voice in Technology,” he covers tech and business for Good Day New York, is a regular commentator on CNN and writes a popular daily business blog. He's a bestselling author, and the creator of the popular, free online course, Generative AI for Execs. Follow @shellypalmer or visit shellypalmer.com.