Whilst Microsoft’s official press site states that the Xbox “does not have to be always connected” it has emerged this evening that a daily connection is required.
“We’re designing Xbox One to be your all-in-one entertainment system that is connected to the cloud and always ready,” claims Microsoft.
“We are also designing it so you can play games and watch Blu-ray movies and live TV if you lose your connection,” continues the press release.
Kotaku grabbed Microsoft’s Phil Harrison to explain.
“For single-player games that don’t require connectivity to Xbox Live, you should be able to play those without interruption should your Internet connection go down,” said Harrison.
“If I’m playing a single player game,” asks the site’s Stephen Totilo, “do I have to be online at least once per hour or something like that? Or can I go weeks and weeks?”
“I believe it’s 24 hours,” came the reply.
That – to us – means that unless your Xbox One can make at least one connection to the internet each day, it won’t be able to play games at all.
Whilst that might not be that stringent a check, imagine you’re not able to connect up your console at all. University halls, holidays, when you’re moving house and don’t have the internet, etc.
ron_mcphatty
I have a feeling that the console will be doing more downloading of adverts than piracy checking during those few seconds its on every day.
On another subject, why the hell are they publicising the console with such a dull shade of green? It’s too morose, no vivid appeal or eye catchingness. It’s easy to criticise, but they’re coming across as having made one cock up after another at the moment.
eye8have9you3
That university halls is probably a pretty big market. It’s a shame, I had great fun playing halo 3 over the uni LAN
quinkill
Wow, so this and the choice they’ve made to crush the used game market makes my decision so easy. PS4 it is then.
Jas-n
DAMN YOU PHIL, We want our Duck tech demo’s back!
cam the man
It’s always on in all but name.
The more I hear about X1 the more reasons there are not to buy one.
parryman
What happens if the issue is with M$?
their servers go down, X1 can’t link, bricks your £500 toy.
I can see DDOS attacks just to prove a point.
blast71
I’m out!
TheShepanator
Is this the same Phil Harrison that used to work for SCEE?
Broonba
I thought that TSA frowned upon people using MS or M$ instead of Microsoft…………just saying :P