If you’re like me and have either an Xbox 360 or Xbox One Kinect lying around, you’re probably also wondering “What can I still do with this thing?”. It wasn’t that long ago when the novelty (and fear factor) of having an always-on-camera and microphone in your living room was all the buzz around the gaming community.
Now, we’ve shifted away from making a fool of ourselves in front of a TV screen, and have started to embrace VR and AR gaming experiences on our Xbox gaming consoles. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t still many cool (and sometimes wild) uses for your old Xbox 360 or Xbox One Kinect.
Meanwhile, some of the leaked Xbox 720 documents from back in the day have me absolutely rolling about what could have been, which quickly turns to sadness when I realize what happened with these two amazing devices.
That’s where we get into not only some of the history behind the Xbox 360 and Xbox One Kinects but also what games you’ll need to look for and the real-world uses the Kinect motion sensor still has today.
In This Guide:
History of the Xbox One Kinect
If you think back to the golden days of motion-controlled gaming, the Xbox Kinect probably tops the list. Launched in 2010, the revolutionary accessory camera and sensor was Microsoft’s initial ambitious leap into controller-free gameplay. It wasn’t just about flailing your arms in Kinect games like Just Dance; it was about experiencing a whole new level of immersion that prior systems, such as the Wii and Sony’s EyeToy just couldn’t deliver on.
Then in came the Kinect for Xbox One, an upgraded sensor that promised even more precision and responsiveness. Microsoft was so confident in the Xbox One Kinect that they bundled it with every console at launch. Which maybe led to this obscure gem: The Kinect holds the Guinness World Record for being the fastest-selling consumer electronics device, ever? It sold a whopping 8 million units in its first 60 days, outpacing even the iPhone and iPad. 1
Yet despite its historic rise to greatness, Microsoft leaving it out of bundles ultimately wasn’t just a product placement decision – it was the unofficial point of downfall for the device. It never really did recover after the initial hype.
But that doesn’t mean the Kinect is officially “dead”. Its technology found new life beyond gaming—from healthcare applications to interactive art installations. And oh ya – you can still buy a wide variety of games for it, albeit through purchasing second hand or by rummaging through your parent’s basement.
So, while we might not see an Xbox Series Kinect anytime soon, the legacy of the Kinect lives on. It’s a nostalgic reminder of a time when we all embraced the wacky and wonderful possibilities of motion-controlled gaming.
Who knows? After this article, you might find yourself reaching for your old Kinect – even if it’s just to relive those few fleeting memories.
Setting Up and Using the Xbox Kinect Sensor
Ok – so you’re finally hype about using that dusty old Kinect but don’t know where to start. Depending on the different model of Xbox (or Kinect Sensor) that you have, there might be a few roadblocks to firing up Kinect Sports with the pals on a Friday night.
I did my best to condense both the setup and compatibility guide into an easy-to-read format. However, if you’re looking for some additional help with configuration or troubleshooting, check out The Overly-Detailed Setup Guide for Xbox 360 and Xbox One Kinect.
Kinect Compatibility Quick Guide:
- Xbox 360 Kinect: Only works with Xbox 360 consoles.
- Kinect for Xbox One: Works with Xbox One, Xbox One S, and Xbox One X (needs an adapter for S and X).
- Kinect Adapter for Xbox One: Required for connecting to Xbox One S or X, or even a PC.
*The Xbox 360 and Xbox One Kinect sensors are not compatible with the Xbox Series S or X.
General Setup Directions
Again, if you’re looking for a more detailed guide, we have one here. But here’s the idea for setting up your Kinect on either console:
Step 1 – Position the Sensor
You can place the sensor above or below your TV, but it should have a clear line of sight and perferably between chest and waist height. This is important because if you’re sensor is positioned incorrectly, it will throw off the accuracy of the Kinect and significantly diminish the experience of the game.
Step 2 – Connect the Sensor
Depending on the model of your Xbox, you may or may not need an additional power adapter. As a rule of thumb, original Xbox 360s require a power adapter while other models (including the Xbox One) do not.
If you want to use the Xbox One Kinect Sensor on an Xbox One S or X, you’ll need the Kinect Adapter for Xbox One. While cheaper, third-party options are available, we always recommend getting the officially supported Microsoft Xbox Kinect adapter.
Step 3 – Calibrate the Sensor
After powering up your Xbox 360 or Xbox One, there’s a possibility you’ll need to update your console. After updating your console, you’ll be prompted to run the Kinect Calibration Process.
Again, clutter, noise, and lighting all play a role here. Make sure your room is as ‘motion-friendly’ as possible, including moving breakable objects. 6-10 feet away is the general rule of thumb for how far you should be standing from the Kinect sensor.
Visit our Kinect Installation Tutorial for more tips, tricks, and troubleshooting information for your Xbox 360 or Xbox One Kinect.
There’s No Shortage of Motion Sensor Games for Xbox
I’m serious when I say this – there are way, way more games available that utilize the Xbox One and Xbox 360 Kinect than anyone could have imagined. Whether you’re looking for dance, exercise, sports, or even puzzle games, there are options for gamers of all backgrounds to choose from.
I think everyone remembers one of the holy grails of Xbox motion sensor gaming – Kinect Sports on Xbox 360. While there’s a newer version for Xbox One (Kinect Sports Rivals on Amazon), the Xbox 360 version still reigns king as a fan favorite, It features a mix of sporting events like soccer, boxing, bowling, and even javelin throwing.
Sure, you can get a similar experience on the Nintendo Wii – but remember, it required you to handle the Wiimote, which some individuals failed at in spectacular fashion.
If sports games aren’t for you, there are plenty of other options to choose from, such as Kinectimals, or Rise of Nightmares (a horror game that was enhanced for Kintect!)
There are even plenty of family-friendly options. My daughter and I have played the Kinect Disneyland Adventures game, where you travel around Disney’s Magic Kingdom and interact with different princesses. Much cheaper than a Disney vacation…let me tell ya.
And remember, there was a large selection of games that were ‘Better with Kinect’, or enhanced for Kinect, meaning you could play the game without the Kinect but additional features or functionality were unlocked if you had a Kinect accessory hooked up.
If you’re looking for an easy way to view and purchase games for your Kinect collection, visit the Comprehensive List of Kinect Enhanced Games for the Xbox 360 and Xbox One Kinect on XboxDIY. Part of our detailed Xbox Lists database so you can find all the gaming information you need in one, convenient location.
Real-World Uses and Examples
While I wrote this article to highlight some of the gaming capabilities of the Xbox 360 and Xbox One Kinect, I also wanted to shine a light on some real-life use cases that we’ve seen the Xbox Kinects sensors and cameras still being used for today.
What you’ll find out may surprise you.
I had actually sat on this article for about a year and then, out of nowhere, was visiting Columbus Center of Industry and Science (CoSI) with my family and noticed a really cool exhibit. There were some star-like lattice patterns on the floor that seemed to jiggle in place when someone walked past them.
Of course, my son was immediately drawn to it (and truthfully – so was I), so we started to explore both how the stars/pattern moved and where all of this was originating from.
It didn’t take long before finding, about 15 feet above us installed into a well-placed concealed mount, was an Xbox One Kinect.
It shouldn’t have surprised me (after the research I did for this article), but it did.
I immediately ran over to my wife and said – “Well, I have no excuse now. I have to write something about it.” So I snapped a few pictures of the exhibit, explored the area around it with my two kids (they had legitimate artifacts from Apollo astronauts – sweet), and left pretty charged up that I saw a real-life use case for the Xbox Kinect – something I had been spending a lot of time thinking about, and in the wild nonetheless!
But it’s not just vanity exhibits where the Xbox 360 and Xbox One Kinect sensors are seeing real life applications. It’s happening in many niches, including in the medical field.
While I was doing some research for this article I also came across a scenario where a medical facility was using an Xbox One Kinect as a camera for a CT machine. Again, not surprising given some of the technical details and highlights that I mentioned earlier in the article.
Aside from in medical setting, there are many other situations where people are using Xbox One and Xbox 360 Kinect Sensors for every day applications:
- Personal Voice Assistant for Your Xbox – While most of the features have been deprecated, you can still use your Xbox Kinect microphone for basic commands, such as: “Xbox, Turn On/Off”, “Xbox, Go to [Game or App Name], “Xbox, Pause” and the like.
- Kinect as a 3D Scanner – Using software like Skanect or KinectFusion, you can use the Xbox Kinect sensor and cameras as 3D modeling tool. You can scan people, objects, and tools for use in 3D-related applications – all from your Kinect and PC!
If you find any examples, or have examples of your own that you feel would be valuable to add to this article, comment down below and I’ll be happy to include them!
The Xbox Kinect is still cool – and it’s still relevant
Besides the fact that it can help save lives (is that really a stretch?) the Xbox Kinect Sensor for the Xbox 360 and Xbox One still provide great entertainment value, granted you can get your hands on one and the Kinect-specific games to enjoy them.
Again, just do what I did and have an anxiety-induced panic buying spree of old games, consoles, and accessories that you or your kids might eventually want to use some day. I mean, with the holidays approaching there’s never been a better time to whip out a game of [insert game] or [something funny about another game]
I’ve seen a lot of scribbles out there about the Xbox Kinect cameras and sensors but hope I was able to bring some order to the madness of why this little Xbox accessory is still so powerful and relevant today.
I’ve always liked hearing from readers over the year so if you have any comments, found an error, or just want to share your experience with the Xbox Kinect, be sure to use our comment section below.
You can also visit our other repair and troubleshooting guides, tutorials, news, and reviews across our website or visit XboxDIY.com on YouTube for more in-depth Xbox Do-It-Yourself Xbox related content. Game on!
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