Possibly the biggest ongoing saga in the build up to the Xbox One’s announcement was the question of whether or not it would require an internet connection. Many had assumed that such a requirement was a given, particularly in the wake of Adam Orth’s comments.
However, speaking to Wired after today’s announcement, Microsoft have confirmed that there’s no system level requirement to be connected when playing a single-player game. Obviously if you’re playing multiplayer then you’ll need to connect, but if you’re happy to play by yourself then the Xbox itself won’t force you to log on.
It’s not quite that simple though, as individual games can force a connection. Microsoft spoke about their Azure cloud service during the reveal, discussing the way they’re using it to back the Xbox One. Developers will also be able to utilize the power of the cloud platform if they should so wish, offloading processing to remote servers.
When games do chose to use the cloud service, then a connection would be required, even if you’re just playing through the campaign. While not every game will use Azure, Xbox executive Marc Whitten has said he hopes that developers will utilize the extra power that the platform gives them.
As for the rumours of a Kinect requirement for the new console, these have proved to be true. Xbox’s UK marketing director Harvey Eagle told IGN that “Kinect does require to be connected to Xbox One in all cases, yes.”
While this is troubling for several reasons, largely privacy based, it does seem that some of the technical limitations of the original Kinect have been overcome. While at present Kinect requires a pretty large area to work in, Eagle also told IGN that “the Xbox One will deliver the same quality of experience whatever the environment.”
Given Kinect is a requirement for the Xbox One to work it seems safe to assume that Microsoft have made improvements to their motion sensing camera, allowing it to work in a much wider variety of spaces.
Dlaf42
The Kinect news is not good for me as I had a lot of trouble with it recognizing my broad Geordie accent…god help me trying to shout at it trying to work the thing.
cam the man
The the official answer is no connection needed, but you can only play certain games when connected. That’s sorted that out…………… I don’t think.
Tuffcub
Incorrect headline: DOES require internet connection to register the game first, then you can play offline.
leeroye
So they have just lost the sales of anyone who does not have internet at home then. Idiots.
Kennykazey
To be honest, those people aren’t part of their target audience anyway.
But I wonder how this Azure-nonsense will work with a slow connection like, say, mine.
a inferior race
This frankly silly decision has made my mind up about buying an X1
cam the man
My router died just before the last bank holiday and it took over a week for my broadband company to send a replacement. No online so I’ll get a new game to pass the time. With the xbox OneSN (stupid name) I couldn’t do that. Cheers MS
gazzagb
1-time online connection on install isn’t so bad I suppose, but is there any official confirmation for the usage of pre-owned games?
plutoniumdragon
I’m still to be convinced by the Jaguar core, 8* a low end CPU is still not a great deal of processing power and there is only so much that can be off-loaded to the GPU. I suspect that the Azure server option may become more necessity than option for some apps….
cam the man
According to TheGameEffect the X1 uses the AMD Radeon HD 7790 while the PS4 uses 7970. Not sure if/what MS has added to the GPU but Sony (among other improvements) has increased the sources of compute commands from 2 to 64, made possible by using GDDR5.
Looks like the X1 will need those servers.
damoxuk
Can’t see that the 7970 costs over £350 alone.
Maybe the 7870 or more likely just same as MS 7790.
KeRaSh
They aren’t buying off the shelf graphics cards like a normal customer. They are utilizing the architecture of said graphics card on the chips that are built into the PS4s and they buy millions of them, so it’s very possible.
Kennykazey
I think it’ll do the job. They’ve been working on these systems for a long time so I’m sure it’s been well considered. Gotta remember price, heat and power drainage are key factors in developing a console too.
leeroye
You have to pay a fee to unlock the game
leeroye
So if the kinnect sensor is required, what happens if it breaks, the console is useless?
DarthSharkey
I traded my Kinect in when I seen that stupid Star Wars dance video, I was excited about Kinect at launch because I went to an Xbox seminar and training day before release as part of my work. then I was disappointed to say the least with the games that were available for it over the course of its first year.
On another note;
I just read that the whole live TV aspect of today’s reveal including trending will not be available at launch outside the states!
Lewis
I do not require Kinect, or Xbox One .
flatspikes
Wow, it’s like they indirectly brought everyone’s fears to life. A connection IS required, if you had no Internet access this new box would be useless, not for 2nd world markets then.
ISSUES:
Per-owned
Lending games
Homes with multiple accounts on one machine
Hopefully PS4 will steer clear of this entirely.