Navigation language is fixed to the country the console is sold in

Kinect-enabled voice control on Xbox One is limited to the region the device is sold in, in a move which limits the appeal of importing the system.

The console will support voice commands for five countries at launch - the US UK, Canada, France and Germany - meaning that, on release day, Microsoft is supporting three languages.

In August, Microsoft delayed the Xbox One across eight countries: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Sweden and Switzerland. Eager customers who want to import the console to those regions will not be able to use the Kinect functionalities unless they are fluent in English, French or German.

Albert Penello, lead product strategy executive at Microsoft, confirmed on NeoGAF that Xbox One voice commands are locked to the country the system is sold in. It is believed that Microsoft is working to expand the number of countries that voice commands are supported in.

Xbox One launches in select European territories and across North America on November 22. Microsoft has not announced release dates for the delayed markets.

Posted: Nov 20, 2013 1:15 pm
Related Forum: Xbox Forum

Source: http://www.computerandvideogames.com/439380/region-locked-voice-control-handicaps-xbox-one-imports/