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Just Dance 2026 Edition returns on October 14 with a fresh batch of new features – but one is catching everyone’s eye this year: Camera Controller mode. Developed by the Just Dance production team at Ubisoft Paris, this innovation lets players use their entire body as the controller, simply by using their smartphone’s camera. It’s a small revolution that makes dancing even more fluid, precise … and fun!
We spoke with Apolline Wasik (Data Scientist), Caitlin Baltus (Score Level Designer) – two key members of the development team – and OfHugo, a Star Player from the Just Dance community who tested the feature during its beta phase.
A Fresh Direction for Just Dance
The idea for the Camera Controller began in late 2021, when Xbox announced the end of Kinect support. “Through the development of Camera Scoring, we wanted to offer an alternative that lets players dance freely without a controller,” explains Apolline Wasik. This new mode relies on the smartphone’s camera and leverages advances in 3D human pose detection. “We had to explore ways to adapt these models to the specific context of Just Dance.”
This project also responds to a long-standing request from the community: “For a long time, our players were asking for an alternative to Kinect. Then, we wanted to take things further with the scoring algorithm, which measures how closely the player’s movements match those of the coach. […] Thanks to this technology, we’re now able to pinpoint exactly which parts of the body are off and deliver a more accurate, full-body score.”
A More Immersive – and More Rewarding – Way to Learn
With Camera Controller, the feeling of freedom is instantaneous. “It introduces a stimulating learning curve: players see their scores improve gradually as they replay the same choreography, because they’re progressing and refining their movements,” says Apolline.
For Caitlin Baltus, the feature fills a gap that had been missing since the franchise became a unified platform with Just Dance 2023 Edition: “Camera Controller is the feature we needed since the shift to a unified Just Dance platform. […] Just Dance has a competitive legacy on Kinect, which was by far the preferred setup for our core community because of the freedom it provided. […] This way of playing aligns perfectly with our core gameplay – dance itself. It encourages learning the art of dance beyond the game.”
And most importantly, it enables a fairer and more inclusive experience: “Kinect had limitations related to game environment that made scoring imprecise. These issues are no longer relevant with our new in-house technology. It gives back to our community their favorite mode of play – only now, improved!”
From the Players’ Side: a Return to Roots
For OfHugo, the release of this feature was a turning point: “Since nearly the beginning of my Just Dance journey, I always used Kinect. When the game was no longer released on Xbox One, it felt like a real blow to me, in terms of both enjoyment and comfort. […] When the beta launched, it felt like hope again. And after trying it, far more than hope: the test was a success!”
He goes on: “[It’s] an intuitive and pleasant experience, [with] effective detection allowing freedom of dance and play again! […] Now, when I play solo, I use only the Camera Controller mode. […] Scoring without a controller, with the whole body taken into account … for me, it’s the only true way to fully play Just Dance.”
And even though he now often plays in multiplayer, he remains convinced of the solo mode’s power: “When I myself started – transitioning from Wii to PS4 to Xbox One – the Kinect experience is what turned me from a casual player into … well, a Star Player!”
Tech Built Hand in Hand With the Community
Player feedback was central throughout the development process. “Observing qualitative feedback across different choreographies helped us confirm the robustness of the algorithm,” notes Apolline.
Caitlin also emphasizes the importance of direct community feedback: “From a quality standpoint, we could observe in real time how the community was approaching this new Controller and internally adjust our design rules accordingly to deliver better challenges. […] Watching streams, videos and top‑player feedback greatly helped us refine our rules.”
An In‑House Innovation, a Team Challenge
Developing the Camera Controller represented a first for Just Dance: “It’s the first time we’ve integrated a Machine Learning algorithm at the heart of the game. […] It was crucial to always refer back to the game context when designing the feature. […] We even built our own dance motion database with help from volunteers within the Just Dance production team, to train a model specific to the game.”
It was a major challenge – one tackled alongside the ongoing production of regular choreographies. “We had to deliver a true ‘live Kinect’ experience and take Camera Controller even further, all while continuing to produce new choreographies,” recalls Caitlin.
“The beta, with 15 songs produced in just two weeks, allowed us to define the design rules, which we then had to test, refine, and share with other level designers around the world.”
Looking ahead, Apolline sees promising challenges: “The quality of 3D pose estimation models continues to improve. One of the challenges will be adapting them to the game context and making them run on phones, despite their growing complexity.”
An Emotionally Charged Launch
After months of work, the release of Camera Controller in Just Dance 2026 is a source of pride for the team. “The enthusiasm from players motivates us to capitalize on this feature and develop more innovations,” says Apolline.
Caitlin summarizes with emotion: “Seeing community feedback gives meaning to my work and drives me for future projects. […] I had difficulty obtaining consistent scores due to my hair texture and body type. I am so happy to now offer a more inclusive experience. […] The official launch marks a new beginning for Just Dance.”
One thing is certain: with the Camera Controller, dancing has never felt more free—and Just Dance has never been closer to its players!
Just Dance 2026 Edition will be available on October 14 on Xbox Series X|S. Visit the official Just Dance website to check availability on other platforms.
JUST DANCE 2026 EDITION – STANDARD EDITION
Ubisoft
$49.99
Create unforgettable memories with Just Dance 2026 Edition!
ENJOY 40 HOT NEW SONGS
From the hottest hits to timeless classics, there’s a song for everyone and every moment in our all-new tracklist featuring:
– APT. by ROSÉ & Bruno Mars
– Abracadabra by Lady Gaga
– Good Luck, Babe! by Chappell Roan
– Houdini by Dua Lipa
– Azizam by Ed Sheeran
– VIVA LA VIDA by Coldplay
– Counting Stars by OneRepublic
– Hung Up by Madonna
– All Star by Smash Mouth
– DRIP by BABYMONSTER
And many more!
BRING YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO THE PARTY
Dance solo, in co-op, or get competitive:
– Dance with up to 6 players in local multiplayer!
– Team up for an unpredictable dance showdown in the new Party mode!
– Or compete to prove who has the best moves in Challenge mode!
DISCOVER ENDLESS WAYS TO DANCE
There’s a Just Dance experience for everyone:
– Use your whole body with Camera Controller mode on your phone.*
– Get active with Workout mode, tracking calories burned while playing.
– All content you own from the 2023, 2024, 2025, or 2026 Editions of Just Dance is available in one place!
– Dance to hundreds of songs with 1 month of free access to Just Dance+.**
*A smartphone with the free Just Dance Controller app is required to track your moves including in the Camera Controller Mode, no additional accessories required!
**Just Dance+ is a streaming service, playable via Just Dance 2026 Edition, that grants access to additional songs. Terms and conditions apply. Requires Ubisoft Account, console account, persistent internet access, and the payment of a fee and/or an ongoing subscription fee. Age and territorial restrictions apply.
Internet connection, Ubisoft account, Microsoft Account and Game Pass Ultimate or Core (subscriptions sold separately) required to access online multiplayer/features.
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Joe Skrebels, Xbox Wire Editor-in-Chief
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