220°

Can Always Online Benefit Microsoft? Why Yes It Can

4Player-"With the recent rumblings about how the next generation console from Microsoft will always require an internet connection, there has been increasing public outcry. We’ve seen it in leaked developer specs, we’ve seen Microsoft “employees” talk about it, and with every whisper and rumor it becomes closer to becoming a reality. But how can this possibly be good for Microsoft when the only thing their biggest competitor needs to do is not suck?"

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4playernetwork.com
dvewlsh4054d ago

I do think that you are right that it is them trying to make publishers happy, but at the end of the day it is about making the consumer happy, not the publisher.

Do I think that if this came true gamers would suck it up and deal with it anyway? Yes.

Do I also think that it could hurt sales? Absolutely.

darthv724054d ago (Edited 4054d ago )

to say that they will leave the online key checking to the publisher/developers of the games. That may make it look like sony is the "good guy" by not enforcing the always online approach but it doesnt absolve them either.

Right now, speculation about MS and their always online is outpacing the majority of PS4 news and sony is obviously aware of this. Why else would they join the fray on the topic in the first place? they could just as easily stayed out but instead, they reiterated that it will be game companies that will/wont enforce that option.

So Ms hasnt confirmed/denied anything other than they dont comment on rumors and people still think its the gospel that its happening. For all we know, it will still come down to the individual game companies to enforce this.

No one is willing to listen to reason because there is no reason to listen. They have made up their minds and when the official word finally comes forward it will be like wizard of oz. someone in the audience will shout...Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

edit @357, this has been a topic that has likely been on the minds of many for some time not just the last couple of months. But think about it for just a moment.

You cant get any real solid info on something so you turn to a hot topic that has never been really discussed and you twist it into something useful. Something that you know the public will get worked up over. then you sell it, people buy it and it goes crazy.

Stuff like that happens in REAL news not just game news. you try and squash rumors only to have the mere involvement of squashing rumors added to the fray of the possibility the rumors are true. There is no bright light at the end of this tunnel. But you just have to drive through and come out on the other side when you feel you have reached your end.

When MS has reached their end....is when we will know.

bangshi4054d ago

Which makes you think, they really need to show the 720 sooner rather than later just so they can clear this whole thing up.

On a personal level I don't care if it was always online. On an anecdotal level observing people I know, friends, work colleagues - they wouldn't either.

Those against it - certainly in countries where the most Xbox consoles are sold - are in the minority.

The trouble is, when you're selling 10s of millions of consoles the minority isn't just a handful of people, its hundreds of thousands of people.

I think we need to wait and see if indeed they are including this before we all rage hard - and if they are including it, wait to see their reasons why.

If it is to prevent used games and piracy, I can smell the rage now. If it is to make some cool new feature work - maybe it will win some people over.

RememberThe3574054d ago

Your giving them too much credit. This is not a manufactured story. This is an issue that came up a month ago and someone from MS responded poorly to inquiries about.

Tell us all why MS would defend something that doesn't exist? Why would they let all of us hammer on them about something that never really was. The saying "any press is good press," only applies to things people don't know about. We all know MS, most of us grew up using their products. In this case bad press is bad. No one on their PR team is going, "I'm glad people are slamming the console we haven't even announced yet it's getting us exposure." No one there is that naive. They're either going to walk this back or spin it. But we've had developers confirm it and an MS employee defend it. It's real and it sucks.

kneon4054d ago

@bangshi

It's not hundreds of thousands that are affected, it's 10's of millions. Not only would it affect the 30+% of Xbox owners that do not connect their console to the internet but it will also impact all those that buy used games or rent games.

dedicatedtogamers4054d ago (Edited 4054d ago )

The more I follow the news, the more I feel it's a troll. It's just TOO perfect. It's just TOO hot. Microsoft has expertly hushed journalists and its fanbase over far worse issues (RRoD, dashboard updates, new focus on Kinect, etc).

I think Microsoft may be waiting so they can announce "hey, you can play games online or offline" and end up looking like heroes. And then everyone will turn a blind eye when Microsoft continues to charge for online play and forces you to have an XBL account to play music, watch Netflix, or download demos.

The sad thing is, I think the bar really is that low for the loyal 360 fanbase, the few that have stuck around and held out for Microsoft to focus on them again.

bangshi4054d ago

@kneon you are wrong. Just because 30% of consoles have not connected to Xbox LIVE does not mean that 30% cannot connect to the service. Plenty will have the ability to do it but are not bothered about the online features so haven't connected it.

In addition being always online does not mean no used games or game rentals. You can do one without the other.

dedicatedtogamers4054d ago

What makes this whole thing hilarious is that XBL matchmaking just went down. Worse yet, XBL Silver members can't access their save files "due to server problems".

http://support.xbox.com/en-...

Hahahah! Microsoft didn't wait for "always online". It's already here. My sides. Oh, my sides.

GenericNameHere4054d ago

Sony allowed devs to let a game be region-free if they wanted. Ever since the PS3 launched all way back from mid November 2006 to now, only 1 (read ONE) game was region-locked.

Maybe the devs will do the same and just make the games DRM-free.

thechosenone4054d ago (Edited 4054d ago )

@darthv72

they're not mandating that sh*t like MS is trying to do so they are the good guys in my eyes. and to those few publishers that dare push that sh*t on our platform we'll simply avoid their games and that'll be the end of DRM on the Sony platform.

rainslacker4054d ago

Even if they leave it up to publishers, I hope they make it mandatory that there has to be an obvious mention of it on the front of the box. SimCity didn't do this, and many people were upset because they just didn't know that they had to have the game connected to play. It was mentioned in small print on the back of the SimCity box.

If it's obvious, then I hope it kills the sales of the first big game that uses it, so we never have to deal with it again.

Tito084053d ago

Damn, the console should be called "Xbox Always Online" with all of this annoying articles pointing at that, they should give it a rest already until Microsoft unveils the console, game journalists with their stupid analogies.

+ Show (7) more repliesLast reply 4053d ago
fermcr4054d ago (Edited 4054d ago )

From now until release, every day there are going to be stupid articles trying to convince gamers that always online and no used games is the best thing that ever happened to gaming... (sponsored by Microsoft).

EDIT: I agree with darthv72.
Sony did say that online key checking is up to publisher/developers of the games. What that means is that most games on the PS4 are going to use the no used games check.

In all honesty, next gen consoles aren't looking that appealing to me. I'll wait for future developments to make up my mind.

Ezz20134054d ago (Edited 4054d ago )

if the consumer not happy
then the publisher won't be happy
simply because they get their money from the consumer

if MS or 3rd party dev's do this
nothing good will come out from this

(sony is not doing it with it own 1st/2nd part games ...but they said it's up to 3rd party studios to do it or not)
http://kotaku.com/5985874/p...
i won't buy any 3rd party game that support this

NateCole4054d ago

Yes that's what bothers me with this these sort of moves. Console manufactures and publishers getting more power over gamers. It's a very dangerous precedence for console gaming.

If these rumors are true it's more reason for me to hate MS. Anything they touch turns to shit.

First they pushed for paying to play on line. Then they pushed for paid DLC and time exclusives. If these rumors are true then we will have further barriers for gamers.

kneon4054d ago

Console manufacturers and publishers have no power over you, it's the other way around. We can survive just fine without them, by they can't survive without customers.

If you don't like what they are doing then just don't buy their products.

NateCole4054d ago

Kenon I did that and still things are going to shit.

They have no power over me but they have power over a lot of other gamers.

rainslacker4054d ago (Edited 4054d ago )

Well Nate...the last console crash came about because publishers and devs thought they could just push out whatever they wanted and people would accept it. That didn't happen obviously an the consumer became disillusioned.

It's hard to say what immediate effect it would have nowadays with gaming being much larger, but no doubt the long term ramifications would be similar.

If a majority of the core just said "screw it" then it would be very hard times ahead. Many of the best devs love making core games over casual, and not everyone wants to make indie games.

I guess my point is that there's a tipping point where the consumer just doesn't care anymore because it doesn't provide enough value for the money. Consoles should be simple, but they are quickly becoming more complicated than PC's.

GamerToons4054d ago

Can it benefit MS? Of course it can.

How the hell does it benefit gamers is what they should give a damn about because all I see is a restrictive future chocked full of DRM.

Nilemonitors134054d ago

All I know is that if this is true, and people still buy the new xbox, it'll prove that people will let anything or anyone stomp all over them, let us Ps fans enjoy our console, and let xbox people "enjoy theirs" there's only so much we can do to warn them to avoid M$ dirty business practises, in time they will realise their mistake, stubbornness cannot be cured. Let's only care for our future as gamers and support our company.

GraveLord4053d ago

Will the publishers be happy if their games flop? Because that's what will happen if Microsoft goes through with this. NO ONE will buy the next Xbox, they'll buy the PS4 instead.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 4053d ago
StrongMan4054d ago

This won't be good in ANY way. Nice try, though.

OC_MurphysLaw4054d ago

hehe...same could be said for your comments in any Xbox article.

Hicken4054d ago

Which is relevant HOW?

On topic, at first glance, it APPEARS to be beneficial to Microsoft. But given the sales they stand to lose because of this, it's GOT to be considered a a net loss. No matter what kind of revenue streams they manage to generate from the always online model, it won't be able to compensate for the lack of console sales they'll suffer.

THAT'S the biggest, most important of revenue streams, and the one devs, publishers, and console manufacturers need to be most focused on developing.

StrawHatPatriot4054d ago

lol of course it can benefit Microsoft, I mean no used games, and even more subscription based services.

kneon4054d ago

And potentially much lower console sales and heaps of negative PR. It doesn't seem like a worthwhile tradeoff.

dark_1014054d ago (Edited 4054d ago )

Well, this will help some developers for sure..
And we all know how M$ go crazy with them

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

sithsylar4054d ago

I told you there will be articles saying its a positive but please people remember diablo 3 *shudders*.

secretcode4054d ago

**** that, remember Sim City.

For the love of God, it JUST happened. How could people just write that off so suddenly.

sithsylar4054d ago

Exactly well said as well. People just write this off so easily because you know they are sheepople.

ApolloTheBoss4054d ago

I read your comment in Hank Hill's voice lol.

darthv724054d ago

how quickly did the Simcity issue get resolved? I havent played the game but it seems to be selling well and getting good reviews.

Whatever their issue was, was fixable. That doesnt mean the same situation will happen for every game from this moment forward. Some will have issues and others wont.

But the higher profile the title, the more pronounced the issues will be made out to be even if they arent really anything to get pushed out of shape over.

I was still expecting to see dozens of simcity issue threads....where did they go? did EA pay off everybody who bought a copy to keep them quiet?

secretcode4054d ago

@ApolloTheBoss

Everyone does. EVERYONE.

@darthv72

Lack of interest.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4054d ago
cyguration4054d ago

You can always count on gaming media to suck the you-know-what of console manufacturers and publishers.

They will NEVER side with the consumer or gamer, unless it's Rock Paper Shotgun or Destructoid. Everyone else is an extended marketing arm of the publisher and a media pansy.

NeoTribe4054d ago

Diablo simply had launch issues like most games. Been playing it since it released and it runs flawlessly.

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170°

More Job Losses At Xbox, “There’s More To Come”: Paul Thurrott

Paul Thurrott in a recent episode commented on the on-going Microsoft fiasco hinting at more job losses and that "there's more to come".

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spieltimes.com
Sonic18814h ago(Edited 3h ago)

There won't be no more acquiring game publishers from Microsoft in the future . Xbox has to pay Microsoft back. It might take two decades to do that.

sagapo44m ago(Edited 43m ago)

I don’t understand what you’re saying. Xbox IS microsoft so there’s no “paying back “.
And MS gross profit in 2023 was over 140 billion dollars so forget your 2 decades.

Unless you mean the money MS invested in Xbox (acquisitions included) and the time it will take for xbox as a brand to gain that money back on it’s own, then yeah, that could take a while.

SonyStyled11m ago

“There won't be no more acquiring game publishers from Microsoft in the future”

No bro, there do be is for Microsoft not acquiring for what is now if not what it be is 😂

jwillj2k43h ago

There really needs to be a class action lawsuit here. You buy these companies just to put people out of jobs. And it’s not like something happened to derail their plans this WAS the plan. Microsoft has no business in this space at all.

franwex3h ago(Edited 3h ago)

Microsoft has been doing this for years. They simply want the IPs. Look at Nokia. Look at Skype. This time it simply expanded to games. Gaming is not as important to Microsoft’s executives as it was to the founders too. Bill Gates was willing to sell the og Xbox at a loss. Steve Balmer approved the red ring of death fiasco. This CEO isn’t really a gamer.

-Foxtrot2h ago

Maybe it's time though to put a stop to it and use a big giant like Microsoft as a huge example to the rest of these big companies.

There has to be a line drawn somewhere.

People like the FTC and the like went against Microsoft yet their Actvision deal was still allowed to go through yet look what's happened...it's not even Acitivisions studios aswell, it's Bethesdas.

RNTody2h ago

Ninja Theory, Perfect Dark, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, Wolfenstein 3, Dishonored, Prey, Doom, Quake... something tells me that bad things are going to happen to these entities under Microsoft.

anast2h ago

Good thing the bosses of all those small studios made their money.

glenn19791h ago

they cant do it right now they will get burned

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90°

Microsoft Opening Xbox Mobile Game Store in July

The Xbox brand is expanding, as an Xbox mobile game store is opening this coming July where Microsoft will brings its "first-party portfolio."

Jin_Sakai1d 17h ago (Edited 1d 17h ago )

“Bond adds that they will start on the web”

This will go nowhere.

Nice knowing you Xbox. This is what happens when the house never gets cleaned.

MrDead1d 17h ago

The only this MS is expanding is the amount of feculence it sprays on everyone who just want to enjoy gaming and make games.

The best thing MS can do for the gaming industry is leave and never return.

XiNatsuDragnel1d 15h ago

Good luck with this even it might not succeed.

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210°

Microsoft once tried to nab LittleBigPlanet from Sony after a few drinks

It turns out that many moons ago, Microsoft once had its eye on the Sony published LittleBigPlanet series.

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eurogamer.net
XiNatsuDragnel2d ago

Microsoft had a good idea but fumbled it again.

Cacabunga1d 4h ago (Edited 1d 4h ago )

Project Spark idea was decent but they quickly gave up ..
LBP was wonderful

ApocalypseShadow1d 23h ago

Microsoft in a nutshell. Always tried to poach Sony employees, games, 3rd party games and devices like the depth camera that was turned into Kinect but was running on PS2 before Xbox 360. Wouldn't be surprised they wanted LBP. Just like they worked behind the scenes pushing the MLB to bring Sony's baseball game to Xbox instead of making their own.
https://www.playstationlife...

They didn't spend years trying to develop their own baseball game. They wanted Sony's game.

They're scum.

Zachmo1821d 3h ago

Microsoft didn't force MLB on Xbox. MLB gave Sony 2 options either go multiplat or risk losing the license.

Rynxie18h ago

And why do you think MLB said that? I believe Ms approached MLB.

ApocalypseShadow17h ago(Edited 17h ago)

Totally ridiculous comment.

The only exclusivity Sony had was to their own creation of The Show. Microsoft could have paid the MLB for the license just like Sony did and made their own baseball game.

Microsoft instead, groomed MLB for years in trying to poach Sony's game and bring it to Xbox. They're worth 3 TRILLION dollars. You think that's not enough money to make their own baseball game? Don't be delusional.

Microsoft spun it like they always do and told the media that they had to trust Sony with their hardware. After they put Sony in that position of not having a choice. Either go multiplatform or stop making one of their successful games. That's a no win scenario.

And what did Microsoft do? They didn't try to sell the game to the Xbox community. They put it on game pass to hurt Sony. Pushing the idea of why buy games that are $70 when you can play them in their cheap service for $10. It was a dirty tactic.

You fell for the Kool aid drink Microsoft served you instead of spitting it out. Hope it tasted good because you were fooled by Phil and the gang.

12h ago
Hereandthere8h ago

Xbox executive Sara Bond has told Axios that Microsoft spent a number of years trying to get MLB The Show onto Xbox consoles. And when it finally succeeded in breaking off PlayStation’s long-held exclusivity, the company had to “trust” Sony with pre-release Xbox Series X/S consoles.

Bond revealed that MLB The Show “always came up” in conversations between Microsoft and the Major League Baseball organization. “We always said, ‘We love this game. It would be a huge opportunity to bring it to Xbox.'” she recalled. However, when Microsoft’s efforts materialized, it put the company in an awkward situation where it had to send in pre-release consoles to a rival company.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 8h ago
Notellin14h ago

"Microsoft instead, groomed MLB for years in trying to poach Sony's game and bring it to Xbox."

Take a nap, conspiracies are rotting your brain.

12h ago
Hereandthere8h ago

Xbox executive Sara Bond has told Axios that Microsoft spent a number of years trying to get MLB The Show onto Xbox consoles. And when it finally succeeded in breaking off PlayStation’s long-held exclusivity, the company had to “trust” Sony with pre-release Xbox Series X/S consoles.

Hereandthere8h ago

They were too cheap/inept/lazy to develop their own mlb game, so they port begged for years and bribed the mlb to make the show multiplatform. Like i said many times, xbox brought nothing to the table their 24 years, ZERO.

OtterX1d 6h ago

"However, Healey said Media Molecule wouldn't have felt right doing that, adding it would have been "morally corrupt"."

Major kudos to Media Molecule for being an upright studio with principles.

RNTody1d 6h ago (Edited 1d 6h ago )

Great, more stories like this please. Show the last of the zombies holding the line what we've been saying for years: Microsoft is anti competition, anti industry and has no interest in making games at all.

But hey, at least there's an Xbox Games Showcase to look forward to, right?

Inverno1d 5h ago

Well considering SONY just killed the series, LBP would've been dead by now either way. Though MM probably wouldn't exist by now either, so I'm glad they stayed with SONY, hopefully they don't get shut down any time soon or ever honestly.

Sheppard7t31d 3h ago

How did Sony kill the series?

Inverno1d 3h ago

They shut down the servers, that's millions of user created levels gone. That and dead are pretty much the same, it's also been years since 3 and they cancelled HUB soooo.

12h ago
fsfsxii14h ago

They shutdown the servers because no one was playing, no one in the community cared about the user created levels so why keep them up? Wtf you guys would never succeed in running a business.

Inverno12h ago

Yea dood no one was playing so they shut off the servers. Cause people with enough common sense can't just Google why they were actually shut of, right?

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