Rumor: Next Xbox requires always-on internet, no used games
Every physical game to ship with activation code, claims Edge.
February 6, 2013 / 08:31 AM EDT / (@salromano)

Next Xbox concept.

The next Xbox will require an internet connection in order the function and block second-hand game-playing, according to an Edge “sources with first-hand experience of Microsoft’s next generation console.” 

Though the system is said to be “absolutely committed” to online functionality, games will still be available for purchase in physical form at retailers. These games will be sold on 50 gigabyte Blu-ray discs, ship with activation codes, and “will have no value beyond the initial user,” according to Edge.

The outlet’s source also echoed some of the specs we’ve previously heard, including: AMD eight-core x64 1.6GHz CPU, a D3D11.x 800MHz graphics solution and 8GB of DDR3 RAM. Hard-drive capacity has yet to be decided, said the site, but considering its online architecture, it suggests it will be the “largest unit it has put inside a console to date.”

“Several” sources have told Edge when it comes to next-generation devlopment, PlayStation 4 is preferable when it comes to leveraging power. Studios working on Microsoft’s new system are currently being “forced to work with only approved development libraries,” while PlayStation 4 developers are being encouraged to “get closer to the metal of its box.” Additionally, the operating system overhead of the next Xbox is said to be “more oppressive” than PlayStation 4.

Microsoft is also “investing heavily” in motion-control interfaces and are planning a new, “more incredibly responsive” Kinect to ship with the next Xbox.

Sony will also have a next-generation camera, which is said to have similar features to Kinect, and will be shown at the company’s PlayStation 4 reveal event on February 20.

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  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Warboss-Aohd/100003803614469 Warboss Aohd

    that soundz incredibly foolish.

  • shogunknight

    I think this is the second time this rumor popped up, Microsoft forget that its not everywhere in the world that has access to buy original games, even get to access the net. It seems like their sales of 360 in US & UK may be clouding their judgement. Still a rumor though, I do hope Sony does not follow suit

  • Elvick

    I hope it’s true, solely because I’d like it for MS to go away. Is that bad? :/

    With the faults of Sony and Nintendo, I still don’t feel (sans region lock Nintendo…) that any of them hurt the industry. MS however… most of their issues do. So I’d like them to just go away.

    • Dean Winchester

      Hear hear. Truer words were never spoken.

    • Luna Kazemaru

      Just wow

      • Elvick

        Just being honest. Not a fan of MS’s business practices in the gaming industry. Releasing a system they knew was faulty and needed redesigned is one of the many issues I have with them.

    • MrRobbyM

      I agree only because I think there’s too many consoles and gaming devices and I dont want to own one just to play a few exclusives. Competition is good but I think there’s just too much. Last gen it was pretty much just the PS2 and Cube and everything was nice.

      Nothing against MS…sorta.

  • http://twitter.com/RPGFan2k Stealth

    then the system will flop simple as that

  • MosquitoLemon

    This is why I never complained about DLC, or even ‘on-disc’ DLC. What you think you own or are entitled to is garbage when they are just as capable of this crap.

  • Mar Mar

    Sooooo…. you need an Internet to play, you need to pay for XBL to play online, and you need to activate the game to play it.

    This is not a HOME ENTERTAINMENT device anymore. Home entertainment, home entertainment. I’m sick of hearing this from Microsoft.

    skip.

  • Danny Kriegbaum Laursen

    This will piss off US and let’s face US is the place where the Xbox is most popular, so this will mean the dead of the Next Gen Xbox, if Microsoft go through with this.

    It also make putting a Blu-ray drive pointless, since you can buy a PS3 cheaper than Next gen Xbox.

  • http://twitter.com/SwimsuitHakufu ギャビン

    “the operating system overhead of the next Xbox is said to be “more oppressive” than PlayStation 4.” What the hell does this even mean?

  • KurisuMakise

    Oh boy MS, well this can go two ways for them. They either force Sony to also adopt a model that restricts used games or suffer the backlash of losing the core audience. Though of course, it depends on how intrusive or not the online mode is. Assuming it takes a Steam approach while chasing after an Apple style closed garden, as well as get exclusivity deals from 3rd parties and the tide could be in their favour again. Barring the second hand market thing for a moment, there are some benefits to being always online. The ability to patch games while you sleep, get DLC automatically, receive communications etc come to mind. My concern though, is there’s got to be a fair way to approach the second hand market. Maybe get the buyer/second hand shops into the eco-system by allowing you to sell the license of content you “own” to other uses across the network, which would net the publisher/dev a small bit of money, as well as yourself, along with GameStop/GAME making money from selling the disc’s ID again with DLC vouchers or what have you so that everyone wins. I dunno, just thinking aloud on that one, as I know if this comes to pass I wouldn’t outright pass the system but I’d definitely be a lot more frugal.

  • Claude

    If true….well they lost me.

  • Emiliano Ramos

    Microsoft tying the noose on themselves huh?

  • ShawnOtakuSomething

    Well…….I think it just doomed itself

  • devovit

    can you go online if you are a silver member? maybe they want all the users to be gold members. if you can’t turn on your xbox without the internet then it’s game over for microsoft. im not even hating on them cuz im mainly gaming on the xbox.

  • http://gematsu.com/ Zero

    Man, so many comments. Poor time for me to have computer issues.

    I think we all agree, if this rumor is true, it’s far from a good thing. I think we need to continue to speak out against it, but we also have to vote with our wallet.

    If the new Xbox does indeed force you to be online, if it does prevent you from playing used games. We have to make a stand by not supporting it, by continuing to be vocal about it.

    If we just shrug our shoulders and ignore it, then we all lose in the end. It’s one thing to have crappy on disc dlc, or shitty dlc practices, but this is something else entirely, this is far worse.

    It shouldn’t be allowed to happen. I hope developers also make a stand here as well. I hope they don’t just wave the white flag, they should also be upset if this rumor is true.

    We don’t want this.

    • MrRobbyM

      I love you. On top of that, you have a Yuri ava. Hell yeah.

      • http://gematsu.com/ Zero

        Thanks. :)

        I’m dead serious about not supporting it though. I don’t want to see this console generation brought down early on. If people support this, if it is true, just imagine how much worse things could get in the future.

        • MrRobbyM

          I feel you, mister/miss mod.

          Unless MS brings out the big guns right from the start along with some shiny new way to control games, I don’t see them having as much success as they did with the 360. If all these rumors are true, I don’t see Gamestop supporting the new xbox so that will hurt sales.

          But don’t worry, I have a bit of faith that people won’t like this and not support it for the most part. All Sony needs to do is NOT have any of this bs, improve PSN to the level of Xbox Live and they’re good to go.

          • http://gematsu.com/ Zero

            I think PSN is already more or less on the level of XBL. Some of the biggest problems the PS3 has are hardware related. The patches, lacking voice chat features, can’t install in the background, etc.

            All of those will be fixed with the next PlayStation. You don’t have to pay to play games online with PSN, I don’t think they will change this, and I really don’t want them to. If anyone needs to change things up, it’s Microsoft. I don’t think they should be allowed to charge people to play games online anymore. I’m not saying they have do to away with Gold, I’m just challenging them to improve it. Give the customers more, not take away more features, and then force people to pay a fee to access them.

            PS Plus is currently a vastly better deal than Live Gold imo.

            • MrRobbyM

              I totally agree and you’re right. The problems are largely hardware related which I’m sure will be fixed with the PS4.

              MS is kind of shaping up to be the big evil controlling company(if this is true) lol.

  • Guest

    uio

  • xxx128

    “Arrogance comes before the fall”, however gamers (customers) are so conditioned and brain washed these days it puts pavlov’s dog to shame.

  • howardmoonish

    If this is true I will not buy the next Xbox, period.

  • PrinceHeir

    yikes!!

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