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Kinect/WP7 link-up features shown off

Clever tech coming in new update.

Dark blue icons of video game controllers on a light blue background
Image credit: Eurogamer

Windows Phone 7 users will soon be able to link up with the Xbox 360's Kinect peripheral for cross-platform multiplayer, Microsoft has announced.

As reported by CNN, a brief demo shown during the platform holder's presentation at the Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona this weekend featured two users playing virtual dodgeball in Kinect Sports.

The Windows Phone 7 user could see their opponent's outline mapped on the handset's display in real time and throw projectiles using the touch screen. The other player then had to shimmy out of the way using the Kinect's camera.

Windows Phone 7 chief Joe Belfiore insisted it was "real code" at work - not just a mocked-up demo – and promised that more players will be able to join in as well.

No further details were offered, but the functionality will apparently be added to the OS via an update later this year, along with multitasking, SkyDrive cloud storage support and third-party music player integration.

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