Since Sony’s PS4 announcement speculation and rumour about Microsoft’s upcoming console, with perhaps the most polarising expected feature of the console being talk of an always-online requirement for the hardware.
Reports of a required internet connection for the Xbox 720 have surfaced again, this time from two sources that have a “perfect track record in getting these kinds of things right”. Kotaku reports that these sources have said that the developer hardware for the console, codenamed Durango, will not operate without an active internet connection.
The source said “Unless something has changed recently, Durango consumer units must have an active internet connection to be used.”
“”If there isn’t a connection, no games or apps can be started. If the connection is interrupted then after a period of time–currently three minutes, if I remember correctly–the game/app is suspended and the network troubleshooter started.”
A second source has claimed that the requirement was still a part of the hardware “as recently as two weeks ago”.
Kotaku’s report points out that this requirement has yet to be confirmed and that other sources have claimed to be unaware of this requirement for Microsoft’s unannounced hardware. Microsoft is also able to alter such a requirement rather easily, though they have not obviously done so just yet.
Microsoft is being tight-lipped about the speculation. When contacted for comment they said “We do not comment on rumors or speculation. We are always thinking about what is next for our platform, but we don’t have anything further to share at this time.”
Source: Ars Technica