Poll: So "new Xbox" requires always on DRM as roumors have it so far

[TheSteeleStrap]

If it's true, the Xbox will flop, there's just no getting around it.

 

[Grivahri]

I have an Xbox 360 right now. But if they pull this shit I will definitely not get their next console. Just imagine if you had to be online to play games in this generation. When they closed down the service I would have over 50 unplayable games left, useless.

 

[Entitled]

And to gain what exactly? Less piracy? No used games? I don't honestly think that these things are so important to Microsoft that they would risk losing a huge amount of their userbase.

More Live subscriptions?

I think the important part that you all are missing, is that while the online connected userbase is currently a minority of all gamers, Microsoft would totally DOMINATE that userbase fragment with a business model where you could, say, buy an xbox with a two year subscription contract, for $99. Or even get one for free, for that matter.

It has been done with many mobile phones, it could be done with gaming.

Yes, they would lose some rural offline players, but pretty much everyone else, even non-gamers, would be standing in line for hours to get a free xbox thrown at them for signing an agreement about a $20/month service.

 

[Cabisco]

It won't be online only, Microsoft would not be so stupid as to alienate a large amount of their user base.

Biased poll is biased.

I agree, Microsoft won't want to piss so many people off before the console is even on shelves.

Though I've been thinking about it and I don't think my xbox is ever offline anymore so if this did happen I have realised it wouldn't effect me as greatly as I first thought.

 

[laggyteabag]

If the next xbox is online only, it has pretty much already lost the console war before it has even started. Sales will be low/ non-existent across the board, and the PS4 will be the dominant console. If this is the case, then Microsoft can say bye-bye to their part in the console market.

What if they're both always online? Or has Sony announced specifically that they're not going down that path?

SONY has pretty much avoided the whole topic, but if both consoles end up being always-online, im not sure what would happen. But whatever will happen, its not going to be good.

 

[MrHide-Patten]

BEST THING EVER... for Sony's future. N'yeah don't own any xbox, doesn't seem like that's going to change.

 

[Poetic Nova]

Oh wow, if it indeed is true then I'll skip the nextBox and go for PS4 (unless they'll do the same).

 

[OldDirtyCrusty]

I hold my horses until it turns out to be true. My interest belongs to both of the upcomming consoles but if they try this stunt i´ll stick with Sony.

 

[Requia]

Remember, although there may be strong evidence pointing towards always online bullshit, there is absolutely nothing confirmed at the moment. Until somebody from Microsoft comes out and says, in no uncertain terms, that this console will require an internet connection to play games, we will not know for sure. Hell, there's a very good chance that Microsoft hasn't even decided for sure if they're going to have an online requirement or not. So let's lower our torches and pitchforks for a moment (although we should probably keep them close by).

Personally, I just refuse to believe that Microsoft would be that fucking stupid. Yes, I know Microsoft has made some very stupid decisions in the recent past, especially regarding video games, but I still just cannot believe that they would be this dumb. They would prevent a very large amount of consumers from playing their console, inconvenience many more, and outright piss off even more. They would surely lose a substantial amount of sales because of this. And to gain what exactly? Less piracy? No used games? I don't honestly think that these things are so important to Microsoft that they would risk losing a huge amount of their userbase. I really don't.

I may end up being proven wrong. But I hope for the sake of the gaming industry that I'm not.

MS loses money when you buy a console, excluding players who don't have the ability to play online (and thus wont be interested in an xbox live subscription, where a lot of their money comes from) is a solid business decision. Lost sales from alienating online players might be more of a problem.

 

[JokerboyJordan]

MS loses money when you buy a console, excluding players who don't have the ability to play online (and thus wont be interested in an xbox live subscription, where a lot of their money comes from) is a solid business decision. Lost sales from alienating online players might be more of a problem.

So it's better to lose all of the money from people not buying the console, than to recoup some of it by a potential sell?
That doesn't sound like a solid business decision to me.

 

[Requia]

MS loses money when you buy a console, excluding players who don't have the ability to play online (and thus wont be interested in an xbox live subscription, where a lot of their money comes from) is a solid business decision. Lost sales from alienating online players might be more of a problem.

So it's better to lose all of the money from people not buying the console, than to recoup some of it by a potential sell?
That doesn't sound like a solid business decision to me.

See highlight, when you buy a Sony or Microsoft console the company *loses money*. (Probably not true right this minute, but it is when the console is new). They recoup the losses through their cut of game/DLC sales, and in Microsoft's case, through XBox Live subscriptions.

 

[JokerboyJordan]

MS loses money when you buy a console, excluding players who don't have the ability to play online (and thus wont be interested in an xbox live subscription, where a lot of their money comes from) is a solid business decision. Lost sales from alienating online players might be more of a problem.

So it's better to lose all of the money from people not buying the console, than to recoup some of it by a potential sell?
That doesn't sound like a solid business decision to me.

See highlight, when you buy a Sony or Microsoft console the company *loses money*. (Probably not true right this minute, but it is when the console is new). They recoup the losses through their cut of game/DLC sales, and in Microsoft's case, through XBox Live subscriptions.

I understand what you are saying, but Microsoft "losing money" is the same as selling consoles at a loss, yes?
If so, then presumably selling their supplies of consoles they produced (which would sell at a loss) in order to get back some of that money, is better than allowing all that product to sit in a warehouse. Because regardless of whether the console becomes cheaper to make in the future, those costly machines would still be part of their stock.

Unless they think cutting out the proportion of Xbox owners who don't have Gold (or aren't always connected) to focus on the online owners is more profitable than not having an always-online console, I don't see them implementing such a thing.

 

[Requia]

I understand what you are saying, but Microsoft "losing money" is the same as selling consoles at a loss, yes?
If so, then presumably selling their supplies of consoles they produced (which would sell at a loss) in order to get back some of that money, is better than allowing all that product to sit in a warehouse. Because regardless of whether the console becomes cheaper to make in the future, those costly machines would still be part of their stock.

Unless they think cutting out the proportion of Xbox owners who don't have Gold (or aren't always connected) to focus on the online owners is more profitable than not having an always-online console, I don't see them implementing such a thing.

If they're going to deliberately reduce their sale numbers I'm pretty sure they can handle also only manufacturing half as many Nextboxes as they would otherwise.

 

[Von Dean]

can i just point people to the DRM episode of the Jimquisition if you haven't already seen it

 

[Chemical Alia]

It's not going to be like, constantly downloading shit in the background, is it? Because I have shitty slow DSL and bandwidth caps, that would just send me over the edge.

 

[Kmadden2004]

If the rumours are true, I can't see myself buying one unless Microsoft are willing to re-wire all the phone lines round where I live so that the broadband doesn't slow down to dial-up speeds whenever the weather's a bit wet (and subsidise the line rental costs)...

 

[Maximum Bert]

Still waiting for confirmation. I usually get all consoles and keep a gaming PC so I can play whatever takes my fancy but always online is something I cannot get behind same with subscription based gaming or micro-transactions and obviously cut DLC.

I put up with so much but if it is always online then thats it I wont be getting one same with the PS4 or any console that supports that practice. Microsoft should really just substantiate or dismiss the rumours now unless ofc they are not sure if its true or no which is frightening as it means they are considering making it always online which is just a huge backwards step.

 

[Happiness Assassin]

As someone who lives out in the country, I don't have a stable internet connection. My internet just refuses to work sometimes and shuts off at completely random times. It has gotten so bad I actually canceled my sub to an mmo until I can get the problem fixed, as I can play either for more than 5 minutes. If this is true, I refuse to buy the new xbox, as it was not designed with me or consumers like me in mind.

 

[Ambitiousmould]

I am currently mostly on Xbox (although my Steam library isn't too small) and if this is true (which I don't think it will be) then I will move entirely to PC. I buy whatever's best, and this would be a complete deal-breaker.

 

[PoolCleaningRobot]

Even if an "average" consumer doesn't know about the online requirement they'll find out after their connection drops once. Its not like consoles can't be returned. Even then, so many people would be barred from using it.


If they have always on drm anyway