AfterDawn: News

The rumors are back: The Xbox Next will require Internet connection and all games must be installed to HDD

While the rumors have been rampant for months, another leak from this week gives more credence to the rumor that the next Xbox will require an Internet connection and all games must be installed to the HDD.

VGLeaks posted screenshots of the Durango XDK (Development Kit) on Tuesday, and with them are some interesting facts.



The documentation says the console will include an HDD with enough capacity "to hold a large number of games." All games must be installed to the drive as "play from the optical drive will not be supported." That being said, it appears the discs will only be required for installation and then are useless.

Additionally, the documentation suggests the console will be "always on, always connected," which normally refers to a necessity of being connected to the Internet to be able to play games, including single-player modes.

Take everything from the screenshots with a grain of salt, however, as other sources are reporting that the documentation is from 2012, which could mean Microsoft has had a change of heart.

The Xbox Next is expected to be unveiled at this year's E3 for release over the holidays.



Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 21 Mar 2013 12:08

• Previous article

• Google Play 4.0 leaked

• Next article

• YouTube now at 1 billion monthly users

• 13 comments

• ruff469

  Only if xbox live is free will this work. I'll be damned if you are gonna force me to pay 3 ways. Games?Subscription and internet. It better come with built in 4g lte with unlimited data. I have been an XBOX fan since day one but you are gonna lose even the honest supporters with a move like this. Something has got to give. Either Free XB Live or free internet or both. Then I will consider buying a glorified cable box.
  

  21.3.2013 14:14 #1

• Joe_1981

  I don't believe this will ever happen. It would be suicide for MS. I know so many people who don't play online and don't care to and people who don't even have high speed internet. There would be so many lost sales if they did this.
  
  Not to mention, what happens if your internet goes down, you simply can't play? This would be an idiotic move on MS' part and I don't believe they'd ever do it.

  21.3.2013 15:03 #2

• Bilcox

  Microsoft Said It Would Not Be The case...
  
  Bill gates <3 we Salute You!!!!!
  

  Knowledge Is Power

  21.3.2013 15:45 #3

• 1nsan3

  yea why would you even think to make a move like this. what about those with satalite, or limited data, and yes those half of the world that dont even have internet, or cant afford it, but broke down and bought there kids an xbox. sorry little joey, we dont have internet, you will see ALOT of returns lol. play from HDD is cool, but what happens if the hdd crashes, are you able to reinstal ALL of the games again. hard drives DO crash, hell my xbox 360 hdd crashed a couple times, and so has my ps3 hdd. oooops sorry go drop another $60.00 on another game... i got a feeling ms is digging themselfs a grave. unless there relying on ONLY the halo community to keep them afloat with this game system lol

  21.3.2013 18:52 #4

• Interestx

  Rumours are just that.
  
  I like the idea of a huge hard drive to install games onto.
  I never had a single hard drive failure on the 60gb Pro, the 120gb Elite or the 250gb Super Elite & Slim versions I have owned.
  Similarly I never once had a problem with the 1tb drive I fitted to my PS3.
  
  Always on?
  I'll believe it when I see it.
  
  Truth is there are PR games being played right now.
  Various leaks various sources.
  Variable er 'quality'.
  
  We'll be finding out in a couple of months (E3 is June, right?).
  

  21.3.2013 18:58 #5

• A5J4DX

  show us something...
  

  21.3.2013 20:06 #6

• bobiroc

  I think with E3 right around the corner I will wait for the E3 announcements and not take any rumors as serious.
  

  AMD Phenom II 965 @ 3.67Ghz, 8GB DDR3, ATI Radeon 5770HD, 256GB OCZ Vertex 4, 2TB Additional HDD, Windows 7 Ultimate.
  
  http://www.facebook.com/BlueLightningTechnicalServices

  22.3.2013 00:03 #7

• baxter00

  I think it's so funny. They would practically be giving Sony their business. Install games to a hard drive, well then, you better have a 10TB hard drive on that thing. Always on internet? Well, you better supply at least a 12Mb speed for $25/month. Oh, what's that? The system costs $499 and I still only get one controller? What's that? The connect package is another $100???
  
  Yeah, rumor rumor.
  

  22.3.2013 00:49 #8

• Interestx

  1tb hard drive is what I'm expecting in both new consoles when they launch.
  I also hope that we would be able to 'tie' any external hard drive OF ANY SIZE to the basic machine (just like TVs do now for recording/timeslip functions on an external hard drive).
  

  22.3.2013 04:25 #9

• xaznboitx

  Originally posted by baxter00: I think it's so funny. They would practically be giving Sony their business. Install games to a hard drive, well then, you better have a 10TB hard drive on that thing. Always on internet? Well, you better supply at least a 12Mb speed for $25/month. Oh, what's that? The system costs $499 and I still only get one controller? What's that? The connect package is another $100???
  
  Yeah, rumor rumor. Not only that but what if server is down and we have to wait til it's back up? if wiiu,ps4 and next xbox are their last consoles then the rumor might be true since ms thinks everyone will be online with live so might as well take advantage of people.
  Plus, if this turns out to be true and ms does comes out wit 4th console, then the 3rd console is useless and I'm sure MS going to disconnect 3rd console offline.

  24.3.2013 05:23 #10

• Qliphah

  Originally posted by ruff469: Only if xbox live is free will this work. I'll be damned if you are gonna force me to pay 3 ways. Games?Subscription and internet. It better come with built in 4g lte with unlimited data. I have been an XBOX fan since day one but you are gonna lose even the honest supporters with a move like this. Something has got to give. Either Free XB Live or free internet or both. Then I will consider buying a glorified cable box. And then there's the electric bill, a TV to play it on, oh and the house to keep all this stuff dry.... I believe there's a Penny Arcade about this. ;P
  

  25.3.2013 11:23 #11

• voyager

  Is this is tru XB360 is going to be my last platform,bye M$.

  29.3.2013 16:54 #12

• ruff469

  Originally posted by Qliphah: Originally posted by ruff469: Only if xbox live is free will this work. I'll be damned if you are gonna force me to pay 3 ways. Games?Subscription and internet. It better come with built in 4g lte with unlimited data. I have been an XBOX fan since day one but you are gonna lose even the honest supporters with a move like this. Something has got to give. Either Free XB Live or free internet or both. Then I will consider buying a glorified cable box. And then there's the electric bill, a TV to play it on, oh and the house to keep all this stuff dry.... I believe there's a Penny Arcade about this. ;P LOL!!! I understand the thought behind this move but because of the cut back production of actual media plus shipping and inventory they could essentially just charge us for half the price of what games cost now. Especially if they make on demand available same day.
  

  29.3.2013 17:01 #13