After several conflicting reports, Microsoft has officially clarified the specifics of Kinect processing power on Xbox One. Starting this month, developers now have the ability to turn off most of the Kinect’s functionality to gain extra GPU resources, but some system-level functions cannot be disabled.

GameSpot recently reported that the new Xbox software update would unlock more processing power for developers to use. However, it was unclear where exactly these resources would come from.

Last week, Microsoft vice president Phil Harrison told Game Informer during an interview that developers were able to completely disable Kinect to harness the processing power dedicated to the camera. However, Kotaku recently published an interview with Head of Xbox Phil Spencer that contradicted this. Spencer stated definitively that developers can now utilize the GPU power otherwise dedicated to gesture-based functionality, but voice commands cannot be disabled. Microsoft Studios creative director Ken Lobb corroborated Spencer’s statements in an interview published on Eurogamer.

Today, Microsoft officially confirmed the policy described by Spencer in a statement to Game Informer. Developers, if they choose, have an additional 10 percent processing power available to them by disabling Kinect’s visual components. However, voice commands cannot be stopped. Saying “Xbox off” or “Xbox, record that” will continue to work if the Kinect is plugged in, regardless of the game.

This policy coincides with this month’s release of a $400 Kinect-less Xbox One.

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