Original story Ever since Microsoft decoupled the Kinect sensor from the Xbox One , the one lingering question was when would they sell it as a stand-alone unit? Offering an Xbox One without the Kinect sensor made financial sense in Microsoft's struggle against Sony, but it does not mean that people may never want to want to buy the Kinect at a later point. Until now though, there was no option to do so.

Update Microsoft has issued the official announcement on the stand alone Kinect sensor for the Xbox One going on sale for $149.99, but with a slight date change to October 7. The company also says it will come with a code to download a free game, the upcoming Dance Central Spotlight from developer Harmonix.

Windows Phone Central has now learned that Microsoft is planning to sell the stand-alone Kinect sensor for $149 beginning on or around October 6. The timing is ideal as it leads well into the holiday season in the US and other countries, making the add-on an excellent gift for those who already own an Xbox One without the next-gen accessory.

Presumably, you should be able to pick up the stand-alone version from stores like Best Buy, Target, and Microsoft, just like buying an Xbox console. Regional availability for the stand-alone Kinect is not known at this time, though the US market is definitely the first to get it.

Microsoft took a gamble with a $499 price mark for the Xbox One with Kinect sensor bundle when compared to the Sony PlayStation 4 assessed at $399. Priced equally, sans Kinect, and early numbers reflect the Xbox One recouping some lost ground, although it remains to be seen if Microsoft's console can ever catch up to – let alone surpass – Sony.

Have you bought out an Xbox One without Kinect?