Kinect Software Development Kit Coming This Spring

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Microsoft recently announced that they would be releasing a Kinect Software Development Kit for Windows 7 sometime this spring. In other words: the hackers won. Microsoft didn’t drop too many details, but it seems pretty likely that we’ll be hearing more about the SDK when Microsoft holds their invitation-only press event at GDC 2011.

This announcement shouldn’t really surprise anyone though, since it’s been rumored for a while that Microsoft was planning some sort of Kinect SDK for PC. It’s also a good way for the company to capitalize on the success of the peripheral – having sold 8 million since it’s released, there’s a probably a large number of people anxious to see what kind of apps they can make with a SDK and Microsoft’s blessing.

You have to give credit to Microsoft for not fighting Kinect hackers and instead recognizing them for what they are – creative and innovative. Some of the hacks we’ve seen since the Kinect’s release have been simply awesome, and it’s nice to see Microsoft supporting those developers instead of handing out lawsuits.