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[Aquamarine]

Damn it, can anybody in the industry just write something clear about this issue?

So it's always online but not as people think, but it has to be online to use, but not as expected from the rumors, but it's still always-on, but not in the 'always-on' kind of way, and it requires internet, but you don't need a lot of internet...

How is "The next Xbox must be internet-connected to use" not clear enough?

Does this make it better?

"To use the next Xbox, you must maintain a connection to the internet."

 

[Sir Garbageman]

How can you enforce a $299 sub model if you can freely use the system without verification through internet sign-in?

By a contractual obligation that will allow them go after you if you don't pay? If you turn off your cell phone or cable box for a month you're still getting a bill.

 

[Acquiescence]

Internet-connected. The next Xbox must be internet-connected to use. This is source of the “always on”/“always online” rumors and isn’t as Draconian as many seem to believe.

What the hell does this even mean? "It must be internet-connected to use, but don't worry, it's not as bad as it may seem."

Getthefuckouttahere. It's internet-required, that's the be all and end all of it.

 

[kaching]

does not compute

Insert marketing. They've spun additional paywalls for already paid-for services positively to a fraction of the market, they're probably banking on doing the same here. It's really just not going to seem so draconian because ...hey! look at all this other shiny stuff!

 

[UraMallas]

What does that even mean?

Please understand.

 

[ironcreed]

I will wait for everything to be confirmed. I think the people acting as if they won't buy it because of these rumors weren't even interested in the first place.

Nonsense. I owned the first Xbox and I am on my third 360. What it boils down to is either features appeal to you or they don't. A console that always has to be online in order to function is simply not appealing to me and it is as simple as that. But yeah, I'll wait for everything to be confirmed as well.

 

[Durante]

I was (still am, really) expecting $399 standalone and $199 subsidized, with a higher monthly fee. 499 seems really high.

 

[twobear]

starting to wonder if the next Xbox and PS4 are going to have as much trouble selling as WiiU, I want new consoles but I don't NEED them, my 360/ps3 could keep me happy for a lot longer, so if the new ones are too expensive/too anti-consumer it will make it easier to just stick to my backlog for a while and see what happens...

I'm in exactly the same place as you. In fact I'm beginning to not even want them that much.

 

[Pillville]

That seems crazy, why not just buy a cheap router?

Like I said, I don't know his reason, I'm just trying to think of a scenario where he couldn't keep the cable connected constantly.

 

[leadbelly]

This makes no sense. "Must be internet-connected to use" is pretty explicit. It is what it is. There is no more or less "draconian" version of it. You either have to be connected or you don't have to be connected.

Yeah. The wording seems pretty explicit. If it is not required to play games then say that.

 

[ciridesu]

So is an indication of where the PS4 will be priced?

I feel Sony may try and undercut MS and go for the $400 price range in the US. Gives them a great chance to try and re-capture the American market. Europe, I believe both of them will price similarly at €399 and £349

$499 sounds awfully high though, so will see.

 

[Sidewinder]

Have to renew your contract? What do you mean? You're contractually obliged to always hold an Xbox contract with Microsoft for perpetuity? What?

Or you lose some major features, like PSN+ where you lose all your games you got for "free", should've explained myself some more.

 

[lol51]

By a contractual obligation that will allow them go after you if you don't pay? If you turn off your cell phone or cable box for a month you're still getting a bill.

Yeah but they eventually deactivate your phone service if you don't pay for a few months. You wont get incoming or outgoing calls. You pay and they will restore your service. What will be the point of a subscription model if you can just use the system without MS having a way to deactivate users who don't honor the subscription agreement?

 

[The Omega Man]

I'm just wait till May 21st for answers because the press will ask the right questions.

And when the press asks the right questions, Mattrick will use the unbeatable technique of “Look behind you, a Three-Headed Monkey!” to then proceed to gracefully disappear from the stage.

 

[Brick]

$10 a month for gold?! That's quadruple what I pay now (getting the 12 month cards when they go on sale on Amazon)! If this turns out to be accurate, then it just seems like Microsoft is actively doing everything they can to push me to never buy their console.

 

[phosphor112]

Not any more than being based on the Win8 Kernel makes WP8 or OSX kernel makes iOS a haven for piracy. I don't think the Durango is going to run anything like WinRT.

Not even the same thing.

WinRT, WP8 and iOS are based on ARM CPUs.

Win 8 and Mac OSX are both x86 based. So the desktop counterparts aren't related to the mobile platforms in terms of programming. The Nextbox will be based on Windows 8 (x86).

Not going to explain hardcore how you can easily override those 'basic' functionality but the main point is this:

More likely this will be based on the x86 architecture.

The windows 8 core he talks about is not the same running windows 8 OS on your desktop but will be different for console use.

DRM- Security, no matter how you look at it, the developers benefits; consumer falls short as they will really really rely on a reliable network and the developers servers as well.

I'm not really disagreeing with you. But it'll be the same base code, and if they can bypass the internal DRM (which almost always happens with every console) online will be the only thing to help prevent piracy from happening.

 

[RedNumberFive]

Hell will freeze over before I let Microsoft anywhere near my credit card again.

 

[Deadly Cyclone]

$10 a month for gold?! That's quadruple what I pay now (getting the 12 month cards when they go on sale on Amazon)! If this turns out to be accurate, then it just seems like Microsoft is actively doing everything they can to push me to never buy their console.

Uh, gold won't be $10 a month.

 

[megashock5]

They haven't, but I expect PS4 to be $399

That would be fantastic, but the cynic in me won't believe it just yet. If so, though...

As far as the two SKUs, I realized the suggestions listed make the subsidized model look pretty attractive - however (and this may be my age) I just don't like the idea of a contract for a console. I put up with all the set up and talking to the salesman for a cell phone because it's necessary, but when I buy a game system I want to take it to the counter, pay for it, take it home and play games on it. No hassle.

 

[Computer]

Why are people complaining about a 499.00 price? How many of you paid 499.00 for an Ipad?

 

[jett]

Never bought a subsided phone?. Lot's of people does even if they end paying like 300€ more in the long run.

I think it makes sense. People already pays for Gold, they won't see it as an aditional cost because they would pay for it anyway.

According to the OP's prices the subsidized xbox would be cheaper than the non-subsidized xbox.

Yes it can't be 300$ + only 240$ for the 2 year contract. Only way this would work out for MS is, if you have to renew your contract every year.

Or what, they send in a swat team to forcibly remove the xbox from your home?

 

[Sorc3r3r]

Sooo in the end nothing new here.

Im still hoping this is some sort of weid reverse markenting by Microsoft.

It's too awful.

 

[Marleyman]

starting to wonder if the next Xbox and PS4 are going to have as much trouble selling as WiiU, I want new consoles but I don't NEED them, my 360/ps3 could keep me happy for a lot longer, so if the new ones are too expensive/too anti-consumer it will make it easier to just stick to my backlog for a while and see what happens...

I don't think as much trouble, but personally I will be busy playing Battlefield 4, GTA V at the time to really worry much about these systems, especially with the checkered history of launch titles and weak ports.

 

[BruiserBear]

Sad to hear that the required use of Kinect and always online still look to be real. I'm not interested in dealing with either.

 

[Xater]

$499 and always online. Hahaha...NO!

 

[TheOddOne]

I always find it amusing that the same people do the whole "Fuck that, not buying" shtick in every thread. Yeah, thanks for reminding us for the thirteen thousand time.

Worse are people who actively "promote" their console of choice. Disgusting. Utterly disgusting.

 

[.GqueB.]

Every day with my PS3 and 360. Only time an ethernet cable is plugged in is if I am doing system link with my boys. Maybe I'm the only one on the entire planet though?

Why do you unplug it?

 

[NoLootBoxDev]

Fuck this. 21st of May reveal better debunk this shit.

Well as it is its pretty much confirmed, how it wont be draconian its another tale.

 

[Relaxed Muscle]

Yeah but they eventually deactivate your phone service if you don't pay for a few months. You wont get incoming or outgoing calls. You pay and they will restore your service. What will be the point of a subscription model if you can just use the system without MS having a way to deactivate users who don't honor the subscription agreement?

That's when the internet-connected to use thing comes into play.

According to the OP's prices the subsidized xbox would be cheaper than the non-subsidized xbox.

Yeah, sorry. I missread what you meant.

 

[Deleted member 47027]

According to the OP's prices the subsidized xbox would be cheaper than the non-subsidized xbox.

There's financial benefits to Microsoft with that kind of plan that doesn't involve taking more money from consumers, but instead gives them a bigger marketing reach for marketing dollars.

 

[Defuser]

$299 xbox? Although $10 every month is the catch but I bet there's another catch like lesser features in terms of hardware/software.

 

[MaximumFlipFlop]

Why are people complaining about a 499.00 price? How many of you paid 499.00 for an Ipad?

Different devices with different functions?

 

[Servbot24]

Holy shit @ $10/mo if true.

Please don't charge for online, Sony.

 

[ClovingWestbrook]

I will wait for everything to be confirmed. I think the people acting as if they won't buy it because of these rumors weren't even interested in the first place.

Or always online is a red line for these folks and if crossed the console isn't worth it to them. Even if I loved Microsoft's IPs, Xbox Live I wouldn't buy a console that required a connection until said console was about $100 with no subsidy required since I will never pay for multiplayer.

 

[LyleLanley]

When asked on twitter "So will games be playable without an internet connection, or will my "Nextbox" be completely useless when not connected?"

Thurrott responded with "No idea".

Now I have no idea what he means by The next Xbox must be internet-connected to use.

Hell will freeze over before I let Microsoft anywhere near my credit card again.

This seems a tad dramatic.

 

[Foil]

I don't know his reason, but I can see someone that has only one Ethernet connection sharing the cable between their computer and consoles.
The cable is usually connected to the computer, but when they want to game online, they disconnect from computer and connect to console.

This.

That seems crazy, why not just buy a cheap router?

I share this place with other people. We have a router and each person has a cable running from it. My PC and PS3 are right near each other, so it's quite simple to swap it out. It's not ideal, but hey.

 

[Marleyman]

Hell will freeze over before I let Microsoft anywhere near my credit card again.

Wow. What happened to you? My debit card has been on there for years; never any issues.

 

[MightyHedgehog]

$10/month for Xbox Live?

Fuck.
That.

That $10/mo is a two-year contract to get you a system at $200 less upfront, like getting a phone cheap for a contract...no differrent. Otherwise, buy the $499 one with no commitment.

 

[Brick]

Uh, gold won't be $10 a month.

D'oh, read the OP wrong. That's part of the subsidized pricing. *Whew*

 

[Owzers]

$10 a month for gold?! That's quadruple what I pay now (getting the 12 month cards when they go on sale on Amazon)! If this turns out to be accurate, then it just seems like Microsoft is actively doing everything they can to push me to never buy their console.

I stopped buying XBL Gold because i didn't want to spend $40 or so a year extra....$10 a month would be insane if it ends up happening, which i doubt it will. Maybe MS has a couple extra services to announce to "justify" the price.

 

[MaximumFlipFlop]

I always find it amusing that the same people do the whole "Fuck that, not buying" shtick in every thread. Yeah, thanks for reminding us for the thirteen thousand time.

Worse are people who actively "promote" their console of choice. Disgusting. Utterly disgusting.

Please compile the list detective Oddone.

 

[Mr_Antimatter]

$499 is rather high, unless there is something in the specs that is driving up the cost. Makes me wonder if Sony could hit the rumored $399 price with their more or less simular tech.

 

[WrenchNinja]

Why are people complaining about a 499.00 price? How many of you paid 499.00 for an Ipad?

Because its expensive. I did not.

 

[Leflus]

Looking at his recent posts on Twitter, it doesn't really look like he knows excactly what is meant by "always online".

https://twitter.com/thurrott

 

[Bullza2o]

I thought the $299 versions requires a $10/month fee + XBL subscription fee? Or is the XBL included with the $10?

Everyone will go for subsidized if it's just $10/month.

 

[THE:MILKMAN]

This always online crap reminds me of the Sky TV must be connected to phone line mess.

In fact, it only applies to Multiroom. Even then, lots of people have never had it connected to a phone line with no bother while others have had threatening letters....

I hope Microsoft have the helpline fully manned......there maybe a few confused customers.

 

[abadguy]

 

[AngryMoth]

That pricing structure seems wierd. If you plan on getting live then why would you ever buy the box outright? $500 for the box plus $60 for one year of live, or $300 for the box plus $240 in sub fees for 2 years of live. My guess is it will be more than $10 a month for the subsidised model.

 

[Marleyman]

Or always online is a red line for these folks and if crossed the console isn't worth it to them. Even if I loved Microsoft's IPs, Xbox Live I wouldn't buy a console that required a connection until said console was about $100 with no subsidy required since I will never pay for multiplayer.

Never said it wasn't. I just think it is wise to wait for official details before trashing it.

 

[Ricker]

The always on/always connected still is confusing though...will it prevent me from playing a game my friend lends me or to play rented games...? that is all I want to know as my 360 is always connected right now anyway...I pull the ethernet cord out of it,I can still play games offline...will it be the same...?