Skip to main content

The Xbox One is faster without Kinect

The Xbox One is faster without Kinect

/

Unplugging Kinect won't make it faster, but game developers will

Share this story

Microsoft has previously tweaked the Xbox One to boost its overall graphics performance, but a new software change for the console pushes things even further. Xbox One developer units are receiving an update to increase GPU bandwidth by up to 10 percent. While the changes won’t be instantly felt during gameplay, game developers can now modify their titles to take advantage of system resources that were previously reserved for Kinect. Microsoft’s recent unbundling of Kinect has allowed the company to unlock the performance improvement, another sign that it's more concerned with traditional titles rather than trying to push developers to adopt Kinect.

Changes are part of the recent June update

"Yes, the additional resources allow access to up to 10 per cent additional GPU performance," explains a Microsoft spokesperson in a statement to Eurogamer. "We're committed to giving developers new tools and flexibility to make their Xbox One games even better by giving them the option to use the GPU reserve in whatever way is best for them and their games." The changes are part of a recent June update for the Xbox One, which also unlocks entertainment apps and brings TV features outside of the US.

Microsoft is expected to detail further Xbox One games and improvements next week during its E3 press event. The software maker unveiled 45 new apps for the Xbox One yesterday, including a new Twitter experience that integrates into the OneGuide TV listings feature.