Microsoft has "no plans" to release Xbox One without Kinect

Microsoft is not currently considering releasing an Xbox One without the Kinect, a representative for the company told GameSpot today.

"We have no plans to introduce an Xbox One without Kinect. We believe in Kinect and the value it brings to both games and entertainment, and believe $499 is a great value for what consumers receive with their Xbox One," the representative said.

The statement came in response to an Inside Gaming Daily report, which claimed, citing an anonymous source, that Microsoft would release a Kinect-free Xbox One in summer 2014.

Every Xbox One unit includes a Kinect, unlike the setup on the Xbox 360, where the motion-sensing camera is a peripheral. The new Kinect is reportedly 10 times more powerful than the prior model and capable of detecting facial structure, hair, skin color, body composition, and expression.

The Xbox One launches in November. Microsoft will reveal the exact launch date later this summer.