Three Reasons an Always Online Xbox Will Be Hard to 'Deal With'

"I don't get the drama around having an 'always online' console," Microsoft Studios creative directorAdam Orth wrote yesterday on Twitter. "Every device now is 'always on'. That's the world we live in. #dealwithit" In doing so, Orth dismissed what he saw as "drama" about the rumor that the next-generation Microsoft Xbox console would not be able to play games at all unless it were connected to the Internet, and also insulted the people concerned about it.

Polygon's Samit Sarkar, however, related an argument Orth then had with Manveer Heir, a BioWare game designer, in which Heir brought up people who'd be left out by always-on DRM. Orth was dismissive, but here's a look anyway at a few people who will find an always-on Xbox hard to "deal with."

[jc48573]

with all this fuss, there's a high risk of the console getting delayed.

[MasterCornholio]

Meh people will just have to deal with that unless of course the rumors turn out to be false or its something that Microsoft can easily take out in the last minute.

Motors RAZR i

[shivvy24]

yea ill DEAL WITH IT and get a PS4

[3-4-5]

WE don't have to deal with anything. That is what they don't understand.

I just bought a PC, and If it's ( xbox 720 ) always on then I'm moving to Sony for the first time ever.

I'll get a Wii U eventually just for the 10 games on it I'll actually play and I'll be set then.

Cool I won't get to play Halo 5....big deal.

Only thing I'll miss is online and the controller.

I love the 360 controller...my favorite one ever...but if they are going to be arrogant then I'm out and they are out $400....

Multiply that by 1-2 million people and they now have a problem.

[caseh]

Only if you take what Orth said as the gospel truth. He 'claims' to have seen documentation but doesn't actually know what it relates to.

[Godmars290]

If it gets delayed so that the always online thing isn't a thing - then good.

[TheKayle1]

lol.......just this

[urwifeminder]

I will most likey buy two one for the family one for me.

[sandman224]

Everyone is over reacting about always on Xbox. I'm sure it will be fine. And if you don't like it buy a ps4.

[Bobby Kotex]

OR a Whee You.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

I think there has been a huge "knee jerk" reaction to the terms being used.

So that all said I am not worried at all about the next xbox. Why you ask? Because I know I have choices... I always have the option of buying a PS4 first, I can hold off and just keep my current PS3 & Xbox 360 set up for many more years, I can also just making a PC gaming rig on the cheap if both consoles dont suit me, and lastly... the next xbox may just be what i want... I as a consumer have many choices. I don't need to freak out if one of my choices seemingly seems bad at first glance from rumors.

[Godmars290]

"EA's Origin service (a Steam competitor) probably takes the cake for arbitrary abuses of power here, as according to John Walker of Rock Paper Shotgun one player was permanently banned because someone else swore in a forum post with his username in it."

And that is why EA is considered the worst company in the US over banks and BP.

@sandman224:
"Everyone is over reacting about always on Xbox."
Yes. And the issue would be less than what it currently is if MS would - ONLY SAY SOMETHING.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

So I don't think MS would be in nearly as bad a spot had Adam Orth not gone on his Twitter rampage.

I don't fault MS for not saying anything so far. I mean they have a marketing plan in place... They had their reveal set, etc... I don't believe fanboy wants and game enthusiasts should be dictating your marketing reveals. We always want to know the next thing now... you can't give in to that. BUT... its possible they are now delaying (if the rumor is true) to distance themselves from the Orth Twitter stuff.

[insomnium2]

MS is hurting itself by not saying anything to repair this. These rumours will reach even casual gamers and when they get an idea/picture in their head it's extremely difficult to shake it. Meaning that even if X720 turns out to not require online many casuals will still think that it does.

If Kinect and casuals is your bread and butter MS you should know that things like these can cut into your sales significantly.

Oh well we shall see what MS offers in the coming months sooner or later. No amount of foaming at the mouth will change what is after the fact. I don't really care either way. I'm not even sure if I have money and TIME for gaming to spare so that I would be first in line to buy a PS4 no matter how much it interests me let alone a new xbox.

[The Meerkat]

If my internet was to go down and I couldn't surf the web / play online games / video call with family etc. My default go to form of entertainment would be single player games like Castlevania, Darksiders, Bioshock etc.

Any console that is always online will NOT get my money.

I've always defended Microsoft against the hordes of rabid Sony fans but if always on turns out to be true then its sayonara MS

[OC_MurphysLaw]

This is the thing... we don't know what they mean when we see always on. Is it truly the doom and gloom scenario so many are quick to throw out there? Or is it more akin to all the major functionality is tied to always on but if your internet is down for games with offline play you can still play them? I am for one willing to wait and see.

[GreenRanger]

The Xbox 720 might be always online but my internet sure as hell isn't.
My crap connection keeps dropping.

[My_Name_BTW_Is_Dante]

I think it will be hard to deal with an always online Xbox mainly because it doesn't exist and people blindly follow rumors as fact.