Microsoft Does a 180 on Internet Connection Requirement for Xbox One
In a major win for console gamers, Microsoft recently announced that their upcoming gaming console, the Xbox One will not require an internet connection periodically (every 24 hours) in order to work, as had been stated before.
They didn’t stop there, Microsoft’s draconian used games restriction policy according to which users couldn’t swap, lend or sell games has also been reportedly backtracked as gamers and critics were rather unhappy with it.
(Luke Hayfield / Flickr / CC-BY-SA)
It sure looks like that the guys in Redmond are sitting up and taking notice of what their consumers are asking for, good for them, and us.
Where did all this start?
Well, according to this page, an Xbox One console could be played in offline mode for no more than 24 hours at a stretch on a console which a user owned and 1 hour if he/she was logged on with another one, after that, an internet connection will be required in order to go on playing. “Offline gaming is not possible after these prescribed times until you re-establish a connection, but you can still watch live TV and enjoy Blu-ray and DVD movies,” says the page.
However all that has reportedly been changed after Don Mattrick, the man behind Xbox set the record straight - "An Internet connection will not be required to play offline Xbox One games. After a one-time system set-up with a new Xbox One, you can play any disc-based game without ever connecting online again. There is no 24-hour connection requirement and you can take your Xbox One anywhere you want and play your games, just like on Xbox 360.”
Why a perpetual internet connection was required in the first place was both confusing and annoying. What about service men and women, or those who did not have a reliable connection asked gamers? Way back in May when the console was announced, the official Microsoft statement was that an internet connection was required in order to allow the users to use the cloud and also to let Xbox One verify if game and console updates were available.
This apparently lent the audience to the impression that most games for Xbox One were being designed around the cloud. Well, since now all that is history, we are left to wonder if this was just fluff to cover up Microsoft’s attempts at masking their DRM enforcement.
So when do we really need an internet connection
With all that said, there is no doubt that there will be occasions where your Xbox One will need to be connected to the internet. For instance, next-gen games which will use the cloud in order to function will require an internet connection, and of course if you are going to be playing multiplayer games, then you need to be logged online.
Additionally, just like in Xbox 360, you can purchase and download games and Blu-ray movies via Xbox Live when they are released and store them on your console or watch Live TV as well. Finally, Xbox One, like its predecessor will allow you to surf the internet using the internet explorer app.
With the kind of history that Microsoft has, we won’t be surprised if there are more such backtracks or new policies waiting for us before the console is released in November this year. Here’s a sum-up of all the changes which have taken place since Xbox One was announced:
Do these policy changes improve Microsoft’s odds against Sony’s Playstation 4? This is certainly an interesting question and one we will have to wait for an answer to. For the time being, Microsoft has leveled the playing field against Sony on all accounts save for the price (Xbox One is still about $100 more expensive than Playstation 4). Which one of these two beasts will you prefer to go with?
They didn’t stop there, Microsoft’s draconian used games restriction policy according to which users couldn’t swap, lend or sell games has also been reportedly backtracked as gamers and critics were rather unhappy with it.
(Luke Hayfield / Flickr / CC-BY-SA)
It sure looks like that the guys in Redmond are sitting up and taking notice of what their consumers are asking for, good for them, and us.
Where did all this start?
Well, according to this page, an Xbox One console could be played in offline mode for no more than 24 hours at a stretch on a console which a user owned and 1 hour if he/she was logged on with another one, after that, an internet connection will be required in order to go on playing. “Offline gaming is not possible after these prescribed times until you re-establish a connection, but you can still watch live TV and enjoy Blu-ray and DVD movies,” says the page.
However all that has reportedly been changed after Don Mattrick, the man behind Xbox set the record straight - "An Internet connection will not be required to play offline Xbox One games. After a one-time system set-up with a new Xbox One, you can play any disc-based game without ever connecting online again. There is no 24-hour connection requirement and you can take your Xbox One anywhere you want and play your games, just like on Xbox 360.”
Why a perpetual internet connection was required in the first place was both confusing and annoying. What about service men and women, or those who did not have a reliable connection asked gamers? Way back in May when the console was announced, the official Microsoft statement was that an internet connection was required in order to allow the users to use the cloud and also to let Xbox One verify if game and console updates were available.
This apparently lent the audience to the impression that most games for Xbox One were being designed around the cloud. Well, since now all that is history, we are left to wonder if this was just fluff to cover up Microsoft’s attempts at masking their DRM enforcement.
So when do we really need an internet connection
With all that said, there is no doubt that there will be occasions where your Xbox One will need to be connected to the internet. For instance, next-gen games which will use the cloud in order to function will require an internet connection, and of course if you are going to be playing multiplayer games, then you need to be logged online.
Additionally, just like in Xbox 360, you can purchase and download games and Blu-ray movies via Xbox Live when they are released and store them on your console or watch Live TV as well. Finally, Xbox One, like its predecessor will allow you to surf the internet using the internet explorer app.
With the kind of history that Microsoft has, we won’t be surprised if there are more such backtracks or new policies waiting for us before the console is released in November this year. Here’s a sum-up of all the changes which have taken place since Xbox One was announced:
- No need to be logged online in order to play single player games.
- The console will not check in with Microsoft every 24 hours.
- Regional locks have been discarded; you can take your Xbox anywhere you go and still play any game.
- Plans to put DRM restrictions on sharing games have been dropped as well and you may lend games to, or borrow them from whoever you want.
Do these policy changes improve Microsoft’s odds against Sony’s Playstation 4? This is certainly an interesting question and one we will have to wait for an answer to. For the time being, Microsoft has leveled the playing field against Sony on all accounts save for the price (Xbox One is still about $100 more expensive than Playstation 4). Which one of these two beasts will you prefer to go with?