Kinect enabled motion-controlled gaming on the Xbox 360.
Microsoft launched Kinect for Xbox 360 in November 2010. The accessory used cameras, depth sensing, microphones, and software to track a player’s body and voice without requiring a traditional handheld controller. It was designed to make selected games accessible through gestures and spoken commands.
Kinect was originally known during development as Project Natal. Microsoft released it as a separate accessory and also sold Xbox 360 bundles that included the sensor. Games such as Kinect Adventures! demonstrated its movement-tracking capabilities, while other titles built sports, dance, fitness, and family play around the system.
Kinect is sometimes confused with Xbox Live Vision, an earlier camera accessory. Xbox Live Vision provided video and camera features but did not offer Kinect’s depth-sensing body tracking. Kinect later received an Xbox One version with updated hardware.