Right, I will wait until you are done with the screaming, cursing, mocking and linking of sarcastic GIF images from Reddit after you read the headline to this article.
…
Okay, I think we are ready.
First of all this is an opinion piece to show the ‘other side’ of the argument that is buried deep, DEEP down in Microsoft’s original and controversial Xbox One policies which since have changed due to consumer outcry and bad pre-order figures. Maybe, just maybe there would have been some good that could have come out of this stab at Microsoft’s next generation console implementation which had caused an incredible uproar in the gaming industry.
Gamers, console fan-boys, redditers, N4Gers, games media and mainstream press have been reporting on the Xbox One’s DRM, 24 hour Internet Check In and Used Games Block for the past few weeks. The outcry was incredible to be quite honest and Microsoft didn’t help the matter by having its executives fumble the message behind the Xbox One (Just buy the Xbox 360, etc) which was topped by Sony’s epic troll at their E3 press conference where the console maker mocked the Xbox One policies in flamboyant (but brilliant) fashion.
Yes, the Xbox One would have required an Internet connection every 24 hours, and a broadband one at that, also – yes, you will be exposed to used games block and DRM policies which sound very uncomfortable to gamers who are used to playing games offline and sell, buy or trade used games at GameStop or with friends. Unfortunately this is the only thing that came across when Microsoft announced its console which also requires the Kinect to work and cost 100 Dollars more than Sony’s PS4. A lot of bad press spread quickly over the past few weeks and especially since E3 last week.
Guess what, having an always connected console would have allowed for some cool implementations like having your entire family share games that you purchased without trading a disc – ever. Sure there are the drawbacks of having to be always connected but this is something we have never seen in this capacity. Not even Steam offers this feature as of now.
You would have been able to log onto any Xbox One anywhere and access your games library which is an excellent feature for multi console owners or people who travel – just ask a Steam user how great a digital library is that automatically updates while you sleep. Something we still mock is cloud computing like the Forza ‘Drivatar’ implementation or the offloading that Titanfall will be doing for its online play. We are only in the beginning stages of this but developers would have had the ability to offload a lot of calculations which would free up console power, such as enemy bot AI, and also hosting servers in the cloud as opposed to the terrible peer to peer connections we are used to (Gears of War host advantage says hi). You may be calling BS on me but let’s see what happens in two to three years from now. While the Xbox One itself won’t require an Internet connection anymore, I can guarantee you that the multiplayer games will.
Being always on would also have allowed for a more meaningful way of digital distribution and possibly cheaper games and service based advantages – it would require a closed system like Steam that does not have used games muddy the waters so to speak. Picture buying a game like FIFA or Titanfall for 60 bucks only to add on content or new features as opposed to buying a new game every year. Ultimately we would likely have seen a development of game sales we currently have on Steam where publishers are able to set their own prices and since they receive most of the profit as opposed to manufacturing and retail channel distribution costs. This is all money being being lost on the way to the consumer and therefore requires the 60 Dollar price tag which you are paying for every time you buy Call of Duty or Halo. Still with me, or are you too bust trolling this post?
Unfortunately, we will not get to see these features in full effect just yet since Microsoft reversed their connectivity requirements and used games policies which means developers cannot count on having an internet connection for every user, nor will you be able to share your game library with your family and friends.
Welcome to another 5 years of 2013 standards in gaming and connectivity.
What do you guys think? Also, Vote in our Poll!
