If you're planning on getting the Xbox One when it releases later this month, you better pray that your Internet connection is ready to go, because without it, your brand new next-gen console is nothing more than an expensive brick.
Speaking with Engadget, Microsoft's Senior Director of Product Management, Albert Penello, said that the system's day one patch is "not really an optional thing." To clarify, when asked exactly what the Xbox One could do right out of the box, without the update, Penello's response was a simple, "nothing."
"You need the day one update," he said. "Functionally, you will be able to do very little without taking the day one update. A lot of the apps come with the day one update because they wouldn't have even been done."
Day one patches are nothing new mind you: the Wii U needed it, the PlayStation 4 will have one, but the fact that the console will be capable of nothing comes as a bit of a shock.
In today's age, I'd say that more gamers than not have their console hooked up online in order to take full advantage of what the platforms have to offer. But for the remaining few gamers with either questionable or no Internet access, this news comes as a harsh surprise.
Microsoft's Xbox One launches on Nov. 22, and will be available in Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, UK, and the United States for $499.
The new console claims an 8-core x86 processor and Microsoft hopes it will take the place of the family room cable box by letting you watch Blu-ray movies and TV through the console, in a "seamless transition" that lets players switch from playing games to watching shows and/or movies. It will come fully loaded with 8GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive.
The following games will be available on the console at launch:
- Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
- Battlefield 4
- Call of Duty: Ghosts
- Crimson Dragon
- Dead Rising 3
- FIFA 14
- Fighter Within
- Forza Motorsport 5
- Just Dance 2014
- Killer Instinct
- LEGO Marvel Super Heroes
- Lococycle
- Madden NFL 25
- NBA 2K14
- NBA LIVE 14
- Need for Speed: Rivals
- Peggle 2
- Powerstar Golf
- Ryse: Son of Rome
- Skylanders: Swap Force
- Zoo Tycoon
- Zumba Fitness: World Party
A cross-country tour where Microsoft is demoing the system at various locations is already underway, and demo kiosks have begun arriving at certain retailers.
Be sure to keep checking back with Gamenguide for more of the latest updates.
