Rare: Xbox One Kinect is 10x more powerful

The Xbox One's new Kinect camera is 10 times more powerful than the existing Xbox 360 unit, according to Rare Ltd. technology development lead Nick Burton.

Speaking during San Diego Comic-Con this weekend (via Xbox Wire), Burton explained that the new camera can register fingertips from three meters away, something that is impossible for the Xbox 360's Kinect sensor to do.

Rare's latest game, Kinect Sports Rivals for the Xbox One, will leverage the new Kinect camera to provide a "new layer of precision and depth of mastery." Subtle movements like how hard players twist their wrists while revving the throttle of a jet ski will be measured in the game.

Kinect Sports Rivals will also boast a new Champions feature that can capture a player's facial structure, hair, skin color, body composition, and expression--all in the name of creating a virtual athlete in "seconds."

Unlike the Xbox 360, every $500 Xbox One comes with a Kinect camera built in. Competitor Sony will offer motion-based camera functionality with the PlayStation 4, though gamers will need to pay $60 for the PlayStation Eye.

Also during the Comic-Con panel, Xbox Live director of programming Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb revealed that Microsoft will announce the Xbox One's release date this summer.