[Rumors] Next Xbox to have publishers decide "always-on" and more.

[DinohScene]

Seems that there are some new rumors on the new xbox.
First off, MS will let publishers decide whether their content should have an always-on connection or not.

The friends system will have no cap anymore.
They want to make it similar to twitter, where people can follow one another.

More achievements.
Let developers add achievements later in game.

XBLive more intergrated into social media.
XBLive is going to be better aligned with social media like Facebook/Twitter.

As always with rumors, take it with a heap of salt.
Source: 360Crunch

 

[dgwillia]

If a single game has always on, I'm not buying the thing, because it'll be a slippery slope. Either way, the last time I literally even touched my Xbox was when Halo 4 came out in November. All my hype is for the PS4

 

[duffmmann]

This is Microsoft's way of passing blame on the matter, now they can say, "don't blame us, the developer didn't have to make it that way." Should the new xbox ever get hacked, all games would logically use the mode from then on. I at the very least hope this rumor is true as its absolutely better than every title (especially single player games) being forced to be always on.

 

[nukeboy95]

The only way I'm buying a new Microsoft is if there no more paid online.

 

[Bladexdsl]

yeah the publishers decide huh?

 

[rashef]

So, It'll end as the choice of region locking or not on the 3DS?
Everyobody can not-use it, nobody really wants to.

 

[Veho]

First off, MS will let publishers decide whether their content should have an always-on connection or not.

So it's just like PC games. Some require constant internet connection, some don't, depending on the publisher. Microsoft washes their hands of it. Makes sense.

 

[Skelletonike]

Well, it doesn't really matter to me, always online or always offline, I already have my 360 directly connected to the internet together with the TV, since my TV needs always online, I'm ok with the rest also needing to be always online. It's not like I'll die if the internet dies once a year. xP

As long as it has more single player games and rpg's, I'm all for it.

 

[Jamstruth]

Well, it doesn't really matter to me, always online or always offline, I already have my 360 directly connected to the internet together with the TV, since my TV needs always online, I'm ok with the rest also needing to be always online. It's not like I'll die if the internet dies once a year. xP

As long as it has more single player games and rpg's, I'm all for it.

Your TV needs always online? So if your net goes the entire screen stops working and you can't even watch a DVD?

 

[Skelletonike]

Your TV needs always online? So if your net goes the entire screen stops working and you can't even watch a DVD?

Not the TV per se, but the box needs, its has all the channels and the 24/7 recording, which records everything that goes on in all channels up to seven days, don't know what it's called over there. Anyway, yeah, if the internet goes down, there isn't anything to see on the tv, except external media like pens, bluray and dvd's.

 

[Arras]

So basically, devs can choose: Either add always online for more control over their customers, possible adding of extra online stuff and better protection against cheaters and/or pirates, or they can leave it out and hope it'll improve sales. Yeah, that's gonna work.

 

[Hells Malice]

If a single game has always on, I'm not buying the thing, because it'll be a slippery slope. Either way, the last time I literally even touched my Xbox was when Halo 4 came out in November. All my hype is for the PS4

Whelp then rest easy knowing you wont own the Nextbox. It's pretty much guaranteed if this is true, that at the very least Call of Duty and Battlefield WILL do always online.
Can't think of any others right now. Pretty sure Bungie wouldn't force Always Online, but they ducked out of Halo and I have a feeling 343 might do the always online thing.

 

[Gahars]

If it's publisher by publisher, then I'm alright with it.

People say it's a slippery-slope, but it all depends on sales. If people don't want the always-online titles, they just shouldn't buy them. I know it's a bit of a cliche at this point, but it's still true - "You vote with your wallet."

 

[xist]

Maybe I'm missing something as I don't have a current gen console but can't they do this already?

 

[Foxi4]

Maybe I'm missing something as I don't have a current gen console but can't they do this already?

They can, but hey, the haters have to hate on something.

Similarily PS3 games had the option of being region locked. How many region locked disc games for the PS3 do we have? One.

 

[xist]

How many region locked disc games for the PS3 do we have? One.

But hey it's a heated example of region locking that caused many an argument.

 

[AaronZ]

They do already do this, I know some of Capcom's PSN/XBL games had an always on DRM, Bionic Commando Rearmed 2 I know for certain has it.

 

[Taleweaver]

And the rumored game line-up:

Diablo 3
Sim City




On a more serious note...I don't really get the hate on it. It's only a matter of time before someone makes an MMORPG for consoles, so a feature like this would be straight up their alley.

 

[FAST6191]

It's only a matter of time before someone makes an MMORPG for consoles, so a feature like this would be straight up their alley.

Final Fantasy XI hit on the PS2 and also got a version on the 360, there was EverQuest Online Adventures on the PS2, RuneScape was set to appear on the 360 though it got dropped and there was also the farce that was Final Fantasy 14. Depending upon how you view it there was also Phantasy star online, some of the more traditional RPG type things have some serious online modes and there are some other oddities on XBLA and similar services. More recently there is also Defiance and Dust 514 (tied to Eve online) is out in a couple of weeks.

As for the matter at hand... eh. I am probably not the person MS want to sell to but I really liked my 360 and this is not lining up to be a good start.

 

[Ergo]

They can, but hey, the haters have to hate on something.

Similarly PS3 games had the option of being region locked. How many region locked disc games for the PS3 do we have? One.

Right, right, good thing that HDCP thing--which started out as optional--hasn't gained any traction (and is far more akin to always-on DRM than region-locking, the latter of which is implemented mostly to 'protect' licensors in other territories from lost sales, and f***-all to do with DRM).

Oh, wait:

http://howto.techworld.com/personal-tech/3257460/hdcp-errors-with-itunes-hd-content/

(Feel free to Google a veritable panoply of examples, re: HDCP and how it caused all manner of issues for people, even though it started out as purely optional--hell, the PS3 *supports* HDCP over its HDMI output which, by your 'logic', shouldn't be happening because, "hey!, only a few manufacturers used it at first and see! that never took off!"
Except it did. Because publishers *love* DRM, regardless of the cons.)