Microsoft, by now, is pretty sure that they did goof up the Xbox One with the always online feature that forces the user to keep connected to the Internet all the time. However, it seems like Microsoft is getting used to all the criticism and has finally come out defending the company’s decision, putting forward multiplayer as the main reason.
The decision to make the Xbox One always online just to authenticate the player’s copy of the title once every 24 hours is indeed a big deal for most players, especially the ones who are not so fortunate enough to have Internet access all the time. But according to Microsoft, the decision has been made banking on the popularity of multiplayer gaming.
In a recent interview with Polygon, Microsoft VP Phil Spencer was asked whether the company is alarmed about the fact that the online confirmation requirements of the Xbox One would limit its audience, mainly those who are living in areas that don't have access to the internet like rural and remote neighborhoods.
Spencer stated that connectivity requirement isn't a matter of worry because of the current prominence of online gaming, and although there is a large number of an audience for the single player modes, most players prefer to hang out with their friends online.
"What we're seeing in games ... is online community gaming is becoming a predominant way that people play," Spencer said.
"You see so many of these large games that are out there that rely on and are kind of made by the connection people have with their friends, and how they play cooperatively and competitively with the millions of people on Xbox Live and other ecosystems. It's a predominant form of gaming today."
The Microsoft VP also went on to add that Xbox One's connected nature isn't really different from how people currently deal with games and music on other platforms, such as iTunes, Xbox Music and others.
With Xbox One, the player will have his content matched up with his identity and will be stored in the cloud. This ensures that after the player installs the game, the game will be made available to him instantly and always.
If, however, the player gets disconnected from the internet in a time period outside the 24-hour verification mark, he will be automatically cut off from accessing his game library.
