No included headset with Xbox One

[Fonil]

Amid the fallout from an explosive E3 earlier this month, Microsoft quietly revealed some of the official accessories that will be released alongside the Xbox One in November. On this list was a one-ear mono headset that seems relatively unremarkable except for one well-hidden fact: it apparently will not be included in the box with the Xbox One.

The Official Xbox Magazine confirmed the lack of a packaged headset with Xbox Support, whichtweeted that the system "does not come with a headset." That's in contrast to the current $299, 250GB Xbox 360 model, which includes a basic headset in the box (the lower-priced 4GB model does not include a headset). It's also another difference between the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4, the latter of which will include a basic mono earbud and microphone with each system.

Xbox One users without a headset will still be able to chat with friends using the included Kinect and its multidirectional microphone. Microsoft has taken great pains to show off that device filtering out TV noise and picking up even quiet voice commands from around the room. However, it remains to be seen just how well this setup can replace a standard headset for multiplayer chat.

Microsoft has not revealed a price for its optional headset accessory, but it's promoting a variety of third-party headsets from Turtle Beach and Polk for prices up to $200. These units promise to be able to stream stereo or surround game audio through the wireless controller rather than requiring a long cord connected to the system or TV.

Thanks to a proprietary connection to the controller, existing Xbox 360 headsets will not be directly usable on the Xbox One. Turtle Beach, however, has said that it will be providing an adapter that lets its Xbox One headsets work on Xbox 360 controllers, proving that such inter-compatibility is possible with extra hardware.

In addition to the headset, Microsoft has revealed a Play and Charge kit for the Xbox One. This will replace the standard AA batteries on the Xbox One controller with a rechargeable pack, much like the similar product for the Xbox 360. PlayStation 4 controllers will be rechargeable out of the box, but standard Xbox One controllers will be usable in a "wired" mode when connected to the system via a normal USB micro cable.

 

 

 

Kyle Orland - Ars Technica

 

The unrestrained mics that are so common in xbox :

 

!!!!!!!   NOW FEATURING MORE ECHO !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Some sacrifices just shouldn't be made if you want to hold some type of minimum Quality of Service for everyone. 

We all have those memories of Joe Shmo joining the game and utterly destroying everyone's' ear drums for a solid 15 sec. 

 

 

But seriously Microsoft is now just making it easier for Sony to really take the reigns for the beginning of this release cycle.

[ajoy39]

when has a headset ever been an included accessory with the base system of a console at launch? Non-news, more fanboi rage, move along

[Fonil]

when has a headset ever been an included accessory with the base system of a console at launch? Non-news, more fanboi rage, move along

 

Both previous xbox generations.

[ajoy39]

Both previous xbox generations.

The core model did not, you had to upgrade to at least the pro model to get the headset and the original xbox didnt come with one, you had to buy it separate or get the Xbox Live starter kit

[Xelithium]

Who even uses the headsets that they come with? Do you hate your ears that much?

 

Get some quality stuff.

[ajoy39]

and before someone says that Xbox should include it because PS4 does, please consider that THIS is the bundled headset

 

 

Please keep your 30 cents it cost to make that guys, I have a billion of these for my phone

[tobben]

Who even uses the headsets that they come with? Do you hate your ears that much?

 

Get some quality stuff.

it's just used to chat with, nothing else.

[ivhyn]

Who even uses the headsets that they come with? Do you hate your ears that much?

Get some quality stuff.

Dude, it's just for the voice and it has always been very comprehensible. I own a 5.1 system so i won't get some turtle beach's just to talk to my friends. Pretty useless imo. I know several people who are in the same situation

[bcho85]

There will be tons of after market headsets anyways.  Fan boi rage is a fan boi rage.  Carry on.

[qwertywarrior]

wait cant u just use the kenect ?

[Nicktrance]

Meh I'd throw it away anyway... People are just looking for every possible reason to hate on MS...

[mgsstar]

Would you have to use their connector in order to plug in your headset? 

[JaeDee884]

Nonissue is nonissue.

The only reason to own an xbone is gone now it's no longer built around internet integration. (yeah I'm that one guy in ten that liked the online services it's progressive)

[doubleagent214]

Oh the shame and horror. How ever shall we coup in a world without an included headset? Just trolling there. They totally redid their connections for headsets it looks like, and if they go with usb, it's makes sense for them not to give you a headset. 

 

[jojogad19]

i read that the headsets are going to be included now. the only thing left for them to maybe change would be the constant kinect tracking.

[Ethnod]

So bored with Xbox news tbh, why bother no one is buying it any how

[EChondo]

wait cant u just use the kenect ?

Yes you can, hopefully Kinect 2.0's mic is better, I had a cousin of mine who exclusively used the Kinect's mic to talk to me. I hated it. He had it far away from him so he was quiet when he talked and it sounded beyond distorted it when he was close up, like a cheap $5 mic you can pick up from Best Buy.

[Snickerzz]

Yes you can, hopefully Kinect 2.0's mic is better, I had a cousin of mine who exclusively used the Kinect's mic to talk to me. I hated it. He had it far away from him so he was quiet when he talked and it sounded beyond distorted it when he was close up, like a cheap $5 mic you can pick up from Best Buy.

not to mention the echo and sound from the tv itself >_> and background noise like moms telling there 10 year olds to get off cod

[EChondo]

not to mention the echo and sound from the tv itself >_> and background noise like moms telling there 10 year olds to get off cod

OH GOD! I forgot about the echo!

 

It really is a daunting thing...I know the PS4's mic is cheap, but at least it's something. You could easily put a pair of headphones over it and it'd look sleek.

[Snickerzz]

OH GOD! I forgot about the echo!

 

It really is a daunting thing...I know the PS4's mic is cheap, but at least it's something. You could easily put a pair of headphones over it and it'd look sleek.

yup! luckily for the current gen there weren't a whole lot of kinect users and those who had one used a dedicated mic most the time

[Muffinator]

I think we need to wait and find out how bad the kinect is for voice chatting. Everyone who played the 360 knows that one was terrible for voice chat. Maybe improvements will be made.