Do you remember that moment when Microsoft tried to revolutionize the world of video games with a bold promise? The idea was to completely do away with game controllers and turn our bodies into controllers. However, this vision, although innovative, did not achieve the expected success. Let’s recall this technological adventure which, despite its commercial failure, marked its era and influenced the future.
The 3 must-know facts
- In 2009, Microsoft launched Project Natal, later renamed Kinect, to compete with the Nintendo Wii.
- Kinect aimed to eliminate controllers, allowing control through movements and voice recognition.
- Although the commercial failure was evident, Kinect technology influenced other sectors such as surgery and facial recognition.
The context of competition with the Wii
In 2009, Microsoft was experiencing real success with the Xbox 360, rivaling the PlayStation 3. However, another player, the Nintendo Wii, was unexpectedly making its mark. The Wii captivated a new audience, often unfamiliar with traditional video games, by offering a playful experience free from technical complexities.
The bold gamble of Project Natal
Determined to conquer this new market segment, Microsoft designed Project Natal. Presented at E3 2009, this project promised to radically change interaction with video games by using a 3D scan of the human body. The idea was to replace controllers with body movements, offering a more intuitive and immersive gaming experience.
The reality and challenges of Kinect
After its launch as Kinect, the accessory offered impressive features with a color camera, microphones, and an infrared sensor. However, obstacles quickly emerged. Using Kinect required significant space, making the accessory difficult to use in confined environments. Additionally, the precision of motion detection left much to be desired.
Despite improvements with Kinect 2, the product failed to win over the public, notably due to its mandatory inclusion with the purchase of the Xbox One, which drew criticism from players.
The legacy and reinventions of Kinect technology
Although Kinect has disappeared from living rooms, its technology has found new applications. In medicine, it is used to manipulate medical images without direct contact, thus preserving the sterility of surgical environments. In warehouses, it aids in the precision of object-sorting robots.
Apple’s acquisition of PrimeSense in 2013 allowed this technology to be adapted for iPhone FaceID, demonstrating that Kinect’s innovation has had a lasting influence on other fields.
Microsoft and the lesson of Kinect
Microsoft learned from this commercial failure by redirecting its efforts towards technologies more suited to the times. The lesson of Kinect lies in its role as a precursor for gesture control technologies now used in augmented and virtual reality devices, such as the Meta Quest or Apple Vision Pro.
Ultimately, Kinect is a striking example of a product ahead of its time, which paved the way for many current innovations, proving that even failures can be stepping stones to future success.