This is fairly weird, funny and fantastic at the same time. Adam Orth, the creative director at Microsoft Studios took to Twitter and ranted about the fate of the next “always-online” Xbox. Microsoft has confirmed nothing about the next Xbox, but most of the rumours point towards it being a constantly connected device that will require the internet for authentication. Much like with the upcoming PS4. Here’s Orth’s fascinating twitter exchange:
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First off, Orth is not speaking with a sanctioned Microsoft voice. Expect Microsoft to delete this tweets, issue an apology and most likely shift Orth to the Kazakhstan branch of Xbox. “I don’t get the drama around an ‘always on’ console #dealwithit”. That’s arrogance my friends. With almost 75-million Xbox’s sold globally, are we to believe that every single one of those are online, or that every Xbox owner has access to the internet? Either Orth doesn’t know his audience, or he simply doesn’t care.
As for those who don’t have internet, they must “definitely get with the times and get the internet, it’s awesome.” Always-on internet is a decent way of combatting piracy, and this is going to force millions of gamers to consider a home internet connection, but many users can only afford the console. Let’s use South Africa as an example. A 1Mbps uncapped line is on average, R350 (US$35) per month, which is unaffordable for many. This is not even counting those who cannot connect to a land-line because of their location.
Orth ends his rant with some snide remarks. One reply to Orth was that “sometimes the internet goes out”. Orth said “Sometimes the electricity goes out. I will not purchase a vacuum cleaner.” Far too cocky, it’s not the image of harmony Microsoft is always keen on pushing. The next Xbox will be always-on, it’s something we’ll have to deal with, but it’s not fun dealing with crappy remarks from some arrogant Xbox employee who likes rubbing it in our faces. Hopefully when E3 comes around, the next Xbox will have an offline option, but we sadly doubt it.
Images via Kotaku.com
