8. Kinect Sensor Must Be Plugged In At All Times
One of the stranger provisions for the One is that the new Kinect peripheral must be plugged into the console at all times for it to function, even if you're not playing a game that requires Kinect! Though many have cited potential security and privacy issues - will the Kinect be able to watch and listen to you, for instance? - Microsoft have offered the small morsel of relief that though the Kinect needs to be plugged in, it can be turned off in the console menu. Still, to me, this isn't really the point; the point is that it's just another restriction. Microsoft are giving us a sophisticated piece of kit and then laying down an unsavoury laundry list of provisions for us to use it, which seems to extend only as far as the company flexing their authoritarian muscles as opposed to actually benefiting gamers. Why do I want another large piece of equipment cluttering up my room? What if my Kinect breaks? I don't want to have to shell out £200 for a new one just so I can play the new Halo, which doesn't even freaking require Kinect!