More Next-Xbox Rumors Point to Always Online, No Used Games

By Brian P Rubin | 06 February 2013 | 12 Comments

Last week’s pre-announcement-announcement from Sony—which many believe will signal the first reveal of the company’s next-gen console—kicked the rumor cycle into high gear. After posting alleged specs about Sony’s next machine, supposedly verified by reliable, unnamed sources, Edge has today posted a whole slew of rumors regarding Microsoft’s next console. And hold onto your butts: none of this sounds particularly appealing.

According to the post, the next Xbox will “require an Internet connection in order to function,” and that “games purchased on disc will ship with activation codes, and will have no value beyond the initial user.” The console will also be packed with a new and improved Kinect, so, you know, not a single one of these rumors sounds like anything that makes me say, “gosh, that’s keen.”

The post also lists alleged hardware specs: “an AMD eight-core x64 1.6GHz CPU, a D3D11.x 800MHz graphics solution and 8GB of DDR3 RAM.” Interestingly, where we’ve now heard multiple reports that the PS4’s controller will feature a touch-interface of some kind—joining the Wii U’s touch-based GamePad—there’s no corresponding rumor for touch-integration for the next Xbox, aside from their SmartGlass app (which was unveiled a couple months ago, and has failed to really be anything as impressive as it once promised to be at E3). Anyway.

Regarding the “activation codes”: maybe? Maybe this will happen? Back when Sony’s patent for such tech was reported on last month, our own Adam Kovic explained why and how it would probably not amount to anything. And I’d be surprised if the console manufacturers decided to cut game resellers like GameStop out of such an important money-maker…but this rumor sure has popped up a lot in recent months. Until we get some official word from Microsoft or Sony, we’ll just have to wait and wonder. But considering how many sales transactions take place in the digital world with Steam, XBLA, and the PSN, I feel like it’s not actually as much of a stretch as it might have once seemed.

But the always-on internet necessity? That sounds pretty nuts to me considering that not every home in the country even has access to high-speed internet. Hrm.

I’m not even going to ask what you think of this: I already know. But feel free to sound off in the comments anyway.

Via Edge

12 Comments

Posted by Man ManMan on 06 February 13 at 9:12am

x-surface.tumblr.com

’nuff said
- Posted by Landon Robinson on 06 February 13 at 12:22pm
  
  I’d suggest reading Ben Kuchera’s piece on rumors in game industry reporting. Rumors are rumors, and they’re difficult to confirm at times.
  
  There’s no “misreporting” so long as an outlet doesn’t claim its truth. But it is important to verify a source before you report, not to just wildly drop a news bomb based on an email.
  
  With that said, Kinect 2 confirmed.
Posted by Ring on 06 February 13 at 9:29am

Going with the guy above me on this one.
Posted by Brian P Rubin on 06 February 13 at 9:30am

Excellent point, Man ManMan and Ring. At the same time, none of these rumors are new, nor are they completely unreasonable, and the Edge is a pretty decent source.

Also important to note: they’re called rumors because they’re just that. Thanks for pointing this out, though! Gotta stay on our toes with all this junk.
Posted by René Mathias Rojas on 06 February 13 at 9:58am

Off topic: Not sure how else I should show you guys at IG this. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/461687407/kickstarter-open-source-death-star
- Posted by Lawrence Sonntag on 06 February 13 at 10:56pm
  
  That is amazing.
Posted by Mark on 06 February 13 at 10:17am

I could see some of these implemented both on the next Sony and MS consoles, but not as hardcore as the article states.

Things like constant connection, highly doubtful, that will only happen when they go full digital distro, activation codes for games, (Oh great, first Apple takes away executables to favor Apps and now MS buries Serial Numbers…) that’s already a reality on some games now, the only thing I see is this becoming broader with every game needing an access code for the online portion, don’t see this being more simply because the constant online claims are preposterous.

As for new Kinect, man I wish MS dropped that altogether, but since my wishes are irrelevant, as long as my neighbors stop shouting at me because I’m shouting at the kinect because the little bugger refuses to understand a simple command like GPS > NEXT EVENT… I’m good.

And as for the longevity of game stores like Gamestop, we all know they are pushing daisies, just don’t know exactly when (my bet is 9 years from today) the only thing developers hate more than piracy is re-sellers, so they are bound to go extinct eventually.
Posted by KennyP on 06 February 13 at 11:20am

I just hope that they keep the normal controller.
I mean it’s that what gaming is all about?
Just to relax and sit on your lazy ass using only your hands to play and enjoy your game..
Posted by Guy Le Man on 06 February 13 at 1:32pm

If I’m buying perishable activation codes, I’d better not be paying the current cost for new releases. I feel like 45$ would be reasonable; but from the fact that so many AAA studios have been shut down, it’s unlikely. I’ll stick with Newell; console gaming is becoming needlessly expensive and obsolete. PC Master Race, etc.
Posted by René Mathias Rojas on 06 February 13 at 1:50pm

“games purchased on disc will ship with activation codes,” I CALLED IT. CALLED IT!!!!

I totally wrote it in one of the other articles… I can’t find it after 20 mins of searching :v
Posted by BedfastDuck on 06 February 13 at 5:32pm

Does the “new Kinect” mean “new” Kinect or just bundled with a Kinect?
Posted by Mugenite on 06 February 13 at 10:36pm

Funny how everything is relatively unknown, but after a conference is announced, rumors suddenly explode into the scene. If MS mentions an upcoming conference of their own, I’m sure people will start leaking nuclear launch codes. As is life…