There’s been a lot of grumbling on the internet about the next Xbox’s possible requirement for perpetual internet. Some say that the Xbox (Fusion?) will need to be connected to so much as a run a game, while others are firm that the internet is only there to enhance the system’s feature set. Confusing! In an apparent internal memo to the Xbox Team, Microsoft seems to want to clarify the situation.
"Durango is designed to deliver the future of entertainment while engineered to be tolerant of today’s Internet," says the memo, according to Ars Technica. "There are a number of scenarios that our users expect to work without an Internet connection, and those should ‘just work’ regardless of their current connection status. Those include, but are not limited to: playing a Blu-ray disc, watching live TV, and yes playing a single player game."
Is this some sort of turn-around within the company after seeing all the hate that was coming their way for the rumoured internet requirement? I’d like to think so; it’s quite unlikely for an internal memo to go about saying “things are exactly as they’ve always been, go about your business.”
So there you have it. the Xbox won’t need an internet connection all the time. Maybe. While it seems that you’ll be able to play single player games offline, there’s still no confirmation of whether or not games will need to be activated online like PC games.
Interestingly, if true, this memo confirms another rumour surrounding the next Xbox; it’ll likely feature an HDMI in, allowing for cable and satellite units to be plugged in, allowing the Xbox to overlay information over Live TV. Of course, that means pretty much nothing to us in South Africa.
Last Updated: May 7, 2013
Martin du preez
May 7, 2013 at 09:04
Hey Xbox I just met you and this is crazy,my internet is unstable ,so move to another city maybe? #dealwithit
Macethy
May 7, 2013 at 09:11
“Those include, but are not limited to: playing a Blu-ray disc, watching live TV, and yes playing a single player game”
How can you watch live TV without an internet connection of sorts?
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
May 7, 2013 at 09:15
The console’s apparently got an HDMI in, which will allow you to plug your Tv service in to the Xbox. when connected, it’ll allow you to overlay schedules, extra info etc on top of live Tv.
Brady miaau
May 7, 2013 at 10:38
Why not good for SA?
Can I not connect my DSTV to it, for example?
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
May 7, 2013 at 10:46
You should be able to, but the chances of schedules and extra info being overlayed is slim, unless Multichoice and Xbox suddenly start working together.
matthurstrsa
May 8, 2013 at 07:22
unless Multichoice starts working you mean.
FoxOneZA - The Chosen One
May 7, 2013 at 10:44
Interesting. Vewi interesting Mr Bond.
OVG OfflineVideoGamer
May 7, 2013 at 09:11
LOL I called it 8 months ago that the new x-box will be WINDOWS 8 to coincide with all the extra interfaces like Smart Glass Surface.
See how the Windows 8 logo is turned onto it’s side to represent INFINITE advertising? 🙂
OVG OfflineVideoGamer
May 7, 2013 at 09:13
It’s kind of cool. Better than Wii and Phoo.
FoxOneZA - The Chosen One
May 7, 2013 at 10:45
Good find OVG! Also, Windows 8.1 is rolling out this holiday with a host of touchscreen and convertible devices.
Ricardo Harvey
May 7, 2013 at 11:13
Would be interesting to see if they can come up with something better than this. I like this 🙂
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
May 7, 2013 at 09:16
Sounds like they had a change of heart there. Still betting that they will require online authentication first though.
umar bastra
May 7, 2013 at 09:24
I still wonder if we have to activate our games to play offline. or if we are going to have to validate our games. I feel in my bones that there is going to be a huge fight to stop and block used games
DrKiller
May 7, 2013 at 09:39
Almost time for the announcement!!
James Brawn
May 7, 2013 at 09:40
Xbox/Microsoft won’t make any single player games for “next-gen”, watch.
truthcop
May 7, 2013 at 09:45
lol.
The console was never “Always on”. Those were just rumors. Do you really think they can just go “hey, that was a dumb idea” and recode the firmware and all the SDKs to allow this change a week or two before the reveal?
Rince da Ref Lvl2
May 7, 2013 at 10:23
Le…
FoxOneZA - The Chosen One
May 7, 2013 at 10:49
If he was living in SA, with 100 000 going jobless in the first 3 months, I would find that funny.
Rince da Ref Lvl2
May 7, 2013 at 10:55
Agreed totally mate. So, when you have a high-powered position like he had, you fucking treasure it, and don’t take for one second for granted that you are replaceable!
silverscorpio
May 7, 2013 at 11:33
Look what this guy said was extremely arrogant but if he was telling the truth about the requirement, I think Microsft owes him an apology because he would not have gone that far if he did not know it is the truth.
Rince da Ref Lvl2
May 7, 2013 at 11:48
Agreed, we don’t, but even if that is the case, you do not tell your customer base they are whining little bitches. Business 101…
Trevor Davies
May 7, 2013 at 10:55
I’m just amused that someone actually had to point out that there are times when people don’t have internet access.
silverscorpio
May 7, 2013 at 11:35
Now someone has to point out to Microsoft that people will buy the Xbox 720 because it is a game console and not a fancy tv decoder and they might just make it.
silverscorpio
May 7, 2013 at 11:29
Shame, poor Microsoft engineers who now has to take out the always online requirement after finishing it months ago with always online. Sony really did throw them one big unexpected curveball.
If always online was not part of the original Xbox 720 design, Microsoft would have said so already in February when Sony said it was not part of their design (Sony already confirmed that it is up to the publsihers). Microsoft would not have waited for all the bad press to get out of hand especially if it was not true.
I can understand that it is up to the publishers but for a console to go that route is a big mistake. I will just avoid games with that requirement. I do not like technology to keep me hostage in my own livingroom.
tokoloshie
May 7, 2013 at 15:14
You’re a fool.
The always on requirement was started with rumours, and Microsoft does not respond to rumours.
Read my post, if you were ever involved in any major hardware or software you’d know you cannot just change a massive requirement in a week.