Can Always Online Benefit Microsoft? Why Yes It Can

4Player-"With the recent rumblings about how the next generation console from Microsoft will always require an internet connection, there has been increasing public outcry. We’ve seen it in leaked developer specs, we’ve seen Microsoft “employees” talk about it, and with every whisper and rumor it becomes closer to becoming a reality. But how can this possibly be good for Microsoft when the only thing their biggest competitor needs to do is not suck?"

[dvewlsh]

I do think that you are right that it is them trying to make publishers happy, but at the end of the day it is about making the consumer happy, not the publisher.

Do I think that if this came true gamers would suck it up and deal with it anyway? Yes.

Do I also think that it could hurt sales? Absolutely.

[darthv72]

to say that they will leave the online key checking to the publisher/developers of the games. That may make it look like sony is the "good guy" by not enforcing the always online approach but it doesnt absolve them either.

Right now, speculation about MS and their always online is outpacing the majority of PS4 news and sony is obviously aware of this. Why else would they join the fray on the topic in the first place? they could just as easily stayed out but instead, they reiterated that it will be game companies that will/wont enforce that option.

So Ms hasnt confirmed/denied anything other than they dont comment on rumors and people still think its the gospel that its happening. For all we know, it will still come down to the individual game companies to enforce this.

No one is willing to listen to reason because there is no reason to listen. They have made up their minds and when the official word finally comes forward it will be like wizard of oz. someone in the audience will shout...Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

edit @357, this has been a topic that has likely been on the minds of many for some time not just the last couple of months. But think about it for just a moment.

You cant get any real solid info on something so you turn to a hot topic that has never been really discussed and you twist it into something useful. Something that you know the public will get worked up over. then you sell it, people buy it and it goes crazy.

Stuff like that happens in REAL news not just game news. you try and squash rumors only to have the mere involvement of squashing rumors added to the fray of the possibility the rumors are true. There is no bright light at the end of this tunnel. But you just have to drive through and come out on the other side when you feel you have reached your end.

When MS has reached their end....is when we will know.

[bangshi]

Which makes you think, they really need to show the 720 sooner rather than later just so they can clear this whole thing up.

On a personal level I don't care if it was always online. On an anecdotal level observing people I know, friends, work colleagues - they wouldn't either.

Those against it - certainly in countries where the most Xbox consoles are sold - are in the minority.

The trouble is, when you're selling 10s of millions of consoles the minority isn't just a handful of people, its hundreds of thousands of people.

I think we need to wait and see if indeed they are including this before we all rage hard - and if they are including it, wait to see their reasons why.

If it is to prevent used games and piracy, I can smell the rage now. If it is to make some cool new feature work - maybe it will win some people over.

[RememberThe357]

Your giving them too much credit. This is not a manufactured story. This is an issue that came up a month ago and someone from MS responded poorly to inquiries about.

Tell us all why MS would defend something that doesn't exist? Why would they let all of us hammer on them about something that never really was. The saying "any press is good press," only applies to things people don't know about. We all know MS, most of us grew up using their products. In this case bad press is bad. No one on their PR team is going, "I'm glad people are slamming the console we haven't even announced yet it's getting us exposure." No one there is that naive. They're either going to walk this back or spin it. But we've had developers confirm it and an MS employee defend it. It's real and it sucks.

[kneon]

@bangshi

It's not hundreds of thousands that are affected, it's 10's of millions. Not only would it affect the 30+% of Xbox owners that do not connect their console to the internet but it will also impact all those that buy used games or rent games.

[dedicatedtogamers]

The more I follow the news, the more I feel it's a troll. It's just TOO perfect. It's just TOO hot. Microsoft has expertly hushed journalists and its fanbase over far worse issues (RRoD, dashboard updates, new focus on Kinect, etc).

I think Microsoft may be waiting so they can announce "hey, you can play games online or offline" and end up looking like heroes. And then everyone will turn a blind eye when Microsoft continues to charge for online play and forces you to have an XBL account to play music, watch Netflix, or download demos.

The sad thing is, I think the bar really is that low for the loyal 360 fanbase, the few that have stuck around and held out for Microsoft to focus on them again.

[bangshi]

@kneon you are wrong. Just because 30% of consoles have not connected to Xbox LIVE does not mean that 30% cannot connect to the service. Plenty will have the ability to do it but are not bothered about the online features so haven't connected it.

In addition being always online does not mean no used games or game rentals. You can do one without the other.

[dedicatedtogamers]

What makes this whole thing hilarious is that XBL matchmaking just went down. Worse yet, XBL Silver members can't access their save files "due to server problems".

http://support.xbox.com/en-...

Hahahah! Microsoft didn't wait for "always online". It's already here. My sides. Oh, my sides.

[GenericNameHere]

Sony allowed devs to let a game be region-free if they wanted. Ever since the PS3 launched all way back from mid November 2006 to now, only 1 (read ONE) game was region-locked.

Maybe the devs will do the same and just make the games DRM-free.

[thechosenone]

@darthv72

they're not mandating that sh*t like MS is trying to do so they are the good guys in my eyes. and to those few publishers that dare push that sh*t on our platform we'll simply avoid their games and that'll be the end of DRM on the Sony platform.

[rainslacker]

Even if they leave it up to publishers, I hope they make it mandatory that there has to be an obvious mention of it on the front of the box. SimCity didn't do this, and many people were upset because they just didn't know that they had to have the game connected to play. It was mentioned in small print on the back of the SimCity box.

If it's obvious, then I hope it kills the sales of the first big game that uses it, so we never have to deal with it again.

[Tito08]

Damn, the console should be called "Xbox Always Online" with all of this annoying articles pointing at that, they should give it a rest already until Microsoft unveils the console, game journalists with their stupid analogies.

[fermcr]

From now until release, every day there are going to be stupid articles trying to convince gamers that always online and no used games is the best thing that ever happened to gaming... (sponsored by Microsoft).

EDIT: I agree with darthv72.
Sony did say that online key checking is up to publisher/developers of the games. What that means is that most games on the PS4 are going to use the no used games check.

In all honesty, next gen consoles aren't looking that appealing to me. I'll wait for future developments to make up my mind.

[Ezz2013]

if the consumer not happy
then the publisher won't be happy
simply because they get their money from the consumer

if MS or 3rd party dev's do this
nothing good will come out from this

(sony is not doing it with it own 1st/2nd part games ...but they said it's up to 3rd party studios to do it or not)
http://kotaku.com/5985874/p...
i won't buy any 3rd party game that support this

[NateCole]

Yes that's what bothers me with this these sort of moves. Console manufactures and publishers getting more power over gamers. It's a very dangerous precedence for console gaming.

If these rumors are true it's more reason for me to hate MS. Anything they touch turns to shit.

First they pushed for paying to play on line. Then they pushed for paid DLC and time exclusives. If these rumors are true then we will have further barriers for gamers.

[kneon]

Console manufacturers and publishers have no power over you, it's the other way around. We can survive just fine without them, by they can't survive without customers.

If you don't like what they are doing then just don't buy their products.

[NateCole]

Kenon I did that and still things are going to shit.

They have no power over me but they have power over a lot of other gamers.

[rainslacker]

Well Nate...the last console crash came about because publishers and devs thought they could just push out whatever they wanted and people would accept it. That didn't happen obviously an the consumer became disillusioned.

It's hard to say what immediate effect it would have nowadays with gaming being much larger, but no doubt the long term ramifications would be similar.

If a majority of the core just said "screw it" then it would be very hard times ahead. Many of the best devs love making core games over casual, and not everyone wants to make indie games.

I guess my point is that there's a tipping point where the consumer just doesn't care anymore because it doesn't provide enough value for the money. Consoles should be simple, but they are quickly becoming more complicated than PC's.

[GamerToons]

Can it benefit MS? Of course it can.

How the hell does it benefit gamers is what they should give a damn about because all I see is a restrictive future chocked full of DRM.

[Nilemonitors13]

All I know is that if this is true, and people still buy the new xbox, it'll prove that people will let anything or anyone stomp all over them, let us Ps fans enjoy our console, and let xbox people "enjoy theirs" there's only so much we can do to warn them to avoid M$ dirty business practises, in time they will realise their mistake, stubbornness cannot be cured. Let's only care for our future as gamers and support our company.

[GraveLord]

Will the publishers be happy if their games flop? Because that's what will happen if Microsoft goes through with this. NO ONE will buy the next Xbox, they'll buy the PS4 instead.

[StrongMan]

This won't be good in ANY way. Nice try, though.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

hehe...same could be said for your comments in any Xbox article.

[Hicken]

Which is relevant HOW?

On topic, at first glance, it APPEARS to be beneficial to Microsoft. But given the sales they stand to lose because of this, it's GOT to be considered a a net loss. No matter what kind of revenue streams they manage to generate from the always online model, it won't be able to compensate for the lack of console sales they'll suffer.

THAT'S the biggest, most important of revenue streams, and the one devs, publishers, and console manufacturers need to be most focused on developing.

[Rusty515]

#Dealwithit

[StrawHatPatriot]

lol of course it can benefit Microsoft, I mean no used games, and even more subscription based services.

[kneon]

And potentially much lower console sales and heaps of negative PR. It doesn't seem like a worthwhile tradeoff.

[dark_101]

Well, this will help some developers for sure..
And we all know how M$ go crazy with them

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[sithsylar]

I told you there will be articles saying its a positive but please people remember diablo 3 *shudders*.

[secretcode]

**** that, remember Sim City.

For the love of God, it JUST happened. How could people just write that off so suddenly.

[sithsylar]

Exactly well said as well. People just write this off so easily because you know they are sheepople.

[ApolloTheBoss]

I read your comment in Hank Hill's voice lol.

[darthv72]

how quickly did the Simcity issue get resolved? I havent played the game but it seems to be selling well and getting good reviews.

Whatever their issue was, was fixable. That doesnt mean the same situation will happen for every game from this moment forward. Some will have issues and others wont.

But the higher profile the title, the more pronounced the issues will be made out to be even if they arent really anything to get pushed out of shape over.

I was still expecting to see dozens of simcity issue threads....where did they go? did EA pay off everybody who bought a copy to keep them quiet?

[secretcode]

@ApolloTheBoss

Everyone does. EVERYONE.

@darthv72

Lack of interest.

[GamerToons]

Wtf is a sheepople haha

[cyguration]

You can always count on gaming media to suck the you-know-what of console manufacturers and publishers.

They will NEVER side with the consumer or gamer, unless it's Rock Paper Shotgun or Destructoid. Everyone else is an extended marketing arm of the publisher and a media pansy.

[NeoTribe]

Diablo simply had launch issues like most games. Been playing it since it released and it runs flawlessly.

[Unicron]

We should worry about what's good for GAMERS. Oh how quickly people have forgotten Diablo 3 and Sim City. For shame.

[knifefight]

What are you even talking about?

Diablo stopped after part 2 like a decade ago and Sim City hasn't been seen in years either.

Stop making up games that don't exist.

[Unicron]

Well played sir. And a bub for you.

[secretcode]

As someone whose internet connection rivals that of one made of a tin can and a crate of Fruit-by-the-Foot... No. Piss off.

[Tyre]

How could they, if no one buys the Next Xbox? Dream on. And in the end It is useless to make your console like this, because hackers will always find a way to bypass the checks and make it possible to play offline. Believe me people want to be able to choose. Microsoft can't force gamers. Cliff Blezinski said gamers can Vote with their money....if we don't want this, DON'T BUY the Next Xbox. This is a Democracy not a Dictatorship. Microsoft would like to think so, guess they never learned from their Windows Vista debacle, people showed them they were heading in the wrong direction by not buying Vista and they changed it. Same goes for this Always Online debacle.

[IK IR Y IP T]

the shame is eventually all consoles will be like this and more then likely it is going to be the generation after ps4 and the next xbox which is called xbox not 720

[rainslacker]

If it's true, and accepted widely(or at least they see good sales from it), then yeah, no doubt others will take notice. Same thing happened with online passes.

If it fails miserably, which I hope it does(although I won't say it would because well that's the world we live in now), then expect this to not be an issue ever again until the internet is in 100% of people's homes with a flawless connection and speeds that will make today look like dial up...so likely not in my lifetime.

[Number-Nine]

benefits me. ill save some money.

[BeAGamer]

PS4 is all i need

[RememberThe357]

I'm not a publisher, I'm a consumer. Both MS and third party publishers answer to me. The moment they think they can force something on us that we don't want is the moment they begin to dig their own graves.

I'm not against DRM or companies protecting their property, but not at the expense of my enjoyment and in this case freedom. I don't mean "freedom" in the epic, dying for your beliefs sense, more so that I should have to choice whether to be online or not. I should not be expected to accept something that in not necessary for my enjoyment of a product. And if "always online" is their new policy then I'll exercise my epic freedom and buy something else.

[BlackCarrot]

I agree with you, but I am going to depart on this sense: prohibiting used games/DRM is not publishers protecting 'their' property, it is publishers infringing on ours. When I purchase a video game, I expect to be able to sell it on. I expect to have full rights to it like I would a book, or clothes, or a car; you cannot copy or illegally use these items and therefore they are subject to ordinary copyright law but that does not prohibit my sale of these goods.

I think this is about freedom, it's about my right to property and my right to do as I wish with it.

Always online will affect people with struggling internet connections, it may create massive server problems like with SimCity. For me though, it's about whether it infringes my property rights. That will be the defining factor.

You never know, always on might be done in a totally cool way so I'll apply the benefit of the doubt, for now. Doesn't look good though.

[Oh_Yeah]

What's new? Sony has always been pro consumer while Microsoft has been pro developer.

[Nykamari]

Ohhhh Yeahhhhh!!!!

[NateCole]

I am just going to believe that this is not true unless MS says it true.

[cyhm3112]

force more people to buy ps4

[clintos59]

DRM & Always Online is whats going to kill the gaming industry. If it is true I will tell u exactly whats going to happen. The 720 will be successful & I know this because if microsoft can get away with rrod, kinect, making people pay to play online then whats going to stop people from buying it because of having to be always online? We see it even in n4g there are guys who still want the 720 despite the rumours are true or not. After the success of the 720 look for sony & nintendo to follow in the same direction & look to start paying to play online games. All systems will have to pay to play online.

Thank u microsoft, now we all know why your fans love u so much. /s

[sithsylar]

Its what i predict as well and what i also fear.... I really hope it doesn't happen like that, i mean we have already lost so much as it is. 70% of games and the rest you buy with dlc for one... Online passes, store exclusive dlc anything else? :(

[clintos59]

sithsylar

People dont understand what were talking about but as gamers its us that will either let this go through or take a stand & not support these things. That is the best way to get our point across to publishers & developers that were the ones paying your bills & u will do things the way us gamers want to do it. Even the biggest fanboys of any console need to understand that if the corporation u love so much gets a free pass with their way for their own greed. In the end all gamers get screwed because it leads other corporations to do the same thing & we all end up in the same boat & "We All Get Screwed".

[4logpc]

What do you mean get away with Kinect, RROD and Xbox Live gold. Nobody is forcing you to use Kinect or pay to play online.

The RROD was a disaster but they lost a ton of money by making the extending the protection plan or whatever you want to call it from 1 year to 3. They stepped up and admitted their mistake, and took care of the consumer.

[madjedi]

"Nobody is forcing you to use Kinect or pay to play online." If you own a 360 and you want to play online multiplayer you damn sure are forced to pay to play online.

My live subscription just expired and my 360 is a fancy single player only/demo platform. Netflix and many others apps are worthless atm, both multiplayer gaming and netflix work perfectly fine on my ps3 without a unnecessary(gold) subscription.

"They stepped up and admitted their mistake, and took care of the consumer." Bullshit they got called out on it and took the loss to avoid getting the 360 recalled.

But some people are a lost cause obviously. Owns a ps3 but doesn't see any issue with live, wow.

[4logpc]

Again nobody forced you to buy a 360. It wasnt a secret Xbox Live Gold was a paid subscription. Yet you still bought a 360. If you don;t like it, you should of bought a PS3 only.

"But some people are a lost cause obviously. Owns a ps3 but doesn't see any issue with live, wow."

Dont put words in my mouth. Never said that there arent issues with live.

[madjedi]

Nobody forced me to buy a 360, seriously jesus christ so it's my fault i enjoyed 360 exclusives enough to by the fucking thing.

Your right ms didn't put a gun to my head and say buy our shit or we will kill you, your stupid fucking forced comment is correct. But still lame as hell.

And i thought i was a real asshole, i stand corrected.

[4logpc]

WHats lame is your comment that Microsoft is forcing things upon people. They are not. If you want to play the exclusives, you have to follow Microsofts rules. Obviously they are doing something right if you think its bullshit to make people pay to play online, yet you still did it.

If you bought the product and found it not worth the money, why would you continue to buy 306 titles and support the platform.

I bought a PS3, and purchased the first Uncharted, and enjoyed it, so I bought the other two. I bought God of War HD collection, and didn't enjoy it, so I didnt purchase God of War III.

SO simply because I didn't enjoy it, I shoudl prance around and say CHARGING 60 DOLLARS FOR GOD OF WAR III IS STUPID. No, I simply don't buy it.

[andreasx]

Only thing I can see as a "benefit" for them with DRM is watching your browser log to see if you're watching childporn etc. Either way not a smart move AT ALL.

[deadfrag]

Well all we have to do is not support games and systems that need to be always online connected.Im not supporting this kind of craps,i have the will and power to do so not to mention i have the money!Serious if people stop banking this BS tactics,by doing so this greedy companys and developers will start losing money and jobs,and im certain that they will have to retract this crap tactics and methods.I think the first move people have to do is stop pre-ordering next generation games and systems until the actual and final facts are confirm.

[Gamer-Z]

You know what the real problem is its that people don't care if they get taken advantage of. I just told my brother everything ms might plan to do with the next xbox and you know what his response was: "i don't care cuz all my friends are buying it". When logic wont work how can you change a persons mind that thinks like that? I don't think you can. I see now that there really are two types of people those who analyze and form their own opinion and those who blindly follow, unfortunately in this society (US) the ones that can think for themselves are the minority.

[KillrateOmega]

Before someone tried to put a positive spin on this. I guess people conveniently decided to forget Diablo 3 and SimCity.

This is just one more method of restriction that they know that most of the sheep will allow. They'll ignore our outcries, but we still have a powerful weapon at our disposal, our wallets. Break them out and cast your votes.

[JasonXS12]

No.

[JeffKaos]

This story is about Microsoft trying to court exclusivity deals with publishers because as all of us Xbox owners know Microsoft is terrific about finding exclusive titles. What a joke, PS3 has killed with exclusives. Oh, and while you try to stop the sale of used games I guess your cool with putting Game Fly out of business and what happens if my console dies or gets stolen or something? Will I need to re-buy all my games if I replace my hardware?

[CoryHG]

trooooooooooooooooooool article

[Seisan]

I love the people who think this article is trying to support M$ rather than just point out why a company like M$ would consider it. Sony already disproved claims that the PS4 would require a constant internet connection, albeit in a belittling way, yet M$ has yet to do so. Until they actually do disprove the rumor, you cannot dismiss it no matter how ridiculous it may seem. With that in mind, you would then ask why a company would seek out such a policy and this article gives a possible answer to that.

[4logpc]

THe only way I can see the box going always online is if they partner with cable/internet companies to provide a better experience. Like being able to have unlimited bandwidth for your xbox, so people using netfilx and downloading games don't have to worry about caps

[GABRIEL1030]

The permanent internet connection must be false. MS is very smart.

The majority of the gamers is always online. But this status is optional, is like if you have a smartphone, this device would works without internet but everybody have the option to choose that they want online or offline and the device works in any sense. If Xbox requires permanent internet connection will be the most restrictive device ever created, the collapse of a great job made by 360 and the worst product against the consumer. Microsoft needs to attract the player to be always online with great discounts, free online and incentives to update the system and not to force the player to get connected.

[artdafoo]

Yes it can, so can taking $20 out of your bank accouny everytime you log in to LIVE, how about what can benefit the consumers ?