Xbox One dev kits receive more GPU bandwidth

UPDATE 05/06/2014 6.27pm: Microsoft has clarified that "removing Kinect will not impact the performance of Xbox One."

"For consumers, simply unplugging Kinect will not impact the performance of Xbox One," the hardware manufacturer explained in a statement to Eurogamer. "The June SDK released to developers gives them access to additional GPU resources previously reserved for Kinect and system functions. Accessing the additional GPU resources is done by the developer, and how developers choose to access the extra GPU performance for their games is up to them."

"For titles that ship in the future, if a developer has taken advantage of this SDK change they may access this additional GPU resource. We have started working with a number of developers on how they can best take advantage of these changes, and we'll have more to share in the future."

UPDATE 04/06/2014 10.25pm: Microsoft has confirmed that this boost in performance is in fact due to Kinect being stripped from the package. When asked if the two were related, a Microsoft spokesperson sent Eurogamer the following response:

"Yes, the additional resources allow access to up to 10 per cent additional GPU performance. We're committed to giving developers new tools and flexibility to make their Xbox One games even better by giving them the option to use the GPU reserve in whatever way is best for them and their games."

And will this mean more games will hit the 1080p 60fps benchmark that's all the rage these days, I asked?

"Xbox One games look beautiful and have rich gameplay and platform features. How developers choose to access the extra GPU performance for their games will be up to them. We have started working with a number of developers on how they can best take advantage of these changes. We will have more to share in the future."

Microsoft also offered the following statement on the dev kit update in general:

“Just as we're committed to making ongoing system updates for our fans to enjoy new features of Xbox One, we're also committed to giving developers new tools and flexibility to make their Xbox One games even better. In June we're releasing a new SDK making it possible for developers to access additional GPU resources previously reserved for Kinect and system functions. The team is continually calibrating the system to determine how we can give developers more capabilities. With this SDK, we will include new options for how developers can use the system reserve as well as more flexibility in our natural user interface reserve (voice and gesture). We'll continue to work closely with developers to help them bring great games to Xbox One.”

ORIGINAL STORY 05/06/2014 9.21pm: Xbox One dev kits are receiving an increase in GPU bandwidth this month, announced head of Xbox Phil Spencer today on Twitter.

"June #XboxOne software dev kit gives devs access to more GPU bandwidth. More performance, new tools and flexibility to make games better," the Microsoft exec wrote.

Could this new potential have anything to do with the console no longer being tethered to Kinect all the time? Also, will it mean more games will hit the 1080p 60fps benchmark that's all the rage these days? We've asked Microsoft to clarify what sorts of performance boosts we can expect from this and will update as we find out more.