Rumor: Nextbox may not need to be online to play games and won't block used games.

[SSJBlastoise]

Now, I'm sure just about everyone is sick to death of all of the rumors surrounding the Nextbox (720, Durango, whatever else you want to call it) but yesterday there was some new info that conflicts with the past rumors of no used games or can't play offline. The link below goes into it a little bit more.

http://www.videogamer.com/news/next_gen_xbox_always-online_not_a_requirement_to_play_games_claims_new_rumour.html

The article mentions the Xbox Mini (the device that allows backwards compatibility) and how it is thought to work. It suggests that you insert an Xbox 360 into the Nextbox and you are then given a download of the game. I'm not sure how that would work though because you could just borrow a friend's games to get your own copy.

The more notable part of the article would be that it claims that the Nextbox will be an always online console but similar to a PC in that it would not be needed to play games. This sounds like it might be using something similar to Steam in that you don't need to be online to play the games but it is usually easier to just be connected to the internet. It also mentions that it won't block used games as has been rumored.

Of course, this is all a rumor so this should be taken with a grain of salt. To me this is good news and has somewhat restored some of my interest in the Nextbox. So, how do you feel about this news if it is true or perhaps you have some other thoughts?

 

[Terminate421]

As you can see, rumors can be good.

For once, I am pleased to see a GOOD rumor.

Though this does not change my thoughts. Not until may will I be satisfied with information

 

[Maximum Bert]

More rumours that mean nothing until they actually announce something there is no point discussing anything also from the article it suggests they are waiting for the PS4 price to be announced first otherwise there is no way they could 100% make sure they are inline although they could make inline mean anything to be honest.

lets talk about the nextbox when we have something to discuss.

 

[Buizel91]

Finally a good rumour, and something that i can see Microsoft doing.

If it is similar to Steam in the online department, it could turn out for the better, so long as you have the option to sign out.

can't wait for May to come along, most of these rumours are getting out of hand

 

[Dead Seerius]

Given how much bad press and hate Microsoft receives, one starts to wonder why they don't deny them.

THIS is what makes me suspicious...

The saying goes 'bad publicity is still publicity' but I'm with you. If the always-online rumor spree is just a publicity stunt then I'm still baffled that anyone at MS thought it was necessary. Of course they could just be extremely devotional the 'no responding to rumors' policy.

OT, I can only hope that this is true.

 

[Tom_green_day]

I didn't believe the rumours to the contrary. They can't be that stupid.
However, I don't believe any rumours, and when they go both ways... I have a dilemma.

 

[savageoblivi0n]

Given how much bad press and hate Microsoft receives, one starts to wonder why they don't deny them.

THIS is what makes me suspicious...

Because given the current zealotry against everything on the internet in recent times they probably figure it would do no good because the haters would just start yelling "AUUGHH that's exactly what you would say if it were true!!! WARRGARBLE!"

Basically they're damned if they do, damned if they don't, so I figure they just said "fuck it, we'll tell you the specs when we unveil"

 

[Epona]

Finally a good rumour, and something that i can see Microsoft doing.

If it is similar to Steam in the online department, it could turn out for the better, so long as you have the option to sign out.

can't wait for May to come along, most of these rumours are getting out of hand

Better than what?

 

[cjspyres]

If the console doesn't require a constant connection to the internet, then I only have two ideas for this mess. My ideas are that they would've released all this BS in an attempt to make it look like: 1) Oh, Microsoft changed it for the fans! They really do care about us! or 2) Oh, they were never gonna require internet in the first place! Shame on us for not trusting Microsoft! For shame!

 

[MammothBlade]

Who knows? Sometimes companies throw out "leaks" and start rumours to gauge the PR feedback. This is no different, it's hard to tell exactly what's going to happen, whether they've done a U-turn or are testing the waters.

 

[Epona]

If the console doesn't require a constant connection to the internet, then I only have two ideas for this mess. My ideas are that they would've released all this BS in an attempt to make it look like: 1) Oh, Microsoft changed it for the fans! They really do care about us! or 2) Oh, they were never gonna require internet in the first place! Shame on us for not trusting Microsoft! For shame!

Yeah, I think they didn't shoot down the rumors because they are the ones who put them out there to test the waters. Now that they see people won't put up with always online and no used games they will tone it down and people will be "thankful for Microsoft's mercy".

What a fuckin scam.

 

[Scrustle]

I suppose this is better, but it's not getting me to change my mind yet or anything like that. For one thing, it's only one rumour compared to the many others that say the contrary, and they all but confirmed those with the whole "deal with it" thing.

Given how much bad press and hate Microsoft receives, one starts to wonder why they don't deny them.

THIS is what makes me suspicious...

This also leads me to be very cynical about the whole thing. I get that they "don't comment on rumours and speculation", but with how disastrous the rumours are at the moment, it should be a PR nightmare for them. If something comparable happened in another industry I doubt very much that they would be allowing rumours of this severity to circulate so much without saying at least something, unless they were actually true.

I've heard people say that the reason they're allowing these rumours to spread is because when they do finally reveal the thing, we won't be upset by how bad it is because it won't be as bad as we were expecting. I guess that could be the case, but it seems a little too optimistic to me. Like it's a way to reassure ourselves, but reassuring ourselves doesn't do a damn thing to change reality. I also wouldn't put it past MS to actually go through with all this terrible stuff. If it turns out they don't, I'll be sure not to get carried away and still be sceptical in case they really are trying to employ this tactic.

 

[Pinkamena]

I have a feeling this rumor was planted my MS to counteract the huge shitstorm and PR nightmare that was the "always online" rumor.

 

[krazykidd]

Look at that. Rumours saying one thing and rumours saying the opposite. How about every single news source just shut the fuck up and let Microsoft just announce what they're gonna do?

I am so, SO sick of all this rubbish being thrown around.

And yet here you are .

OT: Rumors ! RUMORS EVERYWHERE ! But this could be some good news if it's true . Still not gonna buy one though .

 

[Epona]

Look at that. Rumours saying one thing and rumours saying the opposite. How about every single news source just shut the fuck up and let Microsoft just announce what they're gonna do?

I am so, SO sick of all this rubbish being thrown around.

How do you expect Microsoft to leak these rumors if the media does as you suggest. You are being tested and conditioned.

 

[null_pointer]

This, and any other rumor, have about as much validity as rumors that it's nuclear powered and requires periodic human sacrifices in the EULA. This is stupid, artificial hype generated around a piece of hardware that will very likely be outmatched before it even hits the shelves. Wait until Microsoft makes the official announcement (I believe the date is May 25) and then we can either mock them or praise them on their decisions rather than speculation.

 

[Requia]

The article mentions the Xbox Mini (the device that allows backwards compatibility) and how it is thought to work. It suggests that you insert an Xbox 360 into the Nextbox and you are then given a download of the game. I'm not sure how that would work though because you could just borrow a friend's games to get your own copy.

It'll probably refuse to run the on drive copy unless you have a disk, same as the 360 does if you install to drive.