As promised back in May, Microsoft offered new details of the next-generation Kinect for Windows at its BUILD conference in San Francisco. According to The Verge , Microsoft is now accepting applications from qualifying developers to receive a pre-release Windows-compatible version of the Xbox One's motion sensor. The development kit is priced at $399, but includes an pre-production model of the device, the SDK, and the consumer-level version when it's finished.

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While the developer version of the new Kinect for Windows is almost as expensive as the Xbox One itself, it's not reflective of the final cost of the retail version. Developers are paying for early access and the opportunity to write software for the hardware, prior to release.Approved developers will be picked after the program's registration closes on July 31st.

Scott Lowe is IGN's resident tech expert and Executive Editor of IGN Tech. You can follow him on Twitter at @ScottLowe and on MyIGN at Scott-IGN