Next Xbox to require always on internet connection?

[CCS]

If there are no more physical disks, then they could save a ton on production and distribution costs. No CDs, no boxes, no shipping, not paying a graphic artist to design box art for goodness sake! With a totally electronic distribution methodology, Microsoft could save millions, and pass the savings on to us the consumer in the form of cheap new games!

They won't, though.

They already digitally sell games and they're the standards $59.99. Many have pointed out how stupid that is yet people still buy the games that way. The $60 Black Ops 2 is one of the most bought games on XBL. I guarantee that they'll NEVER lower prices.

Hell, supposedly prices these days are a lot better than what they were during the nintendo days.

[Growl]

Im a 360 guy but I will laugh hysterically at Microsoft when the PS4 destroys the new Xbox in the market provided these rumors are true. There's not a force on earth that could make me buy the new xbox if they are. It's corporate greed at it's absolute finest and purest form.

I'd assume Microsoft would try to not even release confirmation on these rumors and hope nobody notices until they haul in enough money to try and compete against the PS4 when their system is released.

At this rate, by the time I have a teenager ready to game, it will be practically impossible. These companies want to sell you less and less game for more and more money. As mentioned above, it's gonna reach a point where these games are nothing but extended rentals.

[Catalyst]

It's MUCH more difficult for people who pirate games to play when they're connected to XBL. The #1 piece of advise when dealing with modded consoles is stay off of XBL whenever possible. Now, if you're getting into JTAG/RGH territory then connecting to XBL is flat-out impossible as far as I'm aware.

I think, though, it's arrogant for MS to think that the hackers aren't going to find a way around this like they do around everything else. Eventually they find a way around everything. It's only a matter of time.

[Zaximus]

It's MUCH more difficult for people who pirate games to play when they're connected to XBL. The #1 piece of advise when dealing with modded consoles is stay off of XBL whenever possible. Now, if you're getting into JTAG/RGH territory then connecting to XBL is flat-out impossible as far as I'm aware.

I think, though, it's arrogant for MS to think that the hackers aren't going to find a way around this like they do around everything else. Eventually they find a way around everything. It's only a matter of time.

There's a way to just flash your DVD drive right now and you can game on. You just have to re-flash each patch but no biggie. Buddy of mine plays on live all the time as well as others I know. JTAG is definitely bad though, you'll get the banhammer fast.

[Brandon]

It's MUCH more difficult for people who pirate games to play when they're connected to XBL. The #1 piece of advise when dealing with modded consoles is stay off of XBL whenever possible. Now, if you're getting into JTAG/RGH territory then connecting to XBL is flat-out impossible as far as I'm aware.

I think, though, it's arrogant for MS to think that the hackers aren't going to find a way around this like they do around everything else. Eventually they find a way around everything. It's only a matter of time.

Problem is only a very small subset of users pirate games for consoles these days.

The big issue is that if the new Xbox is always on, it will inconvenience 100% of users to prevent less than 1% from pirating. That's not acceptable.

[stankowalski]

Problem is only a very small subset of users pirate games for consoles these days.

The big issue is that if the new Xbox is always on, it will inconvenience 100% of users to prevent less than 1% from pirating. That's not acceptable.

Exactly. I have NEVER pirated a game, and will never pirate a game. Even stuff that I watch online for free (such as Game of Thrones series, Walking Dead), I end up buying on DVD. I always support things I like (by buying products) because I know that people work hard on them. This is an inconvenience, and that is the point.

Everybody's internet goes down from time to time, some worse than others, like me. If you are someone working 40-50 hours a week you likely have to put aside certain times that you play. And if the internet goes out you're screwed in this scenario we're talking about.

In any case I won't be supporting any consoles with this feature. If that means I have to stop gaming then I'll find something else to do.

[SmootsDaddy89]

Guarantee you they're sticking this out so that when they change it to "one time activation" people who were expecting "always on" will be like "Oh okay, I can deal with that."

And even if the PS4 doesn't utilize this, Sony will eventually.

[Porn Shop Clerk]

lol consoles

[thatlookseasy]

MS isnt stupid guys, I suspect this change will have virtually no effect on most users.

First of all, it will have built in wifi, and connecting the internet will be completely free (probably still have to pay for live).

Second, the price of games is going to drop over time, just like it does now. These developers arent stupid, they know that some people wont buy until the price reaches $30 or $40, so they will have to drop it at some point to pick up those sales. This move is just about monopolizing those lower priced sales, and is honestly a pretty smart move.

The main people who suffer would be those who buy a game at full price, play it for a few weeks, then sell it. Ideally you could offer some sort of extended rental program with an option to buy, but I doubt they have that set up from the get go

[KSpan]

Frankly, I just don't like having things dictated to me as a customer. As an end user, I gain nothing from an "always-on" system while the manufacturer gains the ability to constantly mine my data as well as control when, where, and how it can be played. If that's my only option, I won't participate - this crap is fast becoming ridiculous. What's next? Cars with an always-on network signal that can't be re-sold without purchasing a new "license" from the manufacturer? Slippery slope indeed.

[CCS]

Frankly, I just don't like having things dictated to me as a customer. As an end user, I gain nothing from an "always-on" system while the manufacturer gains the ability to constantly mine my data as well as control when, where, and how it can be played. If that's my only option, I won't participate - this crap is fast becoming ridiculous. What's next? Cars with an always-on network signal that can't be re-sold without purchasing a new "license" from the manufacturer? Slippery slope indeed.

Some car companies already do something like that.

[Inimicus]

Id bet good money that most of the folk pissing and moaning over always on play right now with their console always connected to the iterwebz and that in the end they will buy the next xbox just like they bought the last one. Sure some people wont but they are going to be a very tiny minority.

[thatlookseasy]

Having things dictated to you as the consumer is pretty much the definition of console gaming. The xbox and ps3 were impressive pieces of technology when they came out, but your computer at home is probably more advanced at this point.

So really there is no reason for consoles to exist, apart from the fact that MS and Sony want more control over the game market (ie they want to dictate the way games are sold). And the reason people go along with it is that for most people, buying and using a game system is easier and more convenient than computer games. So you can bet that MS will make this new feature easy and convenient, because has a vested interest in keeping console gaming alive

[Catalyst]

There's a way to just flash your DVD drive right now and you can game on. You just have to re-flash each patch but no biggie. Buddy of mine plays on live all the time as well as others I know. JTAG is definitely bad though, you'll get the banhammer fast.

My JTAG doesn't even allow for an XBL connection. The guy who I bought it from set it up to not even allow for any connection other than between the console and a computer. I never play online anyway, though, so it hasn't bothered me. I don't see the always on thing being too big an issue for me, though, given I only usually play Madden, NCAA, and NBA 2K every year. I got the JTAG more because it was offered to me cheap and for the customization options it provides: