Rumor: More Evidence Suggests Always-Online For Next Xbox

[Proverbial Jon]

Just one more step until this:

Great. Forced use of Kinect, unnecessarily clogging up my (probably limited) HDD with installed games and always on DRM? Sounds like even more compelling reasons to jump the Microsoft ship and stow away with the PS4.

Possibly.

I need more official confirmation damn it!

 

[The_Echo]

Always online? Well, that's gonna suck major ass for people with bad Internet connections.

Kinect required? Well, that's... I don't... why? At least it comes with the console. I guess.

Manual installs, without the option to play from the disc? So, what, are we meant to buy hard drives like we did memory cards a decade ago (only much more expensive)?

If these all wind up being true, I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Microsoft crash and burn in the games industry.

 

[Yopaz]

Considering that they are blocking consoles from accessing the internet where I live I think I see a reason not to get Microsoft's next console here.

Seeing Sim City's launch failure I am looking forward to this console. No matter how bad things get for PS4 and Wii U I don't think they will have to compete against the Xbox in the coming generation.

I guess we'll see when it comes out though. For all I know it might succeed and it might not even use always on DRM. I am waiting for the official announcement before I start bashing them.

 

[Domogo]

You all are reading DRM I am reading Not enough hard drive space.

Lets think about this: 1.this console is going to last 8 damn years 2.Games take a shit ton of space and they keep going up 3. A lot of games come out in 8 years. I think you all can see where I am going with this.

I predict a future where the xbox uses more memory then a java program and costs more to upgrade then any memory system ever made.

I am not happy that I will have to uninstall good games to play new ones and then have to wait for a new intalation (and possible data deletion) to play the game again later.

 

[Tumedus]

The funny thing is I am pretty tolerant of always online when it comes to games. I didn't get particularly upset at D3 because I understood it, even if I didn't completely agree with it. And, as much as I don't believe its acceptable, I find it hard to get overly upset at day 1 network issues, having played MMOs for the better part of a decade. Especially when they really are limited to day 1 as was the case with D3 (disappointing game for other reasons). Not excusing Sim City, though, because I didn't find anything advantageous about their always online and their problems persisted far more than D3's did.

HOWEVER, a console is not a video game. I buy the game with the understanding that it is always online and that, at times, it may be unavailable. During those times, if I really want to be playing games, I can always choose a different title in my collection without always online. This system seems to make that impossible.

If I cannot use the system at all during an internet outage or server issue that will prompt me to buy a different system, simple as that.

 

[Proverbial Jon]

You all are reading DRM I am reading Not enough hard drive space.

Lets think about this: 1.this console is going to last 8 damn years 2.Games take a shit ton of space and they keep going up 3. A lot of games come out in 8 years. I think you all can see where I am going with this.

I predict a future where the xbox uses more memory then a java program and cost more to upgrade then any other memory system ever made.

I am not happy that I will have to uninstall good games to play new ones and then have to wait for a new intalation (and possible data deletion) to play the game again later.

This.

I remember filling up my 128GB HDD with DLC and all manner of miscellaneous paraphernalia on the Xbox 360 and having to pay the extortionate prices for a bigger HDD, so I know exactly where Microsoft are going with this one. They'll sell the basic console with a stupidly small HDD and then have a range of additional ones you can "upgrade" to.

I have a bit of OCD where memory and storage space is concerned; I don't like to use it to its full capacity because I worry about imminent loss of usable space.

The reason I have a console is so I can put a disc of my choosing in and play the damn game. All this install/uninstall bullshit is not working in the "Durango's" favour.

 

[havoc33]

This always online thing scares me. Does it really mean that if the internet connection is down, you won't be able to play any games? You guys can't be serious about that.

If it really is the case, then what happens when Microsoft release their next system or decide to stop supporting the network on the Durango? You're not going to be able to play your old games anymore? I have a hard time believing they'd get away with that.

 

[KeyMaster45]

Hmm, this is rather troubling to see. ... Sony! You crazy bastards! Have I got a wad of cash for you!

 

[spartandude]

im really hoping this isnt true at all and if it is then it was a pleasure doing business with microsoft but now your competitors are offering me a better deal

 

[spartandude]

This always online thing scares me. Does it really mean that if the internet connection is down, you won't be able to play any games? You guys can't be serious about that.

If it really is the case, then what happens when Microsoft release their next system or decide to stop supporting the network on the Durango? You're not going to be able to play your old games anymore? I have a hard time believing they'd get away with that.

well they got away with it for the original xbox, alot of game there wont work on HD TVs/Moniiters so you can only play some of them and they alread took down all server support for the games

Always online? Well, that's gonna suck major ass for people with bad Internet connections.

Kinect required? Well, that's... I don't... why? At least it comes with the console. I guess.

Manual installs, without the option to play from the disc? So, what, are we meant to buy hard drives like we did memory cards a decade ago (only much more expensive)?

If these all wind up being true, I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Microsoft crash and burn in the games industry.

i wouldnt be so sure. i mean look at all the devs and publishers pushing this draconian policy, and now a system comes out that enforces it aswell? they will flock to it amazingly and i could easily see the xbox getting more games than its competitors. and more games will attract customers.

 

[Frostbyte666]

"The console will be ready instantly when users want to play, and will always maintain a network connection so that console software and games are always current. With this 'Always On, Always Connected' design, users will quickly and easily enjoy their connected entertainment experiences, with no waiting for the console to restart or install updates."

"All games will be installed on the hard drive. Play from the optical disc will not be supported," the document states. It also says that the Durango will allow users to begin playing the game while it is still being installed/downloaded, instead of having to wait for it to complete. According to the document, the Durango will come with a blu-ray drive and a hard drive of yet undetermined size. Since Blu-Rays can go up to 50 gb, and it requires mandatory installs, I couldn't see it being lower than 500 gb for the base model.

If the rumours are true:

Haven't they contradicted themselves with the ready instantly, but requires install. I don't care that you supposedly can play it while installing, to me that sounds like glitches could probably happen or something. Also it would more I'd be more frugal with what games I would buy since I could only get so many on the hard drive. Then there is being forced to use kinect, it wouldn't be bad for an option but forcing just rubs me the wrong way, also I don't like cameras in my room outside my control.

Yeah the more I hear about every next-gen consoles the more I'm going to be sticking with the pc and my current consoles.

Edit: Forgot to mention the always online, that just sounds stupid. I have consoles for times I just want to sit back on a sofa, relax, put in a disc and play the game, not having to worry about any kind of online connectivity like I would with pc (activations, steam etc.)

 

[Ironside]

If this is true I would like to be the first to congratulate Sony on their victory in the next console war.

If it really is the case, then what happens when Microsoft release their next system or decide to stop supporting the network on the Durango? You're not going to be able to play your old games anymore? I have a hard time believing they'd get away with that.

Why would you have a hard time believing they'd get away with that? Exactly the same thing would happen to any of the numerous 'always online' games on the PC if the company owning the game suddenly decides to shut the servers down - its one of the major reasons why i wish people would stop buying things which include always online drm.

 

[Costia]

From the way it is worded and the context i would assume they are talking about the ability to be always connected - as a
feature that is presented to the developers.
I don't think MS will force developers to use an always online DRM. Not because its anti-consumer but because such DRM requires time and money to develop/integrate into a game, and not all studios would want to invest the required resources for that.
What bothers me a lot more is the required always on Kinect. I would prefer a mandatory always online DRM over that.

 

[havoc33]

If this is true I would like to be the first to congratulate Sony on their victory in the next console war.

If it really is the case, then what happens when Microsoft release their next system or decide to stop supporting the network on the Durango? You're not going to be able to play your old games anymore? I have a hard time believing they'd get away with that.

Why would you have a hard time believing they'd get away with that? Exactly the same thing would happen to any of the numerous 'always online' games on the PC if the company owning the game suddenly decides to shut the servers down - its one of the major reasons why i wish people would stop buying things which include always online drm.

If this really is the case, then at least they are forced to support their old platform for a loooong time, otherwise it would not be legal for them to sell any consoles towards the end of its cycle.

Either way, all this is very concerning. I'm proud of my gaming collection, and I love to fire up an old system now and then for some proper retro gaming. Needless to say, I'm not keen on buying loads of games for a system that might not be playable in 10-12 years time.

 

[Talaris]

Every game must be installed off the disc...well unless they have an disc drive the super fast reading and data transfer speeds, and a hard drive of at least 1TB I don't think this system will work. 50GB per disc can take a very long time to read and write, and the claims that users won't have to wait for installs is BS as obviously I would have to install every game! It's gonna take a longer time to play a game upon purchase, and a drop in internet connection will most likely mess up the installation process too.

Technology seems like it's going backwards here if these rumors are true. If the PS4 is less restrictive then I'll definitely be swapping from Microsoft to Sony.

 

[martyrdrebel27]

i have no insider knowledge of anything anywhere, but i can PROMISE you this: this is a bunch of fox news-esque bulshit fear mongering. there's just no fucking way they would even consider these ideas longer than a few milliseconds, so seriously, move along, nothing to see here.

 

[Lieju]

This has to be fake.

Or badly worded or I'm just misunderstanding.
Having Kinect be a part of it I can understand, but requiring it? You need to have options.
I'm not going to get this console. My flat is tiny. Unless this new kinect can be used sitting down near it, with small gestures and not directly in front of it, I'm not going to be able to use it.