Three languages ready for Kinect launch

After Microsoft dismissed claims last month that Kinect would not support voice recognition at launch, claims have now surfaced that only three languages will be ready for the device’s November arrival.

Eurogamer reports that users enrolled in the ongoing Kinect beta test have discovered that only English, Japanese and Mexican Spanish (which differs from European Spanish) will be recognised from the off.

In late August MCV reported that Microsoft would be implementing voice control at some point after Kinect launches on the High Street. The information came from Xbox Live marketing manager for EMEA Robin Burrowes at Gamescom.

The platform holder immediately denied this, however, issuing only the following statement:

Voice control is an exciting part of the Kinect for Xbox 360 controller-free experience and we can confirm that it will be available at launch in November 2010. Only on Xbox 360 will you be able to navigate the Kinect Hub using your voice to control your movies, TV Shows and music. We do not have additional details to share about local voice availability at this time.”

At the time MCV was unable to ascertain the precise meaning of this, though our initial presumption that language support for other languages would be rolled out over time now looks increasingly likely.

MCV has again contacted Microsoft for further clarification.