Addressing the Xbox 'Always Online' Rumour

Off the back of the Microsoft hardware announcement today I thought it would be a good opportunity to really look into the ever popular internet rumour of an always online system. I believe that the next system will simply be call ‘Xbox’ and although many people have given the rumour heat there are several key reasons why Microsoft may want to implement this option – although obviously we won’t know until the announcement.

If this rumour is true then it is certainly a bold step by Microsoft and there are several advantages and disadvantages looped into it.

Pro: Microsoft’s continued bold approach to challenges
When the company follows a trend the results tend to be somewhat of a failure but when they implement an original idea they really make a success out of it. Look at Xbox Live as an example. People were original worried about the original Xbox shipping with a Ethernet Port back in 2001, especially a broadband wasn’t even on the horizon, but over the past decade this has become a staple inclusion on pretty much everything electronic. XBLA has come on leaps and bounds and is certainly the far more advanced online system when compared to the PSN. The Internet phenomenon that Microsoft anticipated, well ahead of its time, has sprouted extra game content, entertainment offerings and fundamental online multiplayer.
The truth is if Microsoft has decided to go through with this ‘always-online’ rumour then the majority of us will be fine.

CON: Change is not always good

This basically comes down to human nature but we have seen a positive output for changes in recent years. Look at the mobile phone market and the increase in smartphone usage. It’s intriguing to see that many normal people - like you and me – are now playing RPG’s on our phones and endorsing the streamed Film/TV services like Netflix.
It all comes down to simplicity

PRO: System and software updates are done in the background.

The new Xbox automatically downloads trial versions of games it thinks you’ll like, free updates for your games and add-on content as it becomes available. You know, kind of like what the PlayStation 4 is trying to do but they aren’t getting any backlash for it. To return to the smartphone example, just look at what devices are capable of thanks to always being connected to the Internet. Text messages, emails, FaceTime video chats, sports scores, twitter updates, and more are all fed to you automatically without you having to actively connect to a service and seek them out. Imagine what sorts of possibilities the video game space offers - all the pieces from your phone, plus all the speed of being on Wi-Fi connection. You could schedule gameplay sessions with your friend via your Xbox App and as soon as you get in from work the console is ready for you to pick it up and play.
We all hate the damn software updates anyway and the hassle of planning any gaming in advance means you currently spend the first 15 minutes sorting out the hosting.

CON: Server maintenance would become a nightmare

This is probably the biggest change Microsoft would need to implement and would affect everything from the way the Dashboard works to the Updates being completed. But if they have been planning an always-online experience since the off then you would imagine this is something already considered and ‘successfully’ resolved. The big M would need some serious contingency plans in place – if Live went down imagine the backlash. If this issue happened at launch you could definitely see it affecting the uptake of their new system.
Although this has been a problem raved about since the rumour, Microsoft will have done it’s research and will know the impact this could have. All good ideas come with a risk, and a big risk can mean a massive payoff.

PRO: People are embracing their Internet connections.

This sort of goes back to my first ‘Con’ listing but the number of daily internet users has increased massively over the last few years. People are using their connections for their phones, for work purposes and to keep track of their friends and families. Services like Netflix, Hulu, iTunes and potentially even Kindle products could be sent through the new Xbox into your TV. I’m one of the people that use these and the ease of having them on my Console/Entertainment System is a no-brainer for me. Secondly Microsoft has active relationships with their providers whereas Sony will be implementing a lot of these for the first time – and that even if they get them on board.
As people’s lives become busier the need for an a’la carte TV service, and easy access to its programs, becomes more and more prevalent.

CON: You have an Internet outage and you can’t play

This is, obviously, the problem for which Microsoft has no solution – the argument to which it has no rebuttal. It’s difficult to think of a scenario where not being able to play your games when you want to – but if you suffer the problem already this is already an issue regardless of the new Xbox console. Good examples of this always-online experience can be seen in the Diablo III and the more recent Sim City (2013) debacle. Now imagine that grinding your entire console’s ecosystem instead of simply one game. Unfortunately t’s not a very nice picture.
This is one of the big arguments against the always-online connection but by now most providers are offering an uncapped plan. Alternatively get a job and don’t play COD all day – I’ve had a cap but never exceeded it and I always play online

PRO: It might not actually require an always-online connection, it might simply prefer one

While Microsoft have neither confirmed nor denied the rumour it is getting people talking and one thing the Internet likes to do is exaggerate. Think about this one other possibility that seems to be getting lost in the quick fire reactions on IGN and GameFaqs -  always-online may be just a rumours. It’s entirely possible that the Next Xbox will give you all sorts of TV integration and who-knows-what-else if you’re jacked into Xbox Live, but if you’re not, it’ll still retain all of its core functions. The reports are that the console shuts down after three minutes of no connection but this is entirely possible for the development kits anyway. Microsoft would want to monitor what is going on with their kits and also attempting to plug and leaks as quickly as possible.
Remember this is just a rumour

CON: I don’t have another Con

Obviously I’m an Xbox gamer. I love my 360 and would actually miss the darned thing if it broke down. It’s not my life, it’s not my favourite possession but it is something I use frequently and it does everything – entertainment wise – that I need it too. I don’t suffer with slow Internet Connection or Capped Usage so I can’t really see the worried from a personal perspective but I do understand the concerns. 99% of people across the console world have a reasonable Internet connection (because they use it a lot already) and, if they are a heavy gamer, they tend to ensure their usage isn’t capped.
Either way get ready for the 21^st May now – Microsoft might just surprise you!

One way or the other, Microsoft’s plans will be revealed soon enough. While I don’t personally believe this is the right time to attempt an always-online console, I also wouldn’t put it past Microsoft to go all-in on it. Of course they are listening to the Internet Forums and have a far better analysis of developers and customers than we can ever ponder. With E3 around the corner as well the next few months are going to be an interesting time.