Home Gaming The next Xbox’s “always on” is optional

The next Xbox’s “always on” is optional

2 min read
32

elephant

According to numerous rumours, you’re going to need to be connected to the internet just to use the next generation Xbox from Microsoft. This would be stupid, and nobody should have to “deal with it.” New sources say that you won’t have to.

According to VGLeaks, who were largely on the nose about the PlayStation 4’s innards before that console’s reveal, sources now say that while the next-generation Xbox will indeed be perpetually connected to the internet, you won’t need to be connected to run games, or play local, offline games. the same sources also say that contrary to earlier supposition, the Xbox won’t block used games either.

“Durango itself will also always be online like any other device (correct with rumors), but it will not be a requirement to play local content and it will not prevent playing used games,” says the site.”

That would make it very much like the current Xbox, which becomes a much more full-featured device when its hooked up to the internet, but doesn’t explicitly require a connection.

More interestingly, they say that Durango will feature full backwards compatibility with current Xbox 360 games; a feature afforded by a new external device capable of functioning on its own, dubbed the Xbox Mini.

The Xbox Mini, they say, will function much like an Apple TV or Roku set-top unit for your TV, and will be compatible with Xbox 360 and Xbox Live Arcade titles, but will not have a disc drive. Plug it in to your shiny new Durango though, and it will give you access to your current library through the new console’s disc drive.

“The “Xbox Mini” is not a 360 add-on, it is a stand alone product that contains Xbox 360 functions for gaming, and alone it is meant to compete with Apple TV. Since it is likely it will not have a disc drive, it is being designed with “always online” in mind, and with internet being required for Live functions.

Xbox 360 Games can be played on it by purchasing Games on Demand on Xbox Live (for new purchases) or if already purchased, simply download it. This also applies to music and movies. To further clarify, the Durango will also have these (TV) functions, just with next-generation gaming hardware instead of Xbox 360 at a higher price.”

That sounds like a far, far more sensible, if somewhat costly approach. would you be more interested in the next Xbox if it turns out that the internet connection is quite as mandatory as previously believed?

Last Updated: April 11, 2013

32 Comments

  1. Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim

    April 11, 2013 at 09:06

    Pretty much, yes. but it’s a small, cheap, standalone 360.
    I dig set-top boxes, so I’m turning on to the idea.

    Reply

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      April 11, 2013 at 11:45

      Has Microsoft ever made optional proprietary devices that are cheap? This smells like that HD-DVD addon shenanigans.

      Reply

      • FoxOneZA - The Chosen One

        April 11, 2013 at 11:51

        The latest add-on drives and controllers are far cheaper when they first launch but KInect stands above as the king of the expensive price pile :/

        Reply

        • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

          April 11, 2013 at 12:07

          LOL, You know the first thing I thought when I heard about the xbox mini rumour is the SEGA megadrive’s CD addon.

          Reply

  2. Khulani Ndlovu

    April 11, 2013 at 09:09

    I would definitely be interested in buying the Xbox, these past rumours of ‘always online’ had killed my anticipation for the 720 aka Durango, 😉

    Reply

    • Carl Angus

      April 11, 2013 at 09:33

      My thoughts exactly.

      I do however wonder if Microsoft deliberately leaked those rumours to see if people would still stick with the brand with the “Always On” requirement, geekdom shouted out in unison: “Hell-No!” and now Microsoft is back-tracking and doing damage control.

      Reply

      • Khulani Ndlovu

        April 11, 2013 at 11:05

        Oh now i get it Microsoft rumored this ‘Always On’ as some kind of survey just to see how people are going to react if they would introduce a console with a new tech to fight piracy, wow! i really didn’t see that, so now there are doing damage control by adding to no requirement if we playing local content and moreover back-tracking of which the new PS4 would not support, damn there are really trying, 😉

        Reply

  3. TechniKyle

    April 11, 2013 at 09:09

    I will still test the waters of next gen with the PS4, but I really like what I just read. 🙂

    Reply

  4. Tidycpc

    April 11, 2013 at 09:18

    I am a huge xbox fan. But i want to see games and exclusives on my console. If i dont see any awesome games i might just go the PS4 route…

    Reply

  5. Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

    April 11, 2013 at 09:18

    Would be a much wiser move strategically if this is true. Much wider audience to sell to.

    Reply

  6. McDangerousZa

    April 11, 2013 at 09:29

    Backwards compatibility would be a massive selling point for them in terms of both new and veteran users, as that’s usually what stops people from buying new generation consoles within the first couple of years, the fact that you have a limited selection of games that are usually ridiculously priced.

    In the end though it’s going to come down to price. For the new, casual console buyer (which is a big chunk of the early adopters) it all comes down to price.

    Reply

  7. Leon-Ben Lamprecht

    April 11, 2013 at 09:36

    This sounds way, waaaayyyy better. Still: I love my 360 (especially the controller), but in the end, price will be the main factor.

    Also: I just want to mention this again – I don’t want next gen per se, I just want good games. Even if they are on the current gen.

    Reply

  8. TriangularRoom

    April 11, 2013 at 09:36

    I think Penny Arcade summed up the always on question rather well: http://penny-arcade.com/comic/2013/04/08

    Reply

  9. Rincethis: Spellalicious

    April 11, 2013 at 09:38

    YES. I would indeed. And also what @twitter-37642828:disqus said, and more importantly, the preposition killer @OddSockZA:disqus “to just to use” trololol!

    Reply

  10. Deano

    April 11, 2013 at 09:43

    *Rubs hands together* now this sounds good! now just to wait to hear about what exclusives they got.

    I can hear sony shaking in their blu ray boots.

    Reply

  11. Anon A Mouse

    April 11, 2013 at 09:59

    Still no. I’ve got Playstation in my DNA. That being said i don’t even see myself buy as PS4 in the next 3 – 5 years, if ever.

    Reply

  12. GrammarDouch

    April 11, 2013 at 10:17

    “one the nose” mayhaps you mean “on the nose” tsk tsk

    Reply

  13. Lord Chaos

    April 11, 2013 at 10:47

    Also, Smartglass is officially out for the bigger Android devices. Like the note 10.1.

    Not that it has a use on any device yet…

    Reply

  14. Gavin Mannion

    April 11, 2013 at 11:00

    Now all of that sounds way better than previous rumours… but this is just debunking rumours and not really promising anything good

    Reply

    • FoxOneZA - The Chosen One

      April 11, 2013 at 11:53

      Rumors are rumors, like myths and dragons.

      Reply

  15. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    April 11, 2013 at 11:44

    No thank you Microsoft, I don’t feel like paying a subscription fee for what amounts to a satellite top box (or a weak imitation of Google TV), with the vast majority of features gimped (because I live in Africa). From what I’ve read so far, it seems they’re going full-retard on the auxiliary features. What’s even more worrying for a gamer, clearly on the periphery, is that much like with current Xbox Live Gold, the NextKinectBox will cater for America first.

    In other words, my wallet says “no”.

    Reply

  16. FoxOneZA - The Chosen One

    April 11, 2013 at 11:50

    The Xbox mini is the same as me connecting my current Xbox on my TV and popping a disc in that I would already own. This rumour is rather far fetched and as for the other always-on internet thing, I think media sites are starting to grapple at straws throwing this rumour either side of the fence just to get hits, comments, page views, etc. It’s a rumor and nothing definite.

    Reply

  17. OVG

    April 11, 2013 at 12:27

    I dont give a shit. MANDATORY Kinect 2 was the nail in the coffin.

    Reply

  18. FoxOneZA - The Chosen One

    April 11, 2013 at 13:16

    Gosh that header looks amazing on my new IPS LED screen 🙂

    Reply

  19. matthurstrsa

    April 11, 2013 at 13:46

    I’m still switching to PS if I do buy a next gen console. But first, OCULUS RIFT!

    Reply

  20. Wyzak

    April 11, 2013 at 14:03

    always and optional shouldn’t go together in the same topic.

    Reply

  21. Peter William Jonathan Watson

    April 11, 2013 at 14:29

    heres an idea, if you still want to play your old x-box games….. well then just keep your current x-box! And use Durango for all the new ones, most Televisions have more than one HD port. Simple, pity internet is so expensive in S.A, as the TV functions actually sound interesting

    Reply

  22. Daryl Eksteen

    April 11, 2013 at 14:38

    “you won’t need to be connected to run games, or play local, offline games. the same sources also say that contrary to earlier supposition, the Xbox won’t block used games either” – Damn I hope that turns out to be true!

    Reply

  23. Jarrod Lane

    April 11, 2013 at 22:21

    Did MS learn nothing from the HDDVD drive?

    Reply

  24. Aussious

    April 12, 2013 at 20:06

    They going to need to do better than that even then I’m still not sold. As the saying goes fool me once…

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Check Also

Twelve Minutes Review – Stuck in a Mystery Time Loop

We’ve all experienced deja vu a few times in our lives, but what happens when you ha…