Microsoft: Next Xbox will work even when your Internet doesn’t

Why couldn't they post the entire email? I want to see a screencap of it.

They might not have it in its entirety. Maybe their source just gave them choice quotes. Some of it sounds paraphrased, in the sense that the language doesn't sound appropriate for an internal corporate memo. For example...

...and yes playing a single player game.
 
So why do they send out an email about this to their employees working on this thing?

the main thing I could think of is that this is basically setting up the PR message for when everything is public. Sure, they know how it actually works, but actually communicating it to the outside world is a different story.

Just see the many different interpretations and confusion that has occurred when the "always online" phrasing is used. This helps everyone "stay on message", so to speak
 
lol, there will be some unhappy people on this forum with this news. They'll find new ammo

Good (non) news as I never believed it would have happened in the first place: games not running without a connection
 
So they wait to release this bomb now? Not weeks ago when it was more pertinent? You know, when one of their employees was fired for comments regarding this?

Right now MS is two weeks away from showing their next console, they are oiling the machinery right now making sure that the correct information leaks out now.

Today it is addressing the biggest negative talking point that has been floating around, and next week I would not be surprised is some marketing material for Alan Wake 2 suddenly surfaces.


Yes, it totally fucking sucks that Orth got fired, but he spoke out of nowhere and really fueled the fires on most of these rumors. And we honestly don't know what the internal setting was like, Microsoft might just have been looking for an excuse to get rid of him, or letting him go was a genuine panic reaction from Microsoft due to the press his statements made.
 
Woah, Takuya is a fucking parody of himself. Keep fighting the good fight, warrior.

I'm pretty sure the dude is a joke poster. He once made the argument that BC is earned through dedication rather than being a technological limitation.
 
I was just kidding around. Who knows what they were doing prior, we'll probably have to wait 10 years for a tell-all from an ex employee or something.

I do find it funny they would send this out though, seems like either:

A) They wanted it to leak, judging from the wording and fact it needed to exist.

B) They really were changing policy and wanted people to stop leaking bad information.

C) Even their own staff were confused by the rumors swirling around.

I think 'A' seems most likely.

It smacks of "controlled leak" to me too. I just wonder what took them so long, unless the decision was actually made recently. As you said though, we'll likely nevemr know, or will have to wait until this system is long dead. Too bad. Sounds like an interesting story.
 
Seems to me that employees working on the next xbox should already know whether it's always online is a philosophy or a reality.

I think this is one of those meant to leak emails.
 
So wait... Microsoft sends an internal e-mail to...People working on the new Xbox...

To tell them that it works without a connection...

Shouldn't they know this if they've been working on the damn thing?

What the heck is this?

It's normal when you've got a huge team working on a major project where everyone doesn't need to know everything.
 
The simple HDMI input makes a lot of sense. You can't really partner up with cable companies, as they are becoming less relevant. If you are going to do the whole TV integration thing, at this point you need to be able to work with every current High Def cable box plus DirecTV plus Dish.

And as Tivo and Replay have shown, it's simple to push out and overlay TV listings and menus.

The suck thing is that cheapasses like me who use internal ATSC tuning in their TVs and no premium TV service will have reduced fuctionality. Honestly, fuck TV though. I'm all about Netflix/Hulu/Amazon since I'm not a sports fan.
 
I'm glad if this is true, but it's also hilarious that they're pretending this is supposed to be some confidential internal memo that got leaked. Like the people working on Durango aren't aware of its online requirements a month before its debut. And the way they listed the features? So artificial. I don't know what they meant by "watching live TV" though. Unless Microsoft is becoming a cable provider, doesn't their TV content have to come through the internet? Unless they were actually considering having Durango block your TV's access to its cable box...
 
ron-paul.gif


It'll be interesting to see what they have to offer on the 21st. I'm excited.
 
And will I be able to loan, borrow, or give my games away? How about selling or buying used games?


People acting like not needing a internet connection to use a game you own is some great news, instead of basic common sense.
 
While I'm not doubting it's genuine the wording suggests that this wasn't a 'leaked' email rather part of a larger play to reassurance those that are worried by MS's deafening silence on the matter thus far.

Or something.
 
Oh no, good news from MS. It can't be?!

I'm not even sure if it's good news (even if it's true). Am I supposed to praise them for not going through with completely backwards, draconian business practices? The fact that it was even being considered is enough.
 
Came to say what has already been said:
I find highly disturbing that Microsoft has to explain this kind of information to their own employees working on the Xbox.
 
This was expected to all the people who actually thought Durango would be online only LOL, talk about overreaction on rumours.
 
So wait... Microsoft sends an internal e-mail to...People working on the new Xbox...

To tell them that it works without a connection...

Shouldn't they know this if they've been working on the damn thing?

What the heck is this?

I remember reading somewhere that Microsoft employees in various departments are often unaware what their colleagues are doing and sometimes line managers don't even know what projects their subordinates are working on. So it makes sense.
 
Good riddance always-online. Strange way to make it known to the public, why didn't they just come out and say it out loud and clear after Orthgate while they had all the attention?
 
Ehh didn't really matter. I was going to get it anyway. Won't say it isn't nice to have it confirmed though.
 
Came to say what has already been said:
I find highly disturbing that Microsoft has to explain this kind of information to their own employees working on the Xbox.

Highly disturbing? Man I hope you manage to sleep tonight.

Jeet Christ the reactions in this thread are hilarious, expected but hilarious.
 
Yes. We've known for some time now, but this is official. Kinda

also, it's a well known fact that people working on Durango are not told the whole story as to avoid leaks, so the email thing kind of makes sense.
 
Came to say what has already been said:
I find highly disturbing that Microsoft has to explain this kind of information to their own employees working on the Xbox.

Wut?

I work in manufacturing with a team of 10 different people working on different aspects of the project and we hardly know what each other are doing most of the time. Internal e-mails like this are extremely common.
 
As long as this is the case without compromise, ala the current and past consoles (read: disc in, game on, in full, no matter what), that's great news.

If there is a compromise that prevents some other functionality (like only games registered specifically to your console can work like that, meaning no used games or swapping games with your friends), then it's the same issue.
 
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