Microsoft to discontinue the sales of original Kinect for Windows sensor

Microsoft has announced that they will discontinue sales of the original Kinect for Windows sensor this year. This decision comes after the launch of Kinect for Windows v2, which is the same sensor used in Xbox One and SDK 2 in July and will be the only option available to Windows users from now.

The firm has also asked business customers who still rely on the original sensor and SDK to contact the company immediately as there will be no units manufactured once current stocks are over.

"We hope everyone will embrace the latest Kinect technology as soon as possible, but we understand that some business customers have commitments to the original sensor and SDK. If you’re one of them and need a significant number of original Kinect for Windows sensors, please contact us as soon as possible. We will do our best to fill your orders, but no more original sensors will be manufactured after the current stock sells out."

Microsoft called the original Kinect for Windows sensor a "milestone achievement in the world of natural human computing.” They also stated that they are grateful to all those who “jumped on this technology and showed us what it could do.”

The Kinect v2 launched back in October 2014. The sensor does not ship with any software is meant to be used with the separately licensed Kinect for Windows SDK 2.0. Developers can use this to build applications. The Kinect v2 sensor can be purchased online through the Microsoft store for $199.99.