According to a report from IGN, Sony made the decision to unbundle the PlayStation 4 camera (Eye) in order to gain an advantage over Microsoft's Xbox One console.
IGN cites multiple sources in reporting that the original plan for the PlayStation 4 (PS4) was to have it bundled with the camera for a retail price of $500, but the company decided that cutting the camera could give it a significant price advantage.
That prediction turned out to be correct, with the PS4 set to launch for $100 less than Microsoft's Xbox One, which comes bundled with Kinect and requires it to function properly, at a cost of $500.
In order to keep the news quiet until the price was announced, Sony only informed its retail partners that the camera would not be bundled with the system, but not that it was cutting the price.
The move definitely has made the PS4 look more attractive ahead of the holiday season, but it has also relegated the camera to an optional accessory, meaning that game developers will be less likely to work with it than they would be if every PS4 owner had one.
Worth the change?
That prediction turned out to be correct, with the PS4 set to launch for $100 less than Microsoft's Xbox One, which comes bundled with Kinect and requires it to function properly, at a cost of $500.
In order to keep the news quiet until the price was announced, Sony only informed its retail partners that the camera would not be bundled with the system, but not that it was cutting the price.
The move definitely has made the PS4 look more attractive ahead of the holiday season, but it has also relegated the camera to an optional accessory, meaning that game developers will be less likely to work with it than they would be if every PS4 owner had one.
Worth the change?
