Xbox 720 leaker: PS4 fans are writing off Microsoft based on "literally nothing"

Thurrott slams "knee-jerk reaction" to always-online rumours [OXM]

[dedicatedtogamers]

A lot of people will write off something based on "literally nothing". It's why they say first impressions are important. It's not just PS4 fans writing it off. Plenty of gamers from different platforms are concerned about it. Of course, there will be people who end up buying it anyway and who brag about it being the best console ever. It's just the way the world works.

[LackTrue4K]

You don't have to worry about ps3/4 fans writing off the new Xbox (to begin there Sony fans).
"Worry about Xbox fans writing off there next gen Xbox"
Many have already said there jumping ship from Microsoft

[sway_z]

@dedicatedtogamers

'...Of course, there will be people who end up buying it anyway and who brag about it being the best console ever'

So true, and they're the worst kind of people, cos they don't have a mind of their own.

@onyoursistersback

'...Worry about Xbox fans writing off there next gen Xbox. Many have already said there jumping ship from Microsoft'

Yeah, I see your point too. Basically, all it will take is for MS to debunk all the negative rumours and show a bunch of new games at E3, and watch the same clowns 'Jump Back In'.

These types of people are literally dumb cattle sheeples.

[anonymous92348]

@sway_z

Many? You mean a few fanboys on N4G.

Most people are just waiting for the console to be announced, before making any decisions.

Anyone that makes a decision based soley on a rumour, is an idiot.

[JsonHenry]

I greatly preferred my Xbox360 over my PS3 this generation. But **if** the always online thing proves to be true then I will be getting the PS4 only. Which makes me sad because I really want to own both but I just don't live in an area with reliable enough internet to have an online only console.

[sengoku]

and there right for doing so.
come on what's to know

dicks like Orth work there (not for long)
always-online,
no used games not confirmed but very likely
windows 8 like dash controlled with kinect 2.0
no exclusives worth mentioning.
that about sums it up.

yeah i think i'll pass thanks..

[Cueil]

@sengoku
1. Everything is rumor...
2. Always Online doesn't mean Required Online
3. All of Microsofts new (including the Xbox 360) product use the "Metro" style interface first used on Zune HD
4. You're the same person who when asked what exclusives the Xbox has can only name 2... 3 at the max.
5. You don't sum anything up you're just being contrite.

[Boody-Bandit]

Included is a pic of my triple panel gaming rig, Fanatec CSR Elite FFB wheel (best wheel that is compatible with the XBox 360) and it takes 3 360's to use this triple panel display to play Forza. BUT I also own 2 other 360's for other areas in my home to game.

Okay, with that aside. Am I now allowed to express concern if these rumors turn out to be facts? Sorry but this article is pure flame bait. Is there Sony fans chuckling and jumping on the coat tails of these rumors hoping they are true so they can find fault or rub salt in the wounds? I'm sure there is. BUT I know a lot of 360 gamers that are very concerned these rumors might be true.

Most of the people I talk to so they would most "likely" end up still getting the next offering from MS but they will do so reluctantly. Myself, something like this, again and IF ONLY they are true, could turn me off completely. I rent and purchase used a lot more than purchase new. I'm not hurting for cash but only buy certain titles at full MSRP from specific genres that I know I will play for more than a couple weeks.

I am hoping these are rumors that MS will refute come E3 but I'm a concerned if they were why is MS at the very least not saying, "people wait until E3". All will be known then. When the dust settles. I don't see MS going this route. Always on hopefully is rhetoric and doesn't mean you always need an active connection to the internet. More importantly I hope all these used and rental rumors are pure nonsense.

Signed: An anxious but slightly nervous 360 fan, NOT a Sony fanboy.

[DragonKnight]

@Cueil: You say everything is a rumour then you say "Always Online doesn't mean Required Online" as if you know that for sure. You're contradicting yourself and ignoring what this leaker is saying. In his own words, he's seen documentation that an internet connection is necessary for the Durango to function, he also further on says it's too late in development to change that now, so how do you know that it's not required?

[BX81]

I don't think many are jumping ship until they announce the new xbox and it's features.

[sengoku]

@Cueil

well yeah there are only a few exclusives.
the ones i use to play are already milked to death.

as for windows 8 style kinect 2.0 gui.
you know there going to force hand-gestures and voice commands now. it's not 100% but why els would kinect be forced to be connected to function??

i know it looks cool in the movies but i just want to play a game, i don't want to hold up my hand like i would in a class room to use the bathroom.
and don't like talking and especially repeating my self to a machine to eject disk or power on.

sorry but the direction they have been going for years now and the always-online + kinect 2.0 included and must be connected to function stuff, is just rubbing me the wrong way.

let's see there console but, my money is on it not being my cup of tea.

[sikbeta]

@onyou

46 million XBLive Users active right now, do you really think they'll ditch their years of investment? I don't see that happening always online or not

O-T

Truth, no one saw what MS got under their sleeve, IF X720 becomes a success... lot of you will be eating so much crow... it's going to be a nice spectacle to watch :D

[loulou]

another day with the same fanboys spewing the same stuff which is not yet true or false..

could please someone tell me what it feels like to be a pathetic fanboy??

[Kurt Russell]

If it's true I'll jump ship. If it's not I'll weigh up my options when I know everything about the 2 headliners.

[bangshi]

I thought it was Xbox fan boys who are writing Microsoft off and cursing them for this always-online crap.

Why would PS4 fan boys care what the 720 is doing to make people opt for a PS4!

[nukeitall]

@onyoursistersback:

"Many have already said there jumping ship from Microsoft"

That is the thing, historically Xbox LIVE Gold membership has increased every year while the next console isn't likely to be released at the end of the year.

Basically what it means is depending on what grand plans MS has, it might just blow everyone away.

Remember when Netflix was released on Xbox 360? That is when Netflix adoption exploded, and made huge waves. A very simple feature executed very well.

Xbox TV might just be that, or it might not, but we won't know for a while. Same thing with the Wii, nobody thought it would be the superstar it became!

deal with it! :D

[Darrius Cole]

@Cueil - Post. 1.1.5

Cueil said in Post 1.1.5
.............................
"2. Always Online doesn't mean Required Online "
.............................

Actually, in this case it does mean "Required Online," that's what's got everyone so upset. Either the new Xbox will play a game when it is not connected to the internet or it won't. All the rumors and leaks say that it will not play a game if it is not connected to the internet. Since this is a game console we are talking about, this means that the system will not perform it's intended purpose without the internet. That is very much required online.

The fact is no one cares whether has to be "Always online" or not. We only care whether it has to be "online for my game to work." If the only time the internet was required was when I want to play my game, then that is enough to make it broken. The system is slave to the internet, and not fit for use, or purchase.

The only defense possible is for someone to say "it's not true, the next Xbox will play a game if there is no internet connection".

It's as cut and dried and as black and white as can be. There is no wiggle room here. Either it will play the game or it will not; and these rumors either are true or they are not.

[FITgamer]

@ onyoursisterback "THERE Sony fans" @ sengoku "and THERE right for doing so" [THEY'RE]

[pixelsword]

Yeah, because it's only PS4 fans complaining.

/s

[Tr10wn]

Personally i can't find nothing for me in the PS4 so i'm waiting for MS to announce what they got but i think i will stick with my PC since PS4 games are still running 1080p@30fps so i will assume the same goes to the new Xbox.

[Rex_Aeternae]

@Tr10wn
Not all games are going to be 30fps in fact most will probably be (1080p) 60fps (for example battlefield 4) and as for games that are puzzlers and such, 60fps doesn't really do anything to help the game out.
But, if you only want the super incredible deluxe graphics that "only the PC master race can achieve" then you sir don't truly appreciate the story, music, and emotion evoking-ness that we should judge a game on.
Yes, I will admit that for some people having great graphics will make the game easier to like and play but it should not be the first thing you judge a game on.

Plus your use of a double negative means that you actually can find something in the PS4 that you like. Grammar . . . it's a lifestyle.

[SilentNegotiator]

Xbox fan(boy)s love to pull the old "Emmanuel 'Sony fan' Goldstein" whenever any sort of doubt or dissatisfaction happens to anything Xbox.

The entire internet isn't happy that leaked documents, angry MS developer leaders, third party developers, and a hundred other sources suggest that the next Xbox will be online only?

"It's the Sony fanboys' fault!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
--Delusional fanboy

[Yi-Long]

... is pretty much what MS has shown the last 3-4 years at E3 when it comes to stuff that interests me as a gamer, with their main focus on Kinect and dashboard apps.

THAT'S why I've lost interest in their new console. MS has lost it's focus on GAMES for ME.

I started this generation as a big fan of the original Xbox, never having owned a PS1 or PS2, and I also loved my 360. Still do actually, although mainly for 3rd party games and XBLA, and ofcourse the terrific controller.

But somewhere along the line, Microsoft has seriously dropped the ball, and after a very slow and poor start from Sony this generation, they really picked up that ball in the last 2 years orso, remaining a focus on cool new original IPs and core-games, and scored BIG with their PSN+, along with their PSN being free anyway.

The 'Always Online' rumours now surrounding the new Xbox, just means I won't even consider buying it.

MS is being run by fools nowadays. Sadly. The ONLY GREAT thing about the 360 the last 3 years, has been an absolutely fantastic output of games on XBLA, with some tremendous titles. And somehow MS has managed to piss off many of those great developers one way or another, so it's doubtful they'll be developing exclusively for the next MS console...

[limewax]

So 208 comments and still nobody has noticed that Paul Thurrott also confirmed the always online necessity and even that MS are focusing on TV in this very article?!

For the love of god, read before you comment people. There's people in here trying to say its all rumor just because that's what the headline says. Try reading the rest of it first.

[k2d]

Funny how it reads PS4 fans when it's mainly 360 owners who are up in arms about this.

I would too, if my console of choice stood the chance of being online only.

[InTheLab]

agreed. The next Xbox was not on my radar based on how poorly MS has performed these last 3 or so years and the lack of free online. This latest bit of controversy kinda made me say..."huh...whatever&quo t;.

[zebramocha]

@k2d I don't know why you are getting so many disagrees?as a ps fan only thing i want to see from Ms is,specs,games/features and if any of these rumors turn out to be true.

[k2d]

The closer you hit to home, the more flak you get in return. :)

[MikeMyers]

It's not just Sony fans but also current Xbox 360 owners. If it requires an online connection to work then a lot of people will write it off. What I do agree with is not to have knee-jerk reactions until we get official details on everything we should have clarification on. That includes the PS4. Sony hasn't revealed everything either, although what they have shown and said is very positive so far.

[fermcr]

IF (i'll say again IF) rumors are true about the next Xbox...

$500, always online, no used game, more kinect functionality and titles... yep Microsoft's got a winner on their hands. /s

[Peppino7]

They're writing them off based on rumors based off of devs saying stuff like "It needs a constant connection." I wouldn't say thats literally nothing. Maybe if it came from a Joe Shmoe, then yeah.

[TheSaint]

This, also Xbox need to pull their collective fingers from their A-holes and give us something concrete to base our decision off.

[JANF]

Have you guys notice how everyone saying anything positive about MS have 2 or less bubbles while the ones saying anything positive PS or negative MS have three or more. I wonder why?

anyway, I say lets wait and see, If this rumors turns out to be false a lot of people here will look foolish.

[CC-Tron]

You wonder why? Here's a clue. Sony4G.

[jacksons98]

What has MS done in the last couple years for games? 360 owners have literally been left hanging. Sony is the only company supporting hobby gamers and N4G is a website for gamers.

[IRetrouk]

Load of crap m8, im more of a sony fan than anything else and i have been on two bubbles for years.

[BlackTar187]

i play everything but i support Sony focus alot more and i have 3 bubbles. Ohh less then you.

Maybe people losing bubbles because all they seem to do on this site is cry like little school girls about being outnumbered and blah blah blah.

never seen such victim card kids in my life.

[kenshiro100]

Give me a break.

You lose bubbles based on complaints and screaming 'fanboys!!' instead of engaging in a productive debate.

[Th3 Chr0nic]

You speak as if N4G had a "community" behind it to make the bubble rating system have any meaning to it. This site is more like a "trollunity" if anything.

[dcbronco]

@dedicatedtogamers

You're right about people buying it anyway. The majority of the noise is from Sony fanboys. People that are willing to buy any brand will buy both, all three or whichever they think is best. All of the talk is just N4G talk. If the 720 proves to be a better console they will go with the wind.

[Eyeco]

I'm not writing of the Nextbox, I may be getting bad vibes based off Microsoft's last few years but I'm not writing it off, because the console hasn't even revealed yet, and that's what's pi$$ing me off the most that it hasn't even revealed yet.

Realistically the 720 (as with the PS4) should have been announced and released 2-3 years ago, the 360 is almost 10 years old and we still don't know anything about it's successor, all we have are these negative rumours,

If we were in 2009 then I easily would have dismissed them, but the fact that where this late into the generation 2013 and so far only one next gen console has been released, and all we have of the Nextxbox, are rumours, bad ones that is, it's really off putting and it makes me wonder what Microsoft has been doing for the past 4 years.

[Gimmemorebubblez]

This is the part that worries me;
"Thurrott also reckons Microsoft has less to fear from other console manufacturers than from digital media outlets, presumably in light of such initiatives as Xbox TV, under which the manufacturer has founded a studio in Los Angeles to work on unique, bespoke television programming for Xbox Live."

And this:
"The problem Microsoft has has nothing to do with Sony or Nintendo anymore, it's Roku and AppleTV," he said. "The market for hardcore video games, the market of people will always buy the next Gears of War game, the next Halo game, the next Call of Duty game, it's fairly finite."

I got a SMART TV so I dont need TV services, I want GAMES MICROSOFT.

[Saigon]

Yeah...I read that also, and I noticed it right away. This is what scares me. But the sad part, is that I am not surprised. in an IM message to another n4g user, we had a great conversation on this, and the other day i found an article that contained an Xbox tablet, MS is thinking of releasing. To me that proved why they are pushing Always on. Maybe this is the only way to allow the tablet to always be connected. Who knows. they are switching their competition and going into the realm of casual versus hardcore gamer market. either way this E3 is going to be interesting.

[Leviathan]

Xbox 720 leaker: PS4 fans are writing off Microsoft based on "literally nothing coming out for it except a few kinekt titles"

[1Victor]

have anyone though that the "always on" comments from orth was Microsoft way to test the waters imagine how bad it would be at E3 if they say one more thing our console is always on and you can't play used games as all games are locked to your account/console.the article writer assume that because some games he play have online parts that all games does need a online connection.can anyone tell me honestly how many console games are MMO only on xbox for it to warrant a "always on approach.

[omi25p]

"First impressions are the most important"

How can you have a first impression on something that has yet to be even confirmed it exists.

Its the equivalent of hating someone you have never met, heard of, spoken too. Because someone told you that they were annoying.

This website is literally the only website bad mouthing a fairy tale every single chance it gets.
Some of the users are the most hypocritical biased morons you will ever see.

For example i have literally seen one user say this in two different articles.

RUMOUR SONY TO BLOCK PREOWNED GAMES

"Well its understandable really. Sony spend alot of money releasing these perfect games it must be heartbreaking to watch when people are playing there game with out actually giving Sony the reward they deserve for Being the one publisher who cares"

RUMOUR 360 TO BLOCK USED GAMES

"Typically M$. Screwing over its "fan" base again.
So now not only to you have to pay for online you can even save a little money by buying used games. It isn't even as if there are any exclusives worth buying anyway. If anybody buys the nextbox knowing it does this they are nothing but a sheep"

[Saigon]

That is sad that they actually said that because it means they really didn't read the pattens. I understand that this is a rumor, but the content discussed is in favor to be relevant. I think what makes this even more creditable is the fact its coming from an Xbox website and again, the information discussed states the subject to be true. You might disagree with this, but the facts are in 'Read full story' link above.

[AngelicIceDiamond]

PS4 fans are writing off Microsoft based on "literally nothing"

Lol of course fanboys will take any excuse to ride off the Xbox. But just like @dedicatedtogamers said, plenty of people on the net are upset obout the rumors.

We virtually know nothing about the Xbox besides this "Alaways on" rumor that continues to make its usual rounds.

But, despite the negativity shrouding the unannounced console, I have a feeling the new Xbox is gonna turn out to be a damn good machine. And great showing from MS.

[oof46]

Plenty of Xbox fans concerned.

[TheoreticalParticle]

Here's the thing for the leaker. Assume that the always-online DRM is true.

Yeah, while they're using an always-online system and there's only a handful of people online, and nobody's stressing the system, it's fine, and it's totally non-intrusive.

But there are a billion ways from prototype to production that something non-intrusive can come to be exceptionally INTRUSIVE.

[potenquatro]

This always online sux. Unless it's a 4g Lte option like W8 on tablets with some contract for less money SKU. Not allowing you to play software that you legally own however, would not hold water in court and I don't think all devs would like that. I personally have privacy and kid issues, or atleast my kid got issues, so my Surface and ipads are NOT 4g and my router is off when im not online(I live in a big city, this also stops people from trying to steal it). Basically my phones are the only thing always connected and i turn those off all the time. A "always online" NextBox would be horrible. MS, just deny this already. Between PS4, nextbox and their respective accesories and fees I'm gonna be dropping around 15-16 hundred in a clouple months. Ain't nobody got time for that!!

[fr0sty]

From the "Official" Xbox magazine, saying there is "nothing wrong" with always being online... = Damage control topped off with a hint of spin.

[showtimefolks]

no we are writing them off based of what they did in last 3 years, and that's coming from a day one buyer of xbox360 and original xbox

once kinect was introduced than they forgot about core gamers, they thought that market had been maxed out but look at sony still selling ps3 strongly and still delivering top notched games

personally i am tired of halo,gears,forza. I like fable,alan wake and crackdown but all 3 of those IP's have huge potential but MS just doesn't care since they don't sell millions of copies

also watch the last 3 E3'd MS conferences, I dare you to watch them back to back to back and than come back to me. we have mostly kinect crap and dance games followed by maybe a showing of next halo or gears

this time they don't have the advantage of coming out 1st or RROD, they better come out with a good plan otherwise i see sony demolishing them in every sense. Sony under Kaz's leadership reminds me of old sony which was aggressive and use advertisement to their advantage

so if expecting greatness out of MS or next xbox is hating on ms than so be it but when another company provides better value and more bang for my buck but i have every right to support that company with my money

[kenshiro100]

The fact that Microsoft hasn't denied these rumors is troubling. But they are rumors so we have to wait and see what happens.

And there are plenty of 360 fans that are worried about the rumors as well. I don't see why the journalist felt the need to say 'PS4 fans are worried about nothing.'

Some people own two consoles you know...

[Syntax-Error]

PS4 hasn't shown me why I need to have it. My PS3 has tons of life and can still WOW me. I find no reason to worry about next gen right now. Let's see of most of you are going to give a shit when GTA5 releases

[50Terabytespersec]

I want Solid State Drive in Raid 0!!!500MB per sec
on Xbox 720
80GB is fine for me!

Then I will gladly tell Sony to F off!!! LOL
This is the only way I will Buy a MS product over the PS4!

[Psn800]

No news is good news the old saying is . In Microsoft's case they need too start showing there hand or they will get left way behind because everyone I know is per-ordering the Ps4 already .

[extermin8or]

not strictly true, they have all the info so far on the Ps4 to go on, Sony's track record of exclusive games and the closer and better developer relations Sony now has, to go on. Granted they don't have anything other than rumors on the net xbox but if people want to make a decision then they are basing it on something- also if they listen to him isn't that the same as listening to the rumors...

[DragonKnight]

For starters, this guy sounds like a teenage girl. Lots of "like" and "by the way."

Secondly just because for you Xbox is an almost entirely online experience, doesn't mean an always-online requirement is a good thing. For the millionth time, there is no such thing as a 100% consistently stable network connection, and that includes places like Japan who have a far better infrastructure for it than the Western world.

"Thurrott claims he has access to documents that reveal the next Xbox "must be internet-connected to use", but says he's not sure of the precise ramifications."

You'd have to be an idiot not to know what that means. It's plain as day. You need to be connected to use Durango. No connection, no usage. What part of that is ambiguous?

""I look at all this stuff that I've seen about Durango and I think, 'it's all positive.' I don't really see any bad news here at all. Like to me, everything I've seen about this is really positive."

Because you're an idiot.

"It's amazing to me that, based on like no information at all, everyone is like freaking out about everything. Aside from this online thing, by the way, the number one question I've gotten from people is, 'What does it look like?' Who gives a shit what it looks like?"

No information? You're the one that leaked this "online thing." YOU just said it requires a network connection to use. That's not "freaking out about nothing." You're either calling yourself a liar, or you're an idiot. And I'm pretty sure the next concern is about the Durango playing used games, which leaked information claims won't be possible as the Durango will force a complete harddrive installation of every game and lock each game to that one console. Clearly there is reason for suspicion.

""The market for hardcore video games, the market of people will always buy the next Gears of War game, the next Halo game, the next Call of Duty game, it's fairly finite. It's a decent market, yada yada yada, it's not the market for tablets, it's not the market for smartphones."

*Facepalm* You know so little.

As for the rest of the article where Thurott is then backpeddling, but then not backpeddling, and then backpeddling again, you're the problem. It seems that most of what you're saying is "The Durango will have an always-online requirement and you're just going to have to deal with it." And you think people are having a "knee-jerk" reaction? You haven't been paying attention to Assassin's Creed 2 on PC, Diablo 3 on PC, or SimCity (even though you mention it) much have you? This isn't a knee-jerk reaction, this is an experienced reaction. Gamers know what always-online means and have damned good reasons for not wanting or liking it. You really look foolish by claiming gamers have nothing to complain about.

[Cueil]

Steam... it works ok (though it was a pile of garbage for a long time)

[DragonKnight]

Steam is a bad example. It has its problems as well. It may have an offline mode, but after awhile it will force you to go online to check for updates and ensure you're not playing pirated games. Let's not forget also the ease with which people are banned, the fact that you don't get refunds easily after your first one, the fact you don't own the games you buy from there and can easily be locked out of playing your games because of that.

Steam is only lauded because of its various sales really.

[potenquatro]

Steam still doesn't work perfect. The new UI is cute but unnesesary and it seem they make u be online more and more often. Also if you loose connection before a game can cloudsync when u quit it will almost certainly make you be online to restart. It's nice that they always update their games but always updating the Steam app itself gets annoying aswell

[dumahim]

"For me, Xbox 360 is almost entirely an online experience,"

He seems to be taking the Orth mentality on this. His way is how it is for everyone. Hey, great, you're online almost all the time. Me? Almost never. I use my 360 for games, and only games. I rarely play online with other people, so I don't want and I don't need an always on console.

[Cueil]

so you wouldn't want a console that automatic kept itself updated with newest firmware and updated your games while you were not using it? There are positives to having a always connected device

[dumahim]

@Cueil

No. I can do that now with my PS3 and I have it turned off. I don't want it starting up every night just do download stuff I probably don't even want, at least for game patches. I'm usually done with the game within a week or so. No point having it keep downloading updates for games I'm done with.

System updates might be another thing, but they're usually infrequent enough to not bother me. If 10 minutes out of my day every few weeks is too much, I probably shouldn't be playing games anyway. Besides, I usually do something else anyway while a system update is running.

[extermin8or]

@Cueil Ummmy ps3 does that whilst turned off, and my PS4 will do it whilst turned off/on standby without turning on fully and using a background processor with highly reduced power intake... and so far as we are are it doesn't always have to be online

[Cocozero]

Its because they are scared, MS beat Sony this gen taking nearly half of their PS2 userbase and they know next gen MS will take their remaining fanbase.

Scare tactics are their only weapon against the 720 storm

[IcicleTrepan]

I'll say the same thing I say in the Sony threads. Sony is not scared of MS, MS is not scared of Sony. They're both huge corporations that make money hand over fist regardless of what the other does, not kids in the playground.

[DirtyMagician]

Microsoft hardly beat Sony this generation! The numbers are pretty much on par from the last time I saw, there's really not much in it.

[anonymous92348]

Microsoft might not of beaten them, but they shore did take a huge amount of their user base away from them.

[joeorc]

"Microsoft might not of beaten them, but they shore did take a huge amount of their user base away from them."

Taking them away is not the same as that same gamer now buying both system's.

I would say its more of the same Gamer's buying both systems, than just only having one system or the other.

Microsoft has expanded the xbox platform consumer base this generation, but on the same token, many of the same people that were only xbox only gamer's have now or is also planning to gather a Playstation or Nintendo system or other platforms also and vice versa.

this may in fact be the very first generation where all three game companies all have their current generation systems reach over 100 million+ sales. Sony has Sold about 153 million PS2's and it's Production ceased now so based on the number's right now slightly less than 50 million over 100 million consumer's most likely is now split among Nintendo , Microsoft and Sony add in Apple and Android and other companies like Samsung etc.

So its not just Microsoft took them all, if anything this part of the market is pretty much staying with the 100 to 150 million mark and has stayed that level for thos part of the market for quite some time, though that is a very large number due to that being a install base that can account for each of those consumer's buy 1 to many game systems. More of multi console system owner's than just one system now. which is a very good thing.

[insomnium2]

@joe

Don't bother. I've tried reasoning with peole about this "same person buys more than one console so win all around" but it just won't sink. They have got to speak about marget sharez and try to make MS's success somehow into a bad thing for Sony.

Sony is in line to sell 130-150 million PS3's. How this can be turned into a failure is beyond me. Fanboy is a fanboy that's all there is to it.

[puamdefokejpn]

Yes ,..real shitstorm of laughter,.. when always online,.. turns out to be true,.. They just lost 80 percent of consumers globally,..

It is completely insane proposition for a gaming device,..Thank you for using the internet I am paying for so you can have absolute control of the software and hardware I've bough.. This is so insane,.. and probably illegal,..I need to pay someone third party, monthly fee so I can even use the device I've legally bought,..? Gimme a break. God forbid my internet goes down for more than 2 minutes), Or have capped internet.. lolololo

and they can backdoor datamine your home with algorithms ,..So they can advertize crap to you (best case scenario) O how scared are PlayStation people,..

Go Microsoft !!!,.. Straight to hell that is,..

Yep, their main concern are the gamers /sarcasm

[stuna1]

And you know this how? Talk about blind loyalty! From the looks of things Microsoft would like nothing better than have you paying through every orifice in your body, paying specific attention to your anus.

[KillrateOmega]

I see why you have only one bubble...

"...MS beat Sony this gen taking nearly half of their PS2 userbase and they know next gen MS will take their remaining fanbase."

You're saying that MS will take the other 50% of their userbase? So you mean to tell me that Sony will end up with a userbase of 0%, because by the end of the next-gen, not a single person on the planet will own and use a PS4. Sure, great logic...

[Karpetburnz]

Do you only care about sales and marketshare? do you even care if the Next Xbox is a joke with no games? heck you can have your marketshares, while I will be enjoying the PS4 and all the great games it has to offer.

Only die hard fanboys would choose sales over games lol.

[Jamaicangmr]

How is it that PS4 fans are singled out for doing this? Its stupid to take rumors as fact and form an opinion based on that. However Xbox and even Nintendo fans are doing the samething so why single out PS4 fan?

just saying.

[BanBrother]

Correct. I use the Epic Forums (for Gears of War), also look at Major Nelson's Blog (for sales), Trueachievements.com and a couple other sites that are Xbox 360 oriented. I am seeing people saying they will jump ship next gen all the time, so the myth that "only N4G fanboys are bagging the nextBox hurrdurr" is false.

Many Xbox gamers across the globe are considerifng jumping ship, FACT. I use many PS3 and 360 related forums, and I tell it how it is. 360 gamers are finally fed-up and will jump ship if MS don't debunk some of these filthy rumours.
I myself will most likely not be getting one, and absolutely 0% be getting one if it requires always online. I mean it, 0% chance. My internet is capped atm and I can't barely load a webpage, nor hold a steady connection to my PS3 or Xbox.

[extermin8or]

you mention you probably wont get one even if the internet isn't capped- so really you aren't basing your decision on rumours but on the fact that you like what you see elsewhere in terms of online and exclusives right? :p

[oktob3r]

he lost me with the words... windows 8.... -_-

[urwifeminder]

So what else is new they do the same to nintendo and pc as well, anything that doesnt have sony on it in the gaming world ,if sony did anything i liked id be the first to praise them day one MS.

[seanpitt23]

I love Sony and the PS I have never bought a Xbox and I can tell you now that I ain't writing of Microsoft not by any means. Microsoft is one of the biggest companies in the world they will make a awesome console and they are a very cash rich company so they can take a huge hit on the sale of the consoles unlike Sony who have struggled these past 8 years. I think Microsoft will offer something different from Sony I don't know what but I think there system will be either more powerful or less powerful no middle ground but not much less powerful

Anyway there is two ways Microsoft can do it either make a powerful more expensive machine or a cheaper less powerful machine no middle ground but what I think is the more powerful machine because they saw what sony did in feb and decided to go with he upmarket console and Sony has gone With the cheap specs

[extermin8or]

No they can't, some of their investors reportedly wanted less spending on the gaming space and more into software and mobiles etc so they can't afford to piss them off and lose too much money per console sold-no one can atm

[TemplarDante]

Me, Personally.
Im a student. I cant afford having an "always on" wasting my bandwidth by taking my words, searching databases and feeding me ad's console.
My line is 10MB download. 1MB upload, and costs me $150 a month. It is capped at 20GB usuage per month.
So, this Xbox vision is NOT for me, but the wealthy and those who love to throw money around.
Surely, Im not alone in this situation.
I do realise the New Xbox vision is for the
-Casuals
-Soccer moms
-The people who jump around like mad in Kinect adverts.

I am NOT a priority to MSFT.
I was NOT who they had in mind when they made Windows 8 OR priced the Microsoft Surface systems.

I am simply,
a Core gamer.

[oktob3r]

i am the 1%

[Imalwaysright]

You pay $150 for internet!? I only pay €25 for 20 MB download speed and "unlimited" downloads and still i refuse to buy a device, that forces me to connect it to the internet to use it.

[JeffGUNZ]

Question in all seriousness. Internet isn't an issued for you and it's unlimited, why would it matter **IF** the nextvox is always connected? In your case, it really doesn't matter. Is it more out of principal?

[krazeecain]

Lol pretty sure that's a typo. Even here in Canada shaw 250 mb/s unlimited internet costs $140 I believe. I think he meant $15, in which case that's a pretty good deal, although a 20GB monthly cap is rather harsh...

[Imalwaysright]

@ Jeffgunz Its the principle of it. I refuse to be forced to be online to use something that is mine. I refuse to buy games with always on DRM and we don't even own them because its software. Now Imagine how I would feel if was forced to be online to use something that is actually mine.

Honestly, I doubt that I will have a problem in buying the nextBox because I don't believe that MS will go ahead with something like this but I can't really be sure until MS announces it.

[DragonKnight]

@TemplarDante: I live in Canada and being screwed by Rogers internet and even I get more for the gouging I take than 20GB a month for $150. You sir need to switch providers.

[Britainz-Fin3st]

You need a new supplier then mate, I pay £30 a month including line rental for 60mb fibre optic. And its unlimited.

[Bathyj]

I wont say anything as final as writing off, its possible though unlikely at this point I can be won back.

But I will say I'm disinterested in the next Xbox, and its nothing to do with what the hardware will be like, I'm sure it will be fine.

Its everything to do with how MS abandoned the Xbox 1, how they've barely supported the 360 for the last 3 years and how they dont seem to care about the core gamer anymore.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me three times, well I'd have to say I'm just a glutton for punishment, and I'm trying to cut back on the gluttony.

[TemplarDante]

Agreed, Bathyj

[JeffGUNZ]

I don't understand you sometimes bathyj. In the last 1-2 years they released Halo 4, Forza, and Gears 3 and recently Gears Judgment. Also, not counting all the great multiplats as well. I really wasn't expecting much from the 360 exclusives wise the last 1-2 years due to the obvious next gen console and studios working on release games. I think you should at least wait for their reveal before you write off their next gen. system.

[Rumplebumpkin]

I think his point is that MS have stopped delivering on the exclusive front whereas Sony haven't.
Saying that it's ok because all the Microsoft Devs are working on next gen IP's doesn't work because Sony Devs are doing the same thing but they're still pumping out games for the PS3 as well.

[JeffGUNZ]

I'm not comparing MS to Sony, I feel this late in the generation the 360 had some solid games. Now, if they don't show me some new IPs and exclusives when they reveal the 720 or at E3 or whatever, then I will start getting pissed. I guess I am a glass half full kinda guy lol

[Servbot41]

In the last 1-2 years they released a shooter, a racer, a shooter and recently a shooter. Also, not counting all the great multiplats everyone has access to.

You really think that sounds like a great lineup?

[Britainz-Fin3st]

@Rumple...

I disagree because even though i agree that Sony have more exclusives, the only one which i have ever enjoyed is God of War, the rest though others might find amazing, i do not.

GT was ok but was far to boring and i prefered the casual approach by forza.

I particularly was looking forward to the MGS series this gen but sadly could not get into it and as impressed as i was with uncharted that got repetive after a few hours.

And yes i know the replies are going to be but xbox only has Halo and Gears.. That maybe so but do the people that love to point that our realise that the people buying and playing them every release is because there isnt a better game for them on any other console?

I know its the case for me and millions of others obviously.

[Crystallis]

totally agree Bathyj.

[clintos59]

So every gaming site is a ps4 fan now for bringing up this subject lol. Mr. Thurrott why dont u go ask Adam Orth why he defended always online. Maybe sony payed him lol. Hilarious stuff.

[sly-Famous]

I think its more the journalists rather than PS fanboys writing the xbox off.

[andreasx]

Ofcourse they are, 90% of the ps4 rumours turned out to be correct, so there is no reason not to believe the 720 rumours are correct aswell.

[slampunk]

Oh S%&#..... this title alone is going to make N4G (sony fans) go nuts!

[deepio]

Knee-jerk reaction is totally right. I found it amazing that so many people were willing to commit to a PS4 based on no facts at all.

"You've seen literally nothing from Microsoft". Enough for everyone to pipe down a little? Knowing what some people are like, probably not.

[Jek_Porkins]

Any true gamer who wrote off Microsoft's next console based on rumors probably isn't a legit gamer, rather a fanboy.

You can speculate as in "What if it's DRM?" and say what you would do in that case, I was even guilty of that, but to say "I wont get it now", based on rumors is pure ignorance.

Coincidentally the new "rumor" is that the whole DRM thing was to create outrage for that and get people all thinking that was the worst thing in the world, only to introduce something like a pass for all used games. From what I read today every game comes with a code, you can buy new codes for a fee, but that is the latest rumor I've been hearing, could be MS leaked that info just to lessen the blow of passes for used games?

[ILive]

What is a "legit" gamer?

[adorie]

Gamer living a crime free life? No more of that moonshine bootleggin' fer me!

[Jek_Porkins]

Someone who games for the fun of it, pledges loyalty to no single game company, and doesn't degrade his/her fellow gamer's in any way.

[greenpowerz]

What's new?

The idea MSFT will have a more powerful console keeps them up at night. Why not smear the 720's rep and turn as many people as possible against the 720, just in case the 720 is more powerful? Of course what is going on in plces like N4G would be like Sean Hannity speaking for all Americans LMAO

Preemptive damage control.

PS fans flipped out when Sony said they went cheap this time.

Thanks for the laughs. There is nothing more funny to me on N4G than fanatical PS fans saying now that the 720 is always online they won't be getting the xbox.

#DEAL WITH IT

Once MSFT shows this powerful beast of a console with some games no one will remember PS3 fans trolling 720. It's only hurting media that cover the rumors, resulting in less xbox fans, turning the media more pro Sony, the only ones reading their articles.

Like I said the rumors started again when a troll posted an year old rumor about the 720 having two GPUs on April Fool's to try and discredit the growing, ever more talked about rumor. Clever damage control...

PS fans are so scared of MSFT having the superior console they spend all day every day waiting for 720 news to troll/spin/smear. There are some people on N4G sit in wait like iGAM3R-VIII

[DoesUs]

Theres no dual GPU. You really need to start looking elsewhere for the latest Durango news and rumours. You might learn something.

[Aceman18]

If i don't care about their next after after barely using my 360 this generation why would i, or anyone else would be scared of their new system?

frankly i could give a good goddamn about the new xbox the company rolls out the same 3-4 exclusives, and charges for something that's free everywhere else in the world.

yea im scared of their new system much that i can't get on with my everyday life lol. ill be saving money by not purchasing 720 or whatever the hell its going to be called.

[ziggurcat]

"Once MSFT shows this powerful beast of a console with some games no one will remember PS3 fans trolling 720."

and once MS reveals their next console, and it turns out to be weaker than the PS4, no one will remember you.

[kenshiro100]

...Wow, here comes the next delusional paragraphs of drivel.

[Jakens]

Will MS have first party games be download only? I don't see why they would even want game disc around unless they were selling "gameplay codes" for every console that game was put in to.

[The Rock Bottom]

I don't post much. I mostly lurk about...but...has anyone noticed an increase of xbots appearing lately?

[livealie25]

No just more dumbasses like you

[CC-Tron]

Head Shot!

[IIJOSEPHXII]

I'm an xbox fan. I will give it a few months to a year before buying the next gen, but atm MS are giving me no reasons to want the 720

[stiggs]

"MS are giving me no reasons to want the 720"

MS hasn't given you any reason to NOT want it either.

They haven't even admitted that a news console exists yet!

C'mon, use your head, man.

[ILive]

Why do people use this argument? Everyone surely knows that the console exists by now, there is no need to admit it. The same rumor as been running rampant on the internet. At this point, there as to be some form of truth behind. All I am saying is that it should not be taken lightly regardless of if it is a rumor or not.

[Jakens]

Let's not do research because the results of the research have not been announce yet.

Do you see what I did. I am amazing.

Anyways things have not gotten better but worse and this is a conclusion of research of the results that are unannounced.

[stiggs]

"Did you see what I did?"

Yeah, you made a fool out of yourself. Your comment makes absolutely no sense.

[CEOSteveBallmer]

Off topic here stiggs my man, Sorry for being a troll but atleast my conspiracy theory about microsoft is not far fetched and is very very possible. you cant be surprised if MS ever did pay someone. Just look at some of their employees Adam Orth, Creative director and yet arrogant. That's why its a theory I have not said any evidence. Yeah Im pathetic to voice out what I think about a Multibillion dollar company. The rich people always gets away with things.

[SnakeCQC]

i mean most of the games people love typically on ms consoles will be on the ps4 plus used games wont be locked and you get great first party games along with high def movies etc

[Why o why]

My thing is just to wait and see. Many people are saying they won't buy the next box IF (insert reason) is true NOT for zero season so if these rumors aren't true people will consider or buy it.

Some are just disillusioned because of how ms shifted their focus in the last few years. They achieved without much complaints from their core customers by relying more on 3rd parties to fill the voids, even though they supposedly own a comparable number of studios and dormant ips. That shows a slight lack of core pleasing ambition for many, not all, but many.

Some don't want to pay for live if there are comparable gaming networks available. Just look at the pc gamers reaction to when ms tried to charge them. They didnt have bar of it..

Some will be fan boys. Correct but there are other things at play. Let's not be ignorant to the facts, Greenberg coulda killed all of these rumors. . . Chose not to

SORRY. Born on the 4th of July has said the same thing. . .

[FrigidDARKNESS]

Of course they write off MS because they feel Sony tech on the ps4 is superior to everything including PC. They are the disease of gaming feel as if every game developed should only be played on a Sony console. And any other console to them is considered an enemy. When you start saying consoles is your enemy its time to get up from there PC and go out and get some fresh air.

[DEATHSTROKE-cro-]

game developers said it's more powerful than most PC's. and most PC aren't gaming PC. that is a fact.

and maybe nintendo and playstation players wrote MS off when they started charging online and stopped making new IP's for last 7 years.

[koehler83]

It seems to me that the onus is on MS right now to replace "literally nothing" with "literally anything else".

[andrewsqual]

Eh I still write off the 360 to this day. Its Xbots who are writing off the 720. It makes no difference to me what Microsoft do in the next 5 years.

[thebudgetgamer]

Xbox 720 fans praising Microsoft based on literally nothing?

[koehler83]

There is that too.

[PFFT]

And everyone else is writing it off on literally nothing as well. JUST as the name of the topic implies.

[DivineAssault]

The always online isnt an issue for me because i have great broadband but the (if true) required installs & blocking of used games is a major issue to me.. Also MS doesnt get any games i really care about that i cant get on PS.. Maybe that will change & MS gets some great apps i really want to have but i buy consoles to play games, not to mess with applications as i have a tablet..

PS4 will have the needed services/features ppl use... Netfilx? Check.. Hulu? Check.. Blu ray? Check.. Great games? Check.. Thats all i give a damn about with a home console.. I have comcast HD cable box too so i dont need TV from my system.. Its a plus to have it but not something i want a system for..

[Clarence]

I've seen a lot of Xbox fans doing the same thing.

[cleverusername]

Look how many PC fanboys have written the PS4 off!!

[Neonridr]

That's only because while impressive for console standards, a graphics card from 2 years ago can still put out more numbers than the one that will be inside the PS4. It just means that PC gamers will continue to enjoy 1080p/60fps while console gamers will still have to wait.

We may see some 1080p/30fps but for games as intensive as Battlefield 4 and Killzone I think 720p/60fps is what they will be targeting.

60fps at 1080p may be achievable if the devs lower the settings for certain features (view depth, lighting, AA, etc) but I would rather have it at 720p with all the graphical features enabled, than at 1080p with only half of them..

[adorie]

720p hurts my eyes. even with AA it doesn't look too good. Details are lost. 720p VS 1080p is like night and day and the jump to 1600p, for me will hopfully see the same.

This year I'm making the jump to 1600p and hunting for a GFX card that doesn't break the bank, that will help me get there @60fps.

[Neonridr]

@adorie: obviously 1080p looks way better than 720p but for most console gamers 720p looks better than what they are usually accustomed to as a lot of games on the PS3 and 360 don't even make it to 720p. I think console gamers would be happy with a rock solid 720p/60fps and then as the devs get more familiar with the system, that should increase. But do you really want 1080p to be played at only 30fps? Very jerky at times.

[hobohunterz]

Its not just the rumors though that are turning people away that's just adding to it. People are probably also looking at the lack of exclusive games and fresh content as well as how much Microsoft seems to be pushing connect as they move away from core gamers for casuals.

[izumo_lee]

I wouldn't say gamers are writing off the next Xbox on literally nothing. A lot of the 'leaks' & 'rumors' that were released for the PS4 were pretty accurate on what was shown by Sony. These same leaks & rumors are also the same ones releasing information on the next Xbox.

These may or may not be true or not but many of them are saying the exact same thing. With so many of them stating the same info one has to wonder if they may be true. Microsoft's continued silence with every day that passes without releasing a comment or two regarding these adds fuel to the fire that these leaks & rumors may be accurate.

Yes until Microsoft officially announces their next system many of this has to be taken with a grain of salt. Eventually the truth will come out & it may or not be the news that Xbox fans want to hear.

[ARESWARLORD]

Im just walking from MS because im sick of paying 50 a year for live and they slap me in the face with advertisements. So greedy its insane.

[isyourhouseonfire]

This time around its strange.. We're writing off the winner of the current generation, Microsoft, because another company, Sony, has shown us a pretty spec sheet and claims it's going to be a console some day.

It seems like we're just itching so badly for the next gen that we're willing to cheer at anything and jeer at nothing.

Gamers, let's wait until the actual consoles exist and are being demo'd by real people.

[Mikeyy]

Where is your "proof" that MS is "winning the current gen??

Is your data about 4 years old?

[isyourhouseonfire]

Console sales, new game sales, online scubscriptions, and blockbuster exclusives are all statistics that show the X360 has won the current gen by a large margin.

I just think we owe it to ALL manufacturers to let them actually develop the new consoles before we start crowning anyone.

[trouble_bubble]

@isyourhouseonfire
Nintendo is #1 in console sales this gen, not MS not Sony. Your "statistics" also fail to take into account that the 360 had a full year head start on PS3 and Wii, yet lost a 10 mil' lead to both.

New game sales? Some games sell better on PS3 -Dark Souls, Final Fantasy- and some sell better on 360 -Mass Effect, BioShock- . Others like COD/GTA the difference is negligible as they clear 9 mil' everywhere. There's no one absolute. New Super Mario Bros Wii eclipsed everyone at 26 million.

Online subscriptions? Thats just a weak argument when you consider that the Wii/PS3/PC dont charge for online. #1 in double charging for Netflix, yay !!1

Blockbuster exclusives? The highest rated blockbuster exclusives this gen 95% and above on metacritic are Wii and PS3 titles. Last year it was Journey at the top. There is no "large margin" MS win here. For every Forza Horizons at 85% meta or Fable3 at 80%, PS3 has that many more NEW IP there and/or higher like Valkyria Chronicles, NiNoKuni, inFamous, Demons Souls, Resistance, LBP, HeavyRain.

Heck, the highest rated console exclusive this year so far is Playstation exclusive MLB13: The Show at 88% http://www.metacritic.com/g... while the competition gets stuck with MLB:2K13 at 48% http://www.metacritic.com/g... . There's your wide margin.

[lovegames718]

Yeah strange you would want a company like Microsoft who lubed customers and shafted thousands, if not millions into buying new consoles with their RROD fiasco and not replacing consoles after initial 1 year warranty lol Man you guys make me sick and just love to get swindled by the likes of Microsoft.

Put it like this. These leaks and rumors are coming from neogaf which has a reputation of having good intel because ppl on that forum are actually devs and in the know how. If even one of those rumors are true which is very likely youll be an idiot to support them. Being Kinect centric to begin with is enough for a hardcore gamer to say %uck you micro. You can talk crap about Sony all you want but more often then not Sony was the company coming through with promises and giving us that wide variety of exclusive ips and innovative gameplay. Sony gave us free online and ps plus that is an awesome investment. So why wouldnt i believe in Sony? Get a grip man and stop trying to seem smart just because you have a mouth. History tells a tale and it isnt a good one for micro.....

[TheKayle1]

dont worry when ms will show the new xbox ...most of the trolls (that some with stll brain in their head) will go to hide somewhere for the shame........the most big trolls ..will start with a new theory where power dosnt mean better machine..and if this isnt enough....they will start with the exclusives story (meanwhile mgs5 is official also for xbox)...and IF ms would put on the table more exclusives than sony they will come up with...."yea yea but sony exclusives r better we r hardcore players blabllabla"

is an endless story

what i know and explained 100 times technically also standing at what vgleaks showed ....is the next xbox is more graphically capable than the ps4...(i think close to x1.5 x2 performance if not more)

that the kinect 2 is .....x10 better than the specs of the pseye2

for the rest ......we will laugh later on what sony fanboys said here and in other forums

ps. neogaf have ZERO re read Z E R O reputation in leaks or whatever rumors....and if u noticed...the logo of neogaf is a Sun with the N rapresent the fujiama mountains

ppl over there....the 2 or 3 devs that talked said that in durango devkits there was a 7970 if we must said the truth...that most of ppl r looking in the wrong way watching the leaked diagram and stuff like this...
Other than this devs...there r bounces of sony fanboys (neogaf as n4g is a sony collective site) that talk like without UNDERSTANDING and KNOWING nothing about tech..and about the new xbox

xbox 360 wasnt kinect centrinc...and IF u know something about marketing ...after a long 5 years cycle (that xbox didnt suffer on exclusives and hardcore games)..a company NEED to do and change something and they find out the kinect (that sold millions) while sony tried with that failing Move and the failing vita...with this MS take casual consumers......sony didnt get nothing ..spending money just producing that stuffs. I think most of ppl forget how much titles xbox had at start and for 5 years
But sure...here or on gaf.....xbox have always the same games......while on ps3 we CAN have gow 400....uncharted 8000 and killzone 1802830 ..they r all fresh and new....

now journalist r dying to know something about the new xbox..and while the sony company security (not the psn one...we know how much low was that) ...didnt work so good ..givin on internet everything 5 or 6 months before the show...also the 1.84 tf confirmed ..MS is hiding like no one before their next console...
so journalist put words and writing article just on fans rumors..fans scary.....etc etc ...this r just easy clicks for websites

If u think that a company that is investing BILLIONS in r&d for their next console will make win a semi bankrupt company as sony.....is better u stop read any tech article...coz u just have no brain to understand this stuff

i know i know this can sound mean....but when is enough is enough

[pete007]

HOLY f**k!
MASTER KAYLE1....lets see how many psfnbz reply to your speach!!!

guess you just shutted the F**K up all of them! thats not fair!!!!!
I wanna keep readding the 8GB DDR5, or the HYPER FAst APU that jaguar just finnished building for them based on the new XKR competition from FORZA 4......or GAIKAI game streamming on full hd 60 fps at launch......... or the SUPERFEATURE ****SHARING BUTTON*** on the pad......
thats not fair MASTER....
keep up man!!!

[isarai]

jesus christ kid, WTF is wrong with you, can't you just enjoy the damn games?

[Deku-Johnny]

They're writing it off based the fact that during the 6th and 7th gen Microsoft's console has been the worst one. It's rather likely that Microsoft will have the worst 8th gen console too.

[AceofStaves]

I can't wait for MS' official neXtBox announcement, so these rumours will finally be debunked or validated, and we can move on to discussing the actual features of the console.

There are always going to be a group of PS fans who will slag off everything MS-related, and there will always be a group of MS fans who will do the same with any news related to the PS3. I've been a Playstation gamer since '97, but I never count MS out when it comes to their gaming business. Their success in NA this gen is proof that they can provide consumers with great entertainment. Whether or not the neXtBox continues this trend remains to be seen, but only fools dismiss them based on rumour alone.

[cyclindk]

Well not just PS4 "fans," but almost anyone in general, I would imagine, who, as you have said, know literally NOTHING solid about the console.

And wide praise for the PS4 vs no concrete info and worrying rumors as well as missteps by certain Microsoft former-employees...

Well what can we expect to be people's reaction?

[KillerPwned]

I know this is kinda off topic but from all the news I am reading concerning a $500 Xbox and a $300 subscription based model. I am really curious as to how this subscription based model will work?

[fr3d0]

sounds like butthurt to me

[fingazblank]

The saviour of pc gaming is steam, which requires you to be online...

To be online will open up a plethora of features for the xbox, same as the ps4.

If you want to play offline then fine, but dont expect netflix.

[RGTrain]

You Sony fanboys need to learn the difference between their and there. I just love reading all the bashing from Sony fans that don't understand the English language. Plus it doesn't matter either way, PC is the only true Next Generation anyway and will always be so...............

[isarai]

based on nothing? are you fucking serious? how about your past few years of VERY few exclusives, too much focus on Kinect yet somehow still not making anything that works with it, The fact that you DON'T dismiss the rumors about the Always Online requirement, the shitty way you treat indie devs, or the fact that you charge people to use services they are already paying for, to do things every other platform is offering for free, or the fact they you want to overcharge you for a proprietary HDD.

I'm not saying it isn't possible to win me over MS, but as far as your track record goes, i'm not the least bit interested in you next console

[despair]

Playing mainly multiplayer games is a far cry from always online, and this damage control for a rumour (one he helped perpetuate ironically) is as ridiculous as the people who believe everything they read on the internet as well.

Always online will kill Microsoft, they might be pushing the "always connected" bit for all their media and devices but that's not the same thing. If their phones needed an internet connection to work I wouldn't buy it, same with Windows OS and that's the same for next xbox as well.

[tiffac008]

Well... you know all these leaks could just be a way for MS to gauge the reaction of the community and then change everything before the Next Xbox announcement.

They did delay their press conference from this month to next month didn't day?

So who knows what the final word is on this "Always Online" rumor.

[smashcrashbash]

Oh right.Just assume it's just PS4 fans and others are not pissed off about the rumors they heard about the next Xbox.Assume that Xbox people are just a bunch of blind sheep that should just agree with every negative thing they hear.Assume that it is us trying to make Microsoft look bad and it's not them doing it to themselves. And how soon we forget how quickly everyone was ready to write off the PS4 based on rumors and speculation before Sony had a chance to debunk them.If you want understanding and compassion on your side make sure and give some first.Don't grab hold of every PS4 rumor and run with it and then expect others not to do the same with the next Xbox. And even worse their delayed press conference and readiness to defend the always online makes many of us suspicious.

[Godz Kastro]

MS please keep me connected. I don't want physical media and I want developers to do cool things like send messages about game while I'm away and let me impact game when not home. I'm rooting for u. The more haters that appear make me want sytem even more!

[BrianC6234]

This guy makes his living writing about Microsoft stuff so of course he says this. But he doesn't work for Microsoft so he really doesn't know anything either. Maybe Microsoft should come out and tell us what they're doing if they don't like these rumors.

[artdafoo]

Based on fact that MS nickel and dimes fir everything. Play online, using points to make it easier to get people to spend etc

[iplay1up2]

I personally wrote Microsoft off after my second Ring Of Death, and the second time Microsoft did not replace it after only 4 months of use. I sold my 360 games and picked up PS3.

[GraveLord]

Where there's smoke, there's fire.

[Clarence]

http://www.vg247.com/2013/0...

Based on this article, the rumors are pretty much dead on. M$ next Xbox will be online always. M$ is betting that users and newcomers will get rid of their cable service and go with their package. I believe their main focus is cable box first games second.

[KrebStar]

The problem isn't that "PS4 fans" are forming opinions based on literally nothing, the problem is that everyone is basing their opinions on literally nothing, because that's what Microsoft has give us. Literally nothing. Get on the ball, Microsoft, you're losing mind share.

Of course, it's also possible that some of this "nothing" is Microsoft putting out feelers for the online situation of their future hardware. In any case, the article comes off a little defensive, but whatever, it's video game news.

[opticnads]

I smell damage control tactics going on here. This guy coincidentally comes out of nowhere soon after Orth blows his load online to basically shine positive light on what we understand is negative news.

"I dont see any bad news here at all" - Thurrott.

Well good for you.
This guy is deliberately ignoring gamers views and basically supporting what M$ has in store.
Do not trust objectivity from this dude.

[Scenarist]

Still waiting on the reveal ... what is taking them so long.

regardless of what MS does.. I KNOW im getting a ps4

always online aside (guaranteed not buying if so)
if they dont have enough exclusives then it has no purpose in my house

what can Microsoft offer that sony cant ?
and then i will decide if they both offer enough in difference to own both consoles ....

[pete007]

and what can sony offer more than MSFT? dont come with the exclusives story, cause that´s a personal choice, now based on facts, power, features,(real ones), etc.

[Scenarist]

how about a console announcement for starters..

but in all seriousness, you read that wrong...

I was talking from the standpoint of ..we KNOW what sony is offering....

so nowwww whenever they reveal .. what can they offer that sony cant/doesnt ? and tehn i will decide...........

as far as exclusives go ... I said if they dont have enough ... a few exclusives isnt enough to justify owning 2 consoles when the majority of the games we play are mulitplat.

I think you think that Im writing ms off

my first line is that Im still waiting on the reveal...

technically MS has the financial power to crush sony if they wanted to in all aspects of next gen.... I just think they lack the brains to put their money to good use .. (but i forgot its a business ..and not about the games /s)

[Many-hat5]

I'm going to repeat myself at the risk of being annoying -apologies in advance. However,if MS intend to introduce said features, they will absolutely ensure it's disguised 'heavily and cleverly'. This includes convincing a lot of the media to hail the new features as fantastic or no big deal. You know, well, like, I'm always online playing multiplayer games anyway. Are we all aware of the right to privacy proposal currently being discussed by the EU? 'The right to be forgotten' as it's currently known. Well, MS are trying to make sure they have a way around such privacy protections. Also,I want to know that when I purchase a game it's mine to play for as long as I want, not for as long as MS wants. I know we're talking around rumours at the moment, and I do agree that all may actually be quite different in the end, but there does seem to be a lot of consensus, too much, to discount completely.

[Hallow]

I'm a fan of Playstation and haven't written them off yet. There is a difference in a fan and a brand loyalist fanboy aka sheep. I'm a gamer and I go where the games are, this gen both had good games, some more than others but still good games. A fanboy wants the other to fail for no other reason than to laugh and say "my console won" then they will bitch when their games start to suck because they don't understand that competition drives innovation. There are some rumors that if true will sway my decision about nextbox but until confirmed I will hold my judgement.

[pete007]

i am, as always interested in the hardware of course, but also in all the features and integration with all my other systems, pc, surface and why not Windows phone, Yeah, im a Windows man.

[WhatchaTalkinBout]

title: Xbox 720 leaker: PS4 fans are writing off Microsoft based on "literally nothing" hmmm i dont think ps4 fans are writing anything off , i think mircosoft will write them own selfs off "IF" the rumours going around end up being true

[NateCole]

Writing off your closest competitor is the surest way for you to lose.

[Jagsrock]

The Average consumer will buy what they are familiar with and like it or not Xbox is a household name when you talk about gaming. Most likely the next xbox will have similar capabilities to the PS4 in terms of what it can do graphically and the major differences will come from multimedia use, UI and exclusives. I really don't think that many people are going to drop the Xbox next gen, It has it's loyal followers and it has a strong casual fan base as well. Could they possibly lose some people early on sure but I don't see Sony winning next gen out right like many people on this site seem to believe. Just because Sony has shown us bits and pieces that look good doesn't mean that everything about the console will turn out gold and just because the few rumors circling the next box seem a little concerning there could be some amazing stuff in the works we don't know about. Price is also going to be another huge factor so we'll just have to wait and see.

[illtornworld]

Actually in my opinion microsofts silence is threatening. It really has the world scratching their heads wondering what theyre up to. isn't that the best way to draw attention? think about it We all know the gist of the PlayStation 4 but the xbox.. hmm. Fans shouldn't write one another off were all gamers.

[Grimhammer00]

A few things need to be considered. Why did MS not refute the always online? If you state a product causes illness the makers will immediately put out a PR statement refuting it (if they can). Always online is a sickness for consumers - but it falls directly into line with MS ideals. They have always had hacker issues with consoles playing on separate networks playing downloaded retail cracked games. Always online fixes this outright! And devs love it too...until they realize that sales will be hindered dramatically. You think Diablo 3 offline is a anomaly?

Xbox also has LIVE as a elephant on their backs. It makes them hordes of cash. But moving into next gen...what are the OMG must haves of xbox live over PSN? Cross chat was a bottleneck on PS3...but the VITA has it and I'm 100% certain the PS4 will too.

The only real leverage MS can bring is price. If the use a sub fee to offset cost....say sell 720 for $199 + $25 a month for 3yrs. They`d make huge coin and most people would be ok with over purchasing like this. It`s done all the time.

[whamlollypop7]

Fanboy speculation has to be the lowest form of drivel. But hey it be de intratubes.

[JOLLY1]

I don't get why everyone is so up in arms about "always on" everything I own is always online. Do you really think that Microsoft cares if you buy used games? No the publishers do. We all know (from posts on here) Microsoft doesn't makes games. Why do we think that all publishers will have two styles? One always on for MS and one standard one for the Playstation?

[Kratoscar2008]

Is that you orth?

http://www.quickmeme.com/me...

[kingPoS]

Even If the nextbox does turns out to be more robust, I'd still have whatever Sony's offering. I cannot understate what good news it is to have devs state how easy the ps4's architecture has been to acclimate to.

If you sum all it's features together, the ps4 looks to have a bright future. While it may not be as impressive as a full blown gaming pc. It has power where it counts.

When you look at all the known & unknown support it's set receive, it's hard not to become excited about E3.

[headblackman]

always online isn't a bad idea. especially if Microsoft works with Verizon and allow the next Xbox to be 4g capable and higher

[kingPoS]

Please tell me you're joking. You do realize that 4G on a non mobile console won't work out too well when it comes to the cellular bill.

[headblackman]

it can with an exclusive deal between Microsoft and Verizon. there can be an unlimited access deal for Xbox live subscribers. a chip that will allow this can be incorporated inside of the console, along with an extremely strong antenna. its the something that the PS vita is doing with at&t and 3g and it works very well. so if this can work flawlessly with a weaker hand held, I'm certain that it can work on the new Xbox if all the right components are implemented inside of it. there are many avenues that can be taken in order to make this thing work, but the sad part about it is, people don't wanna see the good in it because of what they've heard and assumed. no one truly knows and understand what direction Microsoft will take their always online. nor do we know what direction they will go with the next console (this is due to it not even being announced or even confirmed to even resist for that matter). Microsoft is the most brilliant between the three console competitors. Microsoft has the most money between the three consoles (which means that they can afford to make a console strong enough and advanced enough to make the ps4 look like a nintend Wii). Microsoft has the most connections in this game due to their numerous business relationships in and outside of the Xbox. the Xbox brand and its architecture has been and will always be PC based, which has always made super easy to to develop on and port to (this is something only new to PlayStation which will never allow the PlayStation to be better than the Xbox brand, but will simply allow it to come up to speed and with the times). much more can be said on the positive not about the Microsoft Xbox brand and its future, but in order save time I'll cut it a little short by saying that with all that I have listed above there is no way that a person can truly doubt the Xbox brand and its brilliant ideas. anyone who does is just a person who's bias and will never be pleased by any other console maker unless its the console of his or her choice (personal preference). this not makes me think that Microsoft should adopt a slogan like Sega use to have with the Sega Genesis (Xbox does what the competitors just can't) lol

[kingPoS]

Obviously you've made your choice, nothing more can be said.

We'll all find out what's really going to happen sooner or later in a few months.

[headblackman]

I'm a game collector and I'll be getting all of the consoles, but I'm sure that my Xbox will get the most play in my house :-) and yes. we will see what's what at the e3. may the best company win, but most of all, may all of the gamers win even bigger

[deno]

I like playing my games in single player, I enjoy going through the story and challenge, I am not a person who plays multiplayer anymore. My question is this: How will Micrsoft satisfy my gaming needs of single player campaign that doesn't require online?

[MikeyDucati1]

They are missing the point here. We want the option to be always online or not. We don't want that option taken from us. Plain and simple. Yes, I play plenty online MP but yet and still I don't want my console always having to be connected to the internet just for me to play my games. Microsoft keeps creating unnecessary class separation in the gaming community.

[AO1JMM]

Truth

[Garrison]

Well I most likely will not get an Xbox next gen. Went through 3 Xboxes this gen and sadly I don't have any reason to "jump in" and I frankly don't know why would anyone want to.
I liked my Xbox, it is an excellent console. But sadly with the upcoming gen and the last 2-3 years being a good console doesn't mean well.. anything. Sure I like Gears and Halo but no It's not worth it to get a console for 2 games no matter what sorry. I play my multiplats on PC and got a huge percentage of the best console exclusives by just having a ps3.

I know Xbox fans mostly mention a "service" when they talk about their console of choice and hey that's fine but I don't play services, I play games. And the games, as far as consoles go are on Playstation.

Now If Microsoft does a 180 and starts focusing on games again, then I'll happily fork out the cash for a new Xbox again.

[SITH]

There could be plenty and PS4 fans would write of Microsoft.

[Knightofelemia]

I have yet to see what Microsoft anounces about the Xbox 720 I'm not writing it off. They have titles that you can't get on a PS4. I know PS4 and Xbox 720 are both coming to my house.

[BaconBits]

So does always online mean you HAVE to be always online or only if you want?

The Wii was technically always online unless you turned the option off so it would not try to update automatically.

My 360 automatically logs on so is that not the same?

I hope it is only an feature since I don't have internet in every room.

[madjedi]

See sim city or diablo 3's forced internet connections, basically if your net or lives server go down you have a lovely new paperweight, till it's back up.

The ps3/360 sign in as soon as it powers on, if your or their connection is lost the systems can still play single player or local mp games.

The 720 is rumored to not have a offline mode or a extended one. And it's also rumored to not play used games.

But we will see, Many ps4 fans wouldn't be getting a 720 till yr 2 or 3 at the earliest, unless they are well off. Same for 720 fans and a ps4, so it isn't some conspiracy being pushed by ps4 fans.

Maybe 20-30 yrs from now, when everyone in the world has japan or south koreas infrastructure or better always online will be reasonable, atm it's market suicide.

[1upgamer99]

Sorry dude, Uh I am writing off Microsoft, because I LIKE GAMES. I want 1st party games that entice me into buying the system....Halo1-18 is not going to do it. Sony and Nintendo at least have MANY IPS I want to play...Plus I have had 2 360's FAIL....

[Legion]

The issue with me... not a single PS3 game that makes ME want to purchase the system again. Not one.

[1upgamer99]

Really? Wow. Well I guess it comes down to what you like to play. There is nothing wrong with that. For me its nextbox I wont pick up, although I have read Microsoft is working on, I think it was like 4 new IP's, so who knows maybe Microsoft will blow my mind. For now I a have Wii U,PS3 and will be picking up PS4. Who knows though I could change my mind on nextbox, but I doubt it.

[DOOMZ]

Its going to be awesome, watch!

[kupomogli]

I'm writing off the NextBox because as a Playstation fan, almost every game I purchase on the PS4 will be on the NextBox and vice versa. The power of each console is going to be the same so there's not going to be too many exclusives on either system to make you want to jump from one to the other if you're not already a fan of the other already.

I expect the Xbox fan to think similarly. Yes there are great exclusives on the PS360, depending on the console you own, but if you're not interested in many of the exclusives are you going to waste your money? Depending on whether you're a fan of Xbox or Playstation, then your main console is probably going to be that system and your secondary console will be the Wii U. Play the games you don't own at a friends who does own the other system.

[SOULJER]

My mind is made up. No free LIVE No BUY. Simple.

[Legion]

I see only one way out of this for XBOX 360. On the reveal day... when showing a video game demonstration they need to pause and simply turn to the audience and say "Just in case you haven't noticed, we aren't connected to the internet." And then smile... and go back to playing the game.

[CourierSix]

Lol yes, i'd love to see that happen.

[Legion]

Of course I meant to say "XBOX 720" or whatever they want to call it.

[StreetsofRage]

Like some have previously said, I don't care about the always online issue. I'm always online anyway. Everything in my house is online when being in use. I don't buy used games since most of the time, you can buy them new on Amazon and it would be cheaper. But not being able to borrow my cousins or friends game could be a big deal. But again, this is all based on silly rumors. Nothing concrete yet.

[CourierSix]

Man i hope this doesnt prove to be true, i dont want to jump ship but if the next xbox is "always online" i may join team Sony...on the off thought i also hope next gen consoles(xbox or ps)keep using hard copies for games, i dont want to have to buy all my games from online.

[Legion]

I won't join team Sony but I won't be purchasing another XBOX system if it requires constant internet connection. Because I don't have a constant internet connection. simple as that.

[vigilante_man]

I will be getting a PS4 for the games. The PS4 specs and potential are amazing.

Will I get an Xbox 720 - depends on what they offer. I have a feeling if I get one it won't be for the games but for all the other stuff it offers.

I may have a PS2, PS3 PSP and PS Vita but if Xbox 720 has great exclusives (like Sony does) I will buy one in an instance.

The 360 had nothing for me. Halo/Gears is not enough for a whole generation. I want the best games and will buy whatever console has them. No bias here.

[Mogwai]

I have always been an xbox fan yet also owned a ps3 (as well as all other ps consoles) yet when i knew the next gen was around the corner i anticipated both the ps4 and nextbox, now that sony has shown theirs and its great i am eagerly awaiting the nextbox but i admit after all the rumours and the childish twittering of a microsoft employee taunting potential customers concerns of always online i am apprehensive but hope to all hell that the rumours prove to be false but if not i will switch from xbox to ps this gen, sony have done everything right so far and microsoft can only bring competition or give them the next gen crown, we'll all see come june and i for one am on the edge of my seat.

[contradictory]

i find this situation very amusing
MS and the "elitist" race AKA pc gamers
first are "writing off" ps4 right off the bat

then there's info about nextbox and Sony and the elite race "write off" that

i think it's just safe to say that fanboys will always
complain and find ways to criticize

and don't act like they don't exist
Sony, MS, PC and Nintendo all have fanboys

[FAT MAN GO BOOM]

PPFFF, I am basing it on all my past experiences with Micro Soft products.

Xbox 1 Hard Thompson Drive chewed up many of the games with scratches only finding out when it was way to late.

Had to re buy a new system.

Xbox 360, Had a GPU issue 3 days before the launch of Halo 3... Cursed an entire month waiting for my Xbox to get repaired. 32 Days it took. People say I should be grateful that they repaired... Well They have to it had a year warranty on it... after only 4 months of play???

2nd Xbox 360 died even faster... just turned it on. this time it was the CPU...

3rd Xbox 360 started doing the same similar things as the first one before it died. Now having to pay for shipping I traded it in to a store for money..

Micro Soft windows have hated since Windows 2000... I hate windows 2000 so much... I would rather not be on computer than try to use one with windows 2000...

XP was okay but again it is a windows OS and like every windows OS the Kernel is a whore and get changed or altered every other day...

Windows Seven just makes me wish I had a bucket full of Rocks...

I will never buy a MS product again. Which pisses me off cause there are some wicked games on their system...Halo, Gears, Fable yes I said Fable, Catan and more...

This is why.. this is why I say bull shit too their new system... no matter the specs on this next gen of theirs even if it had a golden pussy on the front... I would wait wait wait... to see if their Hardware has any issues...

I know sony and niny have them to but RROD and Thompson Drives have set the bar so high it is going to be hard for them to over come....

Now do I hope it is a sh*t system??? NO, Cause I would not want gamers to be let down. Competition between Sony and Microsoft and Nintendo and PC only means one thing....

IT IS A GOOD TIME TO BE A GAMER...

[aman84r]

Thats why they are called fans.