(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Possibly the biggest ongoing saga in the build up to the Xbox One’s announcement was the question of whether or not it would require an internet connection. Many had assumed that such a requirement was a given, particularly in the wake of You must login or register to view this content..


However, speaking to You must login or register to view this content. after today’s announcement, Microsoft have confirmed that there’s no system level requirement to be connected when playing a single-player game. Obviously if you’re playing multiplayer then you’ll need to connect, but if you’re happy to play by yourself then the Xbox itself won’t force you to log on.


It’s not quite that simple though, as individual games can force a connection. Microsoft spoke about their Azure cloud service during the reveal, discussing the way they’re using it to back the Xbox One. Developers will also be able to utilize the power of the cloud platform if they should so wish, offloading processing to remote servers.


When games do chose to use the cloud service, then a connection would be required, even if you’re just playing through the campaign. While not every game will use Azure, Xbox executive Marc Whitten has said he hopes that developers will utilize the extra power that the platform gives them.


As for the rumours of a Kinect requirement for the new console, these have proved to be true. Xbox’s UK marketing director Harvey Eagle told You must login or register to view this content. that “Kinect does require to be connected to Xbox One in all cases, yes.”


While this is troubling for several reasons, largely privacy based, it does seem that some of the technical limitations of the original Kinect have been overcome. While at present Kinect requires a pretty large area to work in, Eagle also told IGN that “the Xbox One will deliver the same quality of experience whatever the environment.”


Given Kinect is a requirement for the Xbox One to work it seems safe to assume that Microsoft have made improvements to their motion sensing camera, allowing it to work in a much wider variety of spaces.

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