US market research, analysis and advisory firm International Data Corporation (IDC) believes Microsoft can stage a comeback in the console wars by unbundling its Xbox One from the Kinect 2.0, thereby reducing the Xbox One's price and bringing it closer to that of the PS4.

"The presumed unbundling of Kinect and Xbox One, which should facilitate rough price parity between it and the PS4, should lead to a spike in Xbox One sales; assuming the console and sensor are unbundled in 2015, IDC expects Xbox One to recover and emerge with the largest installed base of any console in North America by the end of 2016," IDC reported in a recent market study.

Press reports quoted UK Marketing Chief Harvey Eagle as saying that Microsoft has "no plans" of selling a Kinect-less Xbox One. He called Kinect an integral part of the Xbox One experience. Xbox head Phil Spencer thinks first-party content is a more important deciding factor for console choice.

"We're always trying to match what consumers are asking for," Spencer said. "I always want to make sure that we're in tune with what current or potential customers are asking for from us. Right now, (dropping Kinect is) not the number one request from people."

Sony's PS4 retails at $399.99 as against the Xbox One's $499.99. The Wii U retails at $349.99. Some analysts said the PS4′s massive sales are eventually going to force Microsoft to decide on whether to give Kinect the boot. Others feel the Xbox One is the least game-oriented home entertainment console for hardcore gamers.

The news from the retail front isn't all that good for Microsoft at present. IDC said the PlayStation 4 will sell 51 million units globally by 2016, outpacing the Xbox One, and giving the PS4 the largest global market share in that year.

IDC, however, believes the Xbox One will actually become the market leader in the USA if Microsoft decides to offer a version of the console without Kinect, thereby lowering the price.

The PS4 is currently the top selling next-generation console and has sold more than 7 million units. Nintendo's Wii U has sold 6.17 million consoles globally. Microsoft said it has sold 3 million Xbox One units but shipped 5 million units overall.