All Articles: Xbox One

Paul Thurrott is a technology journalist who runs Supersite For Windows. With his high-profile in the tech community, he’s managed to provide accurate reports about the future of Microsoft before. Now, his sources are talking about the Xbox 720/Durango, and Thurrott has appeared on the latest episode of the What the Tech videocast (embedded above) to relay what they told him.

According to Thurrott, he is hearing that the next-generation console will retail for $500, with a $300 “subscription” model also available for purchase. Details on the contract that would go with the subscription contract were unavailable, but Thurott is sure that “Durango is going to be expensive.” The journalist is also hearing that the Xbox 720/Durango will be revealed during a presentation on May 21. A more complete reveal will follow a few weeks later at the E3 Expo. Can’t say there’s anything too shocking about that.

What is surprising is that Thurrott has also corroborated the “always-online” rumor that blew up last week. Writing on his site, Thurrott said: “Folks, the next Xbox is going to require an always-on internet connection. I don’t know the specifics of what that means. […] This piece of information had been communicated to me, along with some other relevant tidbits, in January. It’s true.”

Microsoft’s official statement on the matter (via Major Nelson) is a particularly wordy form of “no comment.” But the statement did say that Adam Orth’s comments “do not reflect the customer centric approach we take to our products.”

I know the evidence is piling up on the “always-online,” but I’ll be very surprised if it’s present in public version of the Xbox 720/Durango.

Adam Orth is the Creative Director at Microsoft Studios. But he might have trouble introducing himself over the next few days as his foot has become firmly lodged in his mouth.

Yesterday, Orth took to Twitter and expounded on the rumors that the Xbox 720/Durango would require a constant Internet connection. Since his gaffe, Orth has switched his account to private, but thankfully, a Reddit user was able to capture the offending tweets (with BioWare’s Manveer Heir playing the part of the pissed-off public):

Orth: Sorry, I don’t get the drama around having an “always on” console. Every device now is “always on”. That’s the world we live in. #dealwithit

Heir: Did you learn nothing from Diablo III or SimCity? You know some people’s internet goes out right? Deal with it is a shitty reason

Orth: Electricity goes out too.

Heir: You’ve lived in LA, SF, Seattle… very connected places. Try living in Janesville, WI or Blacksburg, VA

Orth: Why on earth would I live there?

While Orth was using his personal Twitter account to disseminate his personal opinion, this exchange brings new meaning to the words “tone deaf.” A lot of people do live in those places, Mr. Orth, and not all of them have a steady Internet connection (or any Internet connection at all, for that matter).

Microsoft has yet to make any official announcements about what features the Xbox 720/Durango will or will not include, but Orth’s comments have lent quite a bit of weight to the rumors that the console will require an Internet connection. The Wii U launched in November without any kind of “always-on” requirement and Sony has previously promised one won’t be used in the PS4. So this would put the Xbox 720/Durango in a very bad position.

Somewhere in the bowels of Big Redmond is a prototype version of Microsoft’s next console, the Xbox 720/Durango. The whole world (OK, maybe not Japan) is waiting to get a glimpse of the console and the next-generation games that it’ll support.

One person who doesn’t have to wait is GameStop CEO J. Paul Raines.

Speaking to GamesIndustry International, the leader of North America’s largest game retailer has revealed that not only has he seen the Xbox 720, but that he’s very impressed with it:

“We’ve been spending a lot of time with Microsoft, but we have to let them take the lead on this, but it will be a very hot, compelling device. They are doing some really cool stuff, and I’m eager to hear them start their announcements because I think the world is going to stand up and take notice,” Raines commented.

Microsoft has yet to confirm when they’ll take the wrapping off the next Xbox, but many in the industry expect the system to launch before the end of the year.