Microsoft Copilot for Gaming Could Have Perfectly Complemented Kinect

AI is always a hot topic, though it’s clear it’s here for the long run. I find myself using it almost daily, not just because Microsoft seems determined to integrate it into everything they produce.

Its applications are expanding, and since the rise of ChatGPT and later Bing Chat, which evolved into Copilot, I’ve found enjoyable ways to incorporate this technology into my everyday activities.

The newly announced Xbox Copilot, or “Copilot for Gaming,” as Microsoft officially calls it, sounds like a fantastic concept—on paper, at least. The downside? It requires interaction through your phone, which isn’t ideal when you’re deep into a gaming session. The last thing I want is to fumble for my phone in the middle of a game.

Remember the Kinect? A piece of Microsoft tech that was arguably ahead of its time but eventually discarded? Imagine the Kinect paired with Xbox Copilot—wouldn’t that have been the perfect way to use it?

### Voice Interaction on the Same Device Versus Picking Up Your Phone

Picture this: Instead of the Kinect ending up in a landfill, what if it had been integrated into current systems? (Image credit: Windows Central)

The timing of the Kinect’s launch was unfortunate—not the initial release for Xbox 360, which introduced a novel way to engage with games—but the second generation for Xbox One. It became your go-to for voice commands, turning your console into an obedient sidekick.

I loved the functionality of commanding my Xbox One via voice through the Kinect. Initially, it was just a nifty trick to power the console on and off, but it evolved into so much more.

As a new parent, I found it invaluable, using the Kinect to manage TV and media settings hands-free while holding my baby. Back then, when the Xbox was connected to my Cable TV box, and OneGuide was a thing, it was pure bliss.

AI is now a serious player in modern tech, and Microsoft is committed to embedding it into everything we do. Doesn’t it seem that a native Copilot on the Xbox, leveraging Kinect’s capabilities, would be the superior choice?

Sure, you could use your phone’s voice commands, but that’s adding another device into an already crowded setup with a console, TV, and controller. Unless you’re blessed with multiple limbs, your hands are full. My colleague, Samuel Tolbert, captured it perfectly when he wrote about the Xbox Copilot launch: he doesn’t want to shout at a screen, big or small, to enhance his gaming experience.

### It’s Too Late for Kinect Now, But It Still Makes Sense

Considering Microsoft’s move to incorporate AI into everything, bringing Copilot to the Xbox console seems inevitable. I mean, we’re seeing AI in something as everyday as Notepad on Windows 11.

The problem lies in the absence of the hardware we once had. The Kinect isn’t compatible with the latest generation consoles anymore—we’ve lost a key piece.

I’d be open to engaging with Copilot on the console, but only if it uses voice commands. When gaming, the last thing I want is to break my concentration. Surely, I’m not alone here.

If interacting with an AI assistant means interrupting our gameplay, it’s doomed to fail. Any future integration needs a voice function. Of course, this requires a microphone component, and without Kinect in the picture, that’s our best bet.

Seamless voice usability is a must. Expecting players to pause their activity just to tinker with AI isn’t practical. Engage, converse, dismiss—all without stopping what you’re doing.

Will Microsoft bring this to life? It’s hard to say. But like many other great innovations they’ve introduced and then retired, we’re left pondering the big “what if?”