Microsoft "Has Alienated" the U.S. Military With Xbox One

[StewShearerOld]

Microsoft "Has Alienated" the U.S. Military With Xbox One

Some military personnel are less than happy with the Xbox One.

It might be safe to say that more than a few people have taken issue with the Xbox One's various built-in restrictions. For many the controversy has been centered on Microsoft's attempts <a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/jimquisition/7444-Xbox-One-and-the-Death-of-Ownership>to limit used games. For others however, the issue lies with the console's strict online requirements. Players hoping to actually use the console for games will need a reliable online connection to check in with Microsoft on a daily basis. Failure to check in will <a href=http://www.polygon.com/2013/6/6/4403924/xbox-one-always-on-online-requirements>disable gaming functionality, even for single player experiences.

For members of the military, this requirement could wind up being a deal breaker. "Microsoft has single handedly alienated the entire military," said naval aviator Jay Johnson. "And not just the U.S. military- the militaries of the entire world." Johnson, who has spent the past three years deployed training at sea regularly relies on his Xbox 360 to unwind. "It is where I went to calm down after a long day of flying." The Xbox One's online requirements could make future similar experiences impossible for service members deployed to areas of the world with unreliable internet.

Microsoft, which has previously suggested players with connectivity problems stick with <a href=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/124891-Microsoft-Exec-Offline-Gamers-Should-Stick-With-Xbox-360>the Xbox 360, has expressed sympathy for service members. "There was a person who said, 'Hey, I'm on a nuclear sub.' I don't even know what it means to be on a nuclear sub, but I've got to imagine it's not easy to get an Internet connection," said Don Mattrick, president of Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment division. "If I was on a sub, I'd be disappointed." Despite acknowledging the less than perfect nature of Xbox One for service members, Microsoft has yet to offer any viable solutions for the near future. "I don't have additional details to share and can't speculate on workarounds at this time," said Xbox rep Danica Stickel.

Source: <a href=http://www.navytimes.com/article/20130614/OFFDUTY02/306140030>Navy Times


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[Spacewolf]

Will be the same for the Merchant Navy and Offshore industries as well due to you getting a limited internet allowance at best and no internet at worst.

 

[Phrozenflame500]

Damn, somebody should do the math on just how many sales Microsoft is losing.

 

[fix-the-spade]

Maybe they should break out one of those Stealth Hawks and kidnap Don Mattrick, no one will mind as long as they let him call home once a day.

 

[fix-the-spade]

Damn, somebody should do the math on just how many sales Microsoft is losing.

Over 50% against the 360, assuming every player who ever connected a 360 to the internet buys a Xbone.

 

[nadesico33]

How many more ways is Microsoft going to find to say "We don't want your business."?

 

[Saregon]

Maybe they should break out one of those Stealth Hawks and kidnap Don Mattrick, no one will mind as long as they let him call home once a day.

Wow, that made me laugh really hard, thank you sir.

Will be the same for the Merchant Navy and Offshore industries as well due to you getting a limited internet allowance at best and no internet at worst.

Ninja'd! I was going to say the same thing. Granted, it will be released here in Norway, but we also have a LOT of people on offshore oil platforms, fishing vessels, cargo ships and so on. I know quite a few guys on fishing boats, and they all have at least one console on board. Guess the choice of which one will be easier to make this generation.

 

[CyberMachinist]

How many more ways is Microsoft going to find to say "We don't want your business."?

I'd say until their Game division finds out they're out of business........

sorry couldn't help it

 

[Evilsanta]

Don't worry Military personal around the globe! Microsoft has the solution!

Just get an Xbox360! It can play offline!

 

[CriticalMiss]

"I don't have additional details to share and can't speculate on workarounds at this time," said Xbox rep Danica Stickel.

I can think of one workaround, it's called 'Buy a PS4'.

 

[ritchards]

I'm sure once a day, the submarines can surface and use satelite uplink to let the world know of their location... I mean phone home. Where's the problem?

 

[PoolCleaningRobot]

Damn, somebody should do the math on just how many sales Microsoft is losing.

Over 50% against the 360, assuming every player who ever connected a 360 to the internet buys a Xbone.

And according to cracked.com only half of those users who are connected are Xbox Gold Members so you can only imagine how many of that 50% want to be connected all the time. It basically says that the number of "dude-bros" that use xbox for CoD multiplayer is could only like 25% of all xbox owners at the most

Also, I find it funny how there are still people saying that only the people who keep up with video game news will know about the XB1's flaws. This article came from the The Navy Times and they called it "a sin against all sevice members"

 

[Rufus Shinra]

After thousands of years filled with warfare, the nations of the world finally united, as soldiers from all countries, under all flags, found a common enemy. US Army Rangers, People Liberation Army soldiers, Afghan insurgents, Vatican's Swiss Guards, German U-Boot crews, all put their quarrels aside and said in a single voice "no", before marching on Redmond.

UN said shortly after "screw that shit, united world, here we come", leading to the Nobel Peace Prize to be given posthumously to the Microsoft board of directors that year.

 

[Jaeger_CDN]

Not to worry, Microsoft is doing it's best to alienate everyone other than fanboys, rich people with more money then sense, microsoft employees and clueless parent/grand parents wanting to ingratiate themselves to little timmy/tammy

This has been their business plan since the release of Windows 8 and other Ballmer lead initiatives which have pretty much tanked. I'm hoping that there is a shareholder revolt around Christmas time.

 

[PoolCleaningRobot]

I'm sure once a day, the submarines can surface and use satelite uplink to let the world know of their location... I mean phone home. Where's the problem?

I'm having one of those "not sure if sarcasm" moments...

 

[mrpollio]

I am active duty Coast Guard and have spent six months each of the last five years underway and nowhere near an unofficial Internet connection. I'll tell you right now even the smallest cutters (coast guard ships 65' or greater) go out for at least a week at a time.

There will be no Xbones in crew lounges fleet wide.

 

[RJ 17]

"No, seriously guys! We're gonna sell 400 Million of these things! It's gonna be frickin' sweet! Unless you don't have a connection, in which case you can go fuck yourself. And no, that statement in will in no way cut into our 400 Million estimated sales figure...nor will the fact that it'll only be available in 21 countries...nor will the fact that the Kinect 2 is shaping up to be an even bigger liability than the original Kinect was...nor will the fact that the president of our entertainment division keeps insulting our target market and out-right tells said market that we don't want their business."

 

[The Rogue Wolf]

How many more ways is Microsoft going to find to say "We don't want your business."?

Microsoft apparently now believes they have evolved past catering to the console market; the console market will now cater to them. Just because they more or less managed that trick with Windows doesn't mean the XBox One will be their next victory.

 

[Seracen]

"I don't have additional details to share and can't speculate on workarounds at this time," said Xbox rep Danica Stickel.

Here's two:

1) Stop being such jerks, if you can recant it after the hardware goes Legacy, you can do it now

2) Don't bother, b/c someone will jailbreak it faster than the iPhone, rendering the subject moot