In yet another about-face, Microsoft has announced that the Xbox One will no longer require the Kinect sensor to be plugged in for the Xbox One to work.

In an interview with The Verge, Xbox Chief Product Officer Marc Whitten said “Like online, the console will still function if Kinect isn’t plugged in, although you won’t be able to use any feature or experience that explicitly uses the sensor.”

No reason was given for the u-turn, but The Verge pointed out that this has happened hot on the heels of the whole NSA debacle, and the removal of the Kinect could have been as a result of consumer concerns over the NSA’s potential ability to use the Kinect without them knowing.

What do you think? Is this a smart move on Microsoft’s part?