The Next Xbox Will Still Work Without An Internet Connection

One of the more controversial rumors surrounding the next Xbox is that it would require an always online Internet connection. Some rumors even said that the next Xbox can only remain offline for three minutes before interrupting a game to troubleshoot the connection. Those concerned will be happy to know then that Microsoft won’t require an always online connection, at least for some activities, in the next Xbox.

Ars Technica got its hands on an internal Microsoft email that lays out its policy regarding Internet connections on the next Xbox:

“Durango is designed to deliver the future of entertainment while engineered to be tolerant of today’s Internet. There are a number of scenarios that our users expect to work without an Internet connection, and those should ‘just work’ regardless of their current connection status. Those include, but are not limited to: playing a Blu-ray disc, watching live TV, and yes playing a single player game.”

It’s pointed out that the above email seemingly confirms that the next Xbox will route through a set-top box to deliver an Xbox-branded TV experience to consumers. It’s good then that Microsoft won’t be forcing any kind of online connectivity on those who just want to watch TV.

Going back to games, what does this mean for all those rumors of DRM and blocking used games? Well, the next Xbox could still incorporate DRM that’s similar to what many PC games now do. The console would use an Internet connection for a one-time activation, and then the game could be played offline afterwards. It could also be used to block used games from being played on the system so there is still some concern there.

That being said, the next Xbox will at least be partially consumer friendly. That’s only a good thing as it looked like Microsoft was readying to shoot itself in the foot in the upcoming generation if it were to move ahead with an always online DRM scheme.

We’ll find out more about the next Xbox, and hopefully more clarification regarding any DRM, at a dedicated event on May 21.

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Is Google Getting Into Game Development?

Google likes to dabble in a little bit of everything, but it has largely stayed out of game development. It helps developers make games for Android and Google+, but it doesn’t actually make games itself. That all may be changing soon.

TechCrunch reports that Noah Falstein, the game designer behind arcade classic Sinistar, had updated his LinkedIn profile to say he was now the “Chief Game Designer” at Google. An even earlier version of the page listed the same position, but at something called “Android Play Studio.”

I don’t know about you, but that sounds like a game development studio to me. It could be that Google is starting to get serious about game development by either making its own games, or creating tools to help others more easily make games for Android. By hiring Falstein, it adds a lot of credibility to the studio as well.

It’s speculated that Falstein could even be working with Google’s Niantic Labs, the secretive part of the company that released Ingress last year. I would hesitate to call it a “game,” but it is another entry in the increasingly popular world of augmented reality experiences. Falstein could be working on complimentary experiences for Android to bring more AR games to the device.

Of course, all of this is simply speculation for now. All we know is that Google has hired Falstein for some unknown reason. It might not even be for games. I would be surprised if it wasn’t though.

[Image: Flickr/Georgina Goodlander]

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