I hven´t read the whole thread but am I the only one thinking the always online will be for the people that uses the payment plan, so if they dont pay a month the whole xbox goes useless.

If you buy your console without the payment plan this won´t be implemented.

That´s what i am thinking and if some other info has come up during this thread please inform me

Sure.. this could have been a publicity stunt by MS, but I don't see how it could benefit them. Don't get me wrong this will definitely get people talking about their new console, but it won't be in a good way. Negative press will only hurt them.

If this were anyone but Microsoft I would say there is no way this could be true.  Alas...

The difference is that all of those devices (with the possible exception of the smartphone or netbook) can still function for normal purposes without being connected to the internet.  

Yes, they do :)

*muches on popcorn*

Keep going Microsoft, i'm amused.

No seriously, they cant be thinking well but i guess it makes things simpler for next gen. The console will be renamed to american-box, cause its the only market that will probably put up with that.

It can't hurt them if it's not true. On the contrary, it's setting a low bar for them to easily walk over. They'll announce and everyone will be ingratiated to them for not doing that.

No company would place BAD publicity about themselves JUST to disprove it later. Business's dont work that way, and its not very clever in the long run is it? Even if the bar is set low it does nothing for microsoft disproving it after such a long time other than rectifying the bad publicity they've put on themselves.....which is abit pathetic tbh

Considering the new burden this would potentially (as it's unconfirmed) put on gamers, I'm curious to see what BENEFITS they potentially feel this will have for our gaming experience. Who knows, there may be plusses that we don't know about that could make this 'burden' much easier to accept.

IF it's true. If not, we sure have wasted a lot of time and energy talking about an unconfirmed rumor ...

I just don't buy it. I understand that internet access is critical for Xbox Live and the tons of media functions they want to include with the new Xbox, but why would they also alienate the millions of people out there who buy consoles and do not have internet access at all, or have only poor internet quality/speeds.

I still no reason why MS would ever make this a requirement and not just an option. If they don't have internet, obviously parts of the new Xbox wouldn't work, but why on earth would they block the starting of games/apps!!!

I will still be buying a new Xbox even if it does have this requirement, because I have a very fast and reliable internet connection and I like Microsofts games/products/LIVE. But If this IS true and lasts longer than a few months before they get major backlash from gamers and change their firmware, I will most likely buy a PS4 and play a lot on there as well. Simply because a lot of my friends will likely switch over since I do have quite a few friends who live in the country/rural areas and have less than great internet.

And again, this could be another simple rumour taken out of context and blown out of proportion. Perhaps MS is adding this option as a DRM feature and will again leave it up to the publishers/game developers to decide if they want to use it on a per game basis. So if EA is evil and wants to use Always Online option, they could. Where as MS first party games might not require Always Online to work. You never know.