Xbox One will ship with bundled chat headset, 4K HDMI cable

Microsoft will include an Xbox One chat headset and a 4K-rated HDMI cable in the box when the system ships this November, the company confirmed today in an unboxing video of a "Day One" edition of its next-generation console. Previously, Microsoft indicated it would not pack in a headset with Xbox One, suggesting that Kinect's microphone array would serve as an alternative for in-game chat and Skype calls.

The included HDMI cable is of the Category 2 variety, said Microsoft's Albert Penello, director of product planning for Xbox One. The cable is rated for 1080p, 3D and 4K output, according to the HDMI 1.4 spec.

Penello shared a few more details about Xbox One, explaining that the console's built-in wireless radio supports A/B/G/N protocol and dual-band 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies. Plugging a micro-USB cable into the Xbox One controller for wired gameplay also deactivates the gamepad's internal radio, transmitting data through the wire. "You can even use the controller without batteries in this mode," Penello explains.

The contents of the Xbox One Day One limited edition package include the console itself, the Kinect sensor, a branded Day One controller, a chat headset, HDMI cable, power supply and a redeemable code for a Day One-exclusive achievement.

The Xbox One chat headset weighs 44 grams, according to Microsoft, and features a bendable, rotating mic boom. The headset's speaker and microphone have been upgraded to take advantage of Xbox One's improved audio quality, the company says, which boasts three times the sampling rate of Xbox 360 voice chat.

In today's hardware detail update, Microsoft reiterated some of the previously known Xbox One specs, which include a 500 GB hard drive, slot load Blu-ray optical drive, IR blaster port, HDMI input/output connectors, a S/PDIF interface, new Kinect sensor port, three USB 3.0 ports, wired and wireless network support and a Kensington security slot.

Check out Xbox Wire for an unboxing video featuring the Day One version of the console, featuring Microsoft spokesperson Larry Hryb, or watch it embedded below.