The Kinect alternative, finally here
Microsoft stopped making the Kinect in 2017 — and motion gaming on PC has been waiting ever since. Plaik takes the best idea in Kinect (camera-based, nothing worn) and fixes everything else.
| Plaik | Kinect | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking | Modern on-device AI, 33 body landmarks | 2010-era depth sensing |
| Games supported | Any PC game (mouse / keyboard / gamepad) | Kinect titles only |
| Wearables required | None | None |
| Setup | One USB-C cable, seconds to calibrate | Bulky sensor bar, room calibration |
| PC support | Native | Community adapters, ended support |
| Availability | Launching on Kickstarter in 2026 | Discontinued 2017 |
What Kinect got right — and what Plaik does differently
Kinect proved that millions of people want to play games with their whole body. It sold over 24 million units. But it made you buy Kinect games — a walled garden that shrank when the hardware died.
Plaik's approach is the opposite: it emulates a standard controller. Every input — a punch, a lean, a raised hand — is translated to mouse, keyboard or gamepad signals the game already understands. Your library doesn't change; the way you play it does.
Compare with the other modern option, wearable trackers: Plaik vs SlimeVR and mocopi.
Motion gaming, un-discontinued
Get Early-Bird Price for Plaik's Kickstarter launch — early-bird pricing for the first 48 hours.