A leaked Xbox One has revealed exactly how improved Microsoft's next-generation Kinect is for smaller play areas. While the company promised improvements for use in smaller environments, a setup manual (PDF) shows the new Kinect will work at a minimum distance of 1.4 meters (4.59 feet). The existing Kinect sensor for Xbox 360 works at a minimum distance of 1.8 meters (6 feet) for one player gaming, and 2.4 meters (8 feet) for two players.

It's around a 20 percent improvement and it should make things easier for gamers in smaller apartments. It's not clear from the manual whether there's any restrictions on the play area for the Kinect on Xbox One. The existing Xbox 360 version requires a play space of at least 1.8 meters (6 feet) that's free of furniture. Microsoft has made some significant improvements to its latest Kinect sensor, adding an ultra-wide 1080p camera, and the ability to see in the dark, track heart rates, and more. Although it's a core part of the Xbox One offering, bundled in every box, Microsoft altered its policies recently to allow use of the console without the Kinect sensor plugged in. Microsoft is planning to release its Xbox One console in less than a month on November 22nd.