Destiny requires constant internet connection to play

Bungie’s new persistent-world shooter Destiny will require you to be constantly connected to the internet to play the game, the Halo studio has confirmed. But Activision CEO Eric Hirschberg and Bungie president Harold Ryan are both adamant a slow connection speed (such as we’re used to in the backwards old UK) won’t affect the quality of the game, pointing out their respective experience in handling huge online communities for Call of Duty and Halo.

[GalacticEmpire]

The downside to having an online only game on Xbox is that only the gold paying gamers get to play at all, which means not as many people playing as opposed to a game you can play offline too.

[cl1983]

Being connected to the internet and using gold are two different things.

[GalacticEmpire]

obviously.

Are you saying MS will let you play Destiny online for free?

[Gazondaily]

@Galactic

We don't know. Maybe, maybe not.

[cl1983]

I'm saying being connected to online and playing multiplayer on line is different.

[WrAiTh Sp3cTr3]

Yeah, I'm thinking it's their way to combat piracy than anything else.

[blitz0623]

I didn't know Blizzard made this game!

[Oh_Yeah]

"Being connected to the internet and using gold are two different things." No not to Microsoft, if so then explain why you must pay your Internet service provider a monthly fee then on top of that pay to play multilayer.

[NaiNaiNai]

That's funny I can be online and get messages from people without paying for gold.

Just like how I can pay for DLC or anything else on Xbox without having to actually own Gold membership.

So yea, this just requires you to be connected online, not pay for gold.

Two entirely different things.

Plebs.

[soniqstylz]

@NaiNaiNai

Except that this game offers player interaction, seemingly similar to an MMO. With the kickbacks that Activision gets from XBL, they're not going to make it available to Silver users.

[karlowma]

"Being connected to the internet and using gold are two different things"

Not on 360.

[Temporary]

The level of self-delusion is SAD by live members.

SAD.

You deserve to be scammed by microsoft.

[zeal0us]

W8 isn't Destiny a MMO? So constant connection really shouldn't be a problem unless there's some kind of Single player or splitscreen co-op mode.

[shutUpAndTakeMyMoney]

"Being connected to the internet and using gold are two different things. "

Lol look at your agrees!

Imagine paying for internet and then in order to to surf the web on your laptop you need to pay extra?? Because having internet and playing youtube videos are two different things... Lol M$ is amazing! how to they do it..

I am pretty sure you guys will pay to play free to plays next gen..

If this an mmo then internet connection makes sense. I want planetside 2 though.

[GalacticEmpire]

I don't understand why people are confused by this.

DESTINY IS AN ONLINE MULTIPLAYER GAME

Even described as MMO-ish, which means in order to play online you will need a gold sub on 360. Are people denying this?

[Bimkoblerutso]

....you're going to have to pay for Gold to play. I can almost guarantee it. What, in the history of Microsoft, makes anyone think that's NOT the way this is going to go down? ANYTHING that is gameplay-related is going to require a Gold account.

I mean, you had to have Gold to access the online features in Dark Souls, a game that requires no direct interaction between participants.

[jut420]

I can't believe people actually think MS will let people play this game online without having gold subscription LOL have they ever had a game that did this?

Even if they have it wasn't a game expected to be as big as this one, so it really doesn't matter

[MikeMyers]

I don't think this game will have a single player campaign so it makes sense to be online only. Isn't Dust 514 going to have an internet requirement as well?

As for Xbox Live, Microsoft should offer free online play. Chances are they won't.

[shivvy24]

well dust 514 is a online multiplayer game so yea it needs internet connection just like every other online multiplayer games

[Simon_Brezhnev]

So does this game have single player at all? This is activision and it seems like Diablo 3 all over again. Unless this game is an mmo then of course you need always online.

[Donnieboi]

Well then i'll just get a PS4 and live without Destiny. I'm sure i'll live (whether it ever comes to PS4 in the end or not). Killzone 4, here I come!

[Root]

Well no buy from me then

My connection never stays on constantly, it always disconected or signs out so it would be pointless getting this

I don't even like the fact that the Sims City is doing it

[Trenta27]

Times are changing. Almost everyone has constant Internet now. Everyone that doesn't have it needs to upgrade or get left in the dust. =/

[Heisenburger]

"Almost everyone..."

Not even close. We live very privileged lives.

[Root]

I'm not saying I don't have it, just it's not a stable connection. I bet I'm not the only one who's connection goes go every once in a while. If connections were reliable then fair enough but they aren't.

I don't see why you can't have no online play, seriously this is why single player games are dying out.

[ZombieNinjaPanda]

"Almost everyone"

Yeah, no. A large portion of the world does not have internet, or an internet connection that can sustain something like this.

[Conzul]

Yeah, and some few of us even avoid games like that on Principle.

[violents]

@trenta27

I agree with you on this one even tho your getting a lot of disagrees. In this day and age you should be able to lock down a reliable internet connection, and if you live in an area that doesnt have internet or has very old infastructure and have very poor internet than online video gaming just isnt for you bud, sorry.

You want to keep up with the times than you have to update your tech.

[AngelicIceDiamond]

That's one of the problems. If you don't have an always on internet connection then that spells no play for some consumers. Even if you sign into the game play single player. You'll still need to be hooked up to the internet no matter what.

You mention you have unreliable internet and drops out. That could be horrible if you buy armor, upgrades, guns, Microtransactions (if supported) because all that could be lost if you disconnect pre-maturely. I hope Bungie doesn't track your saves with the always on connections.

EDIT: What I mean't was Track your saves through Online connection only. Instead of you own hardrive saves other than personal profiles.

[guitarded77]

@ Root

If it's your actual signal to modem going in and out, contact your ISP, and have them come out and check your lines. I had a similar problem, and had them come out repeatedly until they finally got the smart guy to come out and fix it. I would call and they'd say everything was fine on their end, so I told them to get out to my home and figure out what the problem is. A couple modems later, they found out it was a connection problem at the box outside. Keep bugging them until they fix it... we pay too much for the internet to not be working. I had it go down when I had to stream classes and send assignments, and even during work/business meetings. I chewed their ass high and low because they cost me time and money. It is their job to provide a service with as little interference as possible. Unless you are on an apartment community internet, you should have limited problems. Good luck.

[Root]

It's a good router and it's been checked however it's just one of those things. It goes off like it says "disconected from XBL" then you can quickly connect it again and it works

It's not like I have a crap router where it lags and never comes on so it's not really the routers fault just the tec really....it's not reliable enough yet. I don't want my game going off after I've done something important and I loose everything.

I mean there is my brother aswell and his computer, then my parents, then my console and his console so theres 4 connections overall battling out for one another.

It's just one of those things really but still they should know that not everyone has a stable connection which is flawless.

[fluffydelusions]

I'm not bothered by this. Always online anyway so whatever.

[BX81]

Except when live goes down and when this game's servers have problems. Then it becomes a problem!

[nugnugs]

As long as your ok then, thats what matters eh.

[whoyouwit04]

this is a mmo like game so no surprise there but to be honest I here people say this is a halo killer but when I found out that it was a mmo that turned me off there.

[NastyLeftHook0]

thats awful

[fluffydelusions]

Why is that? Name me an MMO you can play offline.

[GribbleGrunger]

lol ... the clue is in the 'O'.

I suppose it could mean Multi-Media Orbis!

[rdgneoz3]

That's the thing, its not an MMO its "quasi-MMO"...

"to shift between competitive multiplayer, co-op and solo play at will."

Its not just a multiplayer game, it has a single player component to it as well. And there are people out there that play single player games that don't have great connections.

[Summons75]

Okay? So does wow, ff11, guild wars, and every other mmo in the world. Next you'll say it's breaking news that water is wet then proceed to cry.

[AngelicIceDiamond]

That's a very bold move. I guess that does confirm the game I'll be real-time and super interactive. Bungie said Destiny is a "Shared World".

That's cool in all but I want my own space, being around that many people all the time will start to annoy me after a while.

[modesign]

no problem for ps3/orbis users

[Jek_Porkins]

This alone is the reason Destiny wont set the gaming world on fire, I can see the first game selling 3-5 million copies, but a lot of people wont/cant play the games online.

Look at the Halo games as an example, they usually sell 8-10 million copies, but you'll only see 500k-1 million online, which means a large portion of people who buy the game only play the campaign.

This is a bad move in my opinion, doesn't stop me from getting the game, but I'd have actually liked to see a release date, gameplay and a little more information.

[ichimaru]

These are the same people who don't want to play eve, , or guild wars because they require an online connection. Bungie is out to trick customers out of a few dollars by requiring a connection, it's seeking an audience that is looking to play an mmo-esque game. thats why they are telling us now, probably a year before launch, that it will require an internet connection. imagine how weird dark souls would be without online connection (hints, coop, random attacks). it would still be playable but not the same

[Rask]

That's unfortunate.

[XboxInnovation]

Always online is an MS scam to get u to buy a subscription. That Hirschberg guy says the game won't have a subscription but fails to state Xbox live is a subscription and u need to have it to play. Remember like with cod, Activision gets a percentage from MS for live users, same will apply here so buying Xbox live subscriptions is just as important to them as a stand alone game subscription.

Always online is to not make the experience or game better its to get more money out of gamers

[ichimaru]

-_- or it's, a you know, required aspect of an mmo. not to mention Microsoft has no creative integral hand in this game. Bungie is free now

[R_aVe_N]

I really don't think this will be much of an issue unless you are a 360 gamer that does not have a gold account like myself. Luckly for me I have options to play via PC or PS3. That is the advantage of having all systems and a solid gaming PC.

[ichimaru]

not to troll but the game hasn't been announced for the PC yet :( even when boldly asked of a pc release

[Lionalliance]

well off course, it's a MMO FPS

[MoveTheGlow]

That's not all that's going on here:

http://www.rockpapershotgun...

Bungie's response to a PC version being "No one plays with a keyboard and mouse" ignores the controller-on-a-PC thing, which to me says they're part of a major moneyhat initiative to keep console games off the PC. Makes sense, because these console guys are about to deal with a legion of incensed hardcore gamers over the used games lockout - if companies just say "Well, you can't play any of those games on PC, because BS reasons," gamers won't have a choice when it comes to those games. It's all about copy protection and rights management, as is the move to *make* this always-online.

Expect to see a ton of massively-online games from the big guys soon; it'll be a reason for a new range of gamers to get used to always-on DRM, before it's just the norm.

[sourav93]

"slow connection speed (such as we’re used to in the backwards old UK)"
Slow broadband speeds in the UK? I get a 60 Mbps connection. The country average, as of Nov 2012, is 12.7 Mbps. To stream OnLive games, a 2 Mbps connection is the minimum required and 10 Mbps would get you the best quality. Netflix requires a minimum of 5 Mbps for Super HD (1080p) streaming (5 Mbps is good enough for nomal HD streaming), with a recommended 7 Mbps for smooth Super HD streaming, and a recommended 12 Mbps for 3D streaming.

My point is, the UK, or any country who has similar average broadband speeds, need not worry about their connection being inadequate for any sort of media requiring an internet connection (unless, of course, you're part of the lower end of the spectrum i.e. much lower than the mean).

[Funky Town_TX]

What is the game about?

[ichimaru]

MMO-esque fps with a "living universe" that continues wether or not you are logged in. inter planetary travel and prosumably space battles, magic confirmed, expansion already in the works to keep the legth of the destiny universe continuing for a hopeful 10 yr mark. how they will reach that goal, I am curious but optimistic. also the story is : planet earth after a thriving golden age of colonizing pace is crushed and nearly wiped out in a combined effort by aliens from neighboring planets (mars,saturn, ect) bought to the brink of extinxion a giant white globe called the traveller saved us and lies in low above the planet protecting us. it gives power to gaurdians whom you play as to take the planet back

[biRdy]

Well if its true about Destiny being an mmo, then no shit you'll have to stay connected online.

[shivvy24]

i just recently got excellent connection , and i live in Australia in the city side :/

[trenso1]

no sale from me, my internet is usually on but hiccups sometimes wont waste my time worrying about that then. i wonder how this will affect people of xbox though

[ichimaru]

we will log on and play...

[trenso1]

im talking about those with out gold since silvers cant play online

[Eldyraen]

The simple fact its said to be a social game with a shared world means no matter if it is MMO by conventional meaning than it is only natural to require constant internet access. MMOs have done it for years and have been successful even before the internet was as widespread, fast, or stable as today's. However it might have a smaller player base because of it--but that's not taking into consideration that a huge number of gamers have internet anyways (just look at CoD... 20m+ gamers don't buy it for the campaign alone). If Destiny turns out good the simple fact its going multi-platform will likely end up making it outsell Halo though.

To be honest, we didn't really get all that much solid info on what to expect as most of it just confirmed rumors and leaks and built on what they've already said. I like what I'm hearing though and the game itself sounds ambitious. Hopefully there will be a larger reveal at GDC or E3 that actually lets us know what type of game it is and why the connection is actually required.

Personally I'm expecting it to play something like Planetside (huge 'worlds'/regions you can choose to go to--possibly persistent world where you need to wrestle control over and over), Guild Wars (most of the game takes place in 'smaller' shards with a more reasonable player count than traditional MMOs--although multiple shards are becoming the norm anyways) with a bit of SWTOR story approach. I doubt its even close to being exact but it 'sounds' reasonable to me and would fit in well with what we know about the game so far.

[Kevlar009]

If the 720 can come with a built-in wireless adapter then it will be alright, but if we are forced to pay $50-$100 for a piece if plastic then it will suck (I use my laptop for a wireless adapter, which I admit isn't the most stable/fast)

[SDF Repellent]

Where have you been? The built in wireless was already adopted in the x360 slim model.

[Qrphe]

>DRM

DROPPED

Naw, let's see how it looks until release and after.

[taijutsu363]

I have Comcast and it has shit internet connection goes off at random CRUCIAL times!

[profgerbik]

That is why I require myself not to purchase Xbox Live anymore and haven't looked back since. Good riddance.

[MYSTERIO360]

Im glad this game is coming to the PS3 don't want to be paying for gold just to be able to continue my play through of this large expansive game.

[Demobot]

And this is why I quit gaming. Fangirls just plain ruin it.

[Psychotica]

Just curious, if you quit gaming why would you be on a gaming website?

[Demobot]

Just like to stay informed.