The next generation XBox will be revealed later this month on May 21st, and as you would expect rumors have been heating up over what the next gaming powerhouse could have to offer.

One rumor  which as fans of the current Xbox split, is that the new console could require a constant and active Internet connection to allow games to be played. The idea is provide always-on DRM, as well as provide a way to have constant background updates for the console.

The good news is that this rumor might not be true after all. Instead the newest rumor says that publishers will be able to program whether games need the active connection or not. In addition, further details say that publishers will be able to add new achievements to games without the need of a download. But the most exciting piece of news is that the new Xbox is meant to have a DVR-style recording function, allowing gamers to record game play videos and upload them to social networks somewhat like the social functions expected in the PS4.

Of course these are just rumors, and we will have to wait until later this month for the full details.

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Microsoft needs to hurry up and confirm its new multimedia gaming system, the Xbox 720 (or Xbox 3 or Durango or whatever have you). Why? Because similar to gossip around Windows Blue early on, things are getting pretty wild when it comes to speculation regarding always-on DRM, used gaming abilities and other related issues.

IF Microsoft goes with an always-on policy for its next Xbox console, there are some strong negatives here. There are also some positives hidden underneath. So let’s talk about that for a bit, shall we? Let’s start with the biggest ‘negatives’ in regards to the next Xbox always being on.

Always-On Xbox: Cons

Not everyone has high-speed Internet: I know it’s hard to believe. Even in developed countries in Europe, North America, Asia and elsewhere, some people still use dial-up or only have Internet access through their smartphone.

As tablets and smartphones become more commonplace, many folks are turning to cellular connections and cutting the cable/DSL cord at home.

If you don’t want/need a powerful laptop or desktop, you might have no need for home Internet. It seems like a pretty big pain in the ass to pay for online connectivity in your home if your only device using it is the Xbox.

There is also the concern about if you have high-speed Internet but it goes down for whatever reason. The main time I seem to play my console systems or even PC games is when the Internet is out of commission for a little while. I would personally hate the idea of my expensive console pretty much just being a shiny brick when my net connection is down.

Concerns about used games: Just yesterday, Nowgamer published an article where they claim that a source close to Xing’s interactive managing director has unofficially confirmed the next Xbox 720 will not only require always-on but will also have DRM that could make it so used games are a thing of the past.

While I’d take this assertion with a grain of salt, it is something to think seriously about. In a perfect scenario, maybe Microsoft would only require you to ‘register’ your game once and lock it to the console, where it would install and not require the disc to play. Then if you didn’t want it anymore and wished to sell it, you could simply ‘de-register’ it and it would remove all the files from your system, making it a clean disc copy that could then be resold.

In a nightmare scenario, Microsoft locks the game to your system and checks every time you play. It can be delocked and so there is no reselling it if you decide the purchase wasn’t a good one.

Just the idea: With SimCity have server issues because many of the game’s elements where in the cloud, you might feel that a time could come when the next Halo isn’t playable the day or even week you buy it because the single-player campaign (for those of us that actually play it) requires you to be online and the servers are bogged down.

We are no doubt moving to a computing future that fully lives in the cloud, and that’s means an “always on” lifestyle. Some of us aren’t ready to make that change right now, however.

Always-On Xbox: Pros

Is always on DRM all doom and gloom? Not necessarily. There could be positive aspects as well.

Better online integration: Xbox Live is already an immersive experience with plenty to do, but allowing it to go fully to the cloud for save files, social interaction and other elements could make the experience even better.

Even single-player games could be enhanced with social features and perhaps even the ability for friends to jump in and ‘help’ a little. Though some of us (myself included) like single-player experiences where we are truly left alone to handle ourselves.

An always updated experience: In its lifespan, the Xbox 360′s software has changed so dramatically (multiple times) that you almost feel like a late-2005 Xbox 360 and that same Xbox 360 today are two different systems with the addition of tons of apps and other experiences that weren’t there from day one.

With an always-on experience, your console could turn itself on to pre-fetch these changes and ensure that you always have the latest software. That means you won’t turn on your console, go on live and then find you have to wait to play because you need to download some patch first.

No need for them pesky discs: With always-on DRM, you could just install your game from the disc and then archive it for later. That means no need to worry about discs when it is time to play your favorite Xbox title.

How often aren’t we online? For the vast majority of us, we log into our PS3 Network or Xbox Live the second we start our console even if we aren’t planning on playing multiplayer, heading to the store, or doing anything else that requires an online experience.

Not to mention so many of us use our consoles as a multimedia gateway almost more than we do for gaming, from movies to music and even television.

Going always-on doesn’t seem like a huge stretch in this case and makes us more open to receiving messages and other social data from our friends and family.

Summing it all up…

In short, there are a few positive reasons to give in to an always-on Xbox, but do they outweigh the negatives? While I personally am leaning towards “no”, it really depends on your own personal feelings. For some people, the idea might not be perfect, but it wouldn’t be a deal breaker either.

Others would absolutely say that if Xbox goes down this path, they aren’t interested. Ultimately I feel that Microsoft will evaluate the opinion of its gaming and multimedia-viewing audience before doing anything too drastic, but you never know.

How do you feel about the always-on Xbox? Would you still buy one or not?

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We’ve heard all sorts of rumors about the supposed specs on the next Xbox, but that’s on the hardware side of things. On the software side of things, it seems that Microsoft wants to make an even bigger push for the “Xbox 720″ to be the focal point of your living room. It’s not just about games. It’s a full-on multimedia and web-connected hub, getting you to watch Netflix and Hulu, search for information on Bing, and yes play multimedia games via Kinect.

Word on the street is that the Xbox 720 can be in sleep mode and you turn it back on with a simple “Xbox on” voice command. You can use the natural language processing to check on what your friends are currently playing or continue watching a movie that you paused yesterday. The Kinect sensor can also detect when there are multiple people in the room, suggesting fun multiplayer games for those situations and more solo games when it only detects one person in the room.

I’ve seen voice-based user interfaces on certain smart televisions these last couple of years and they all make me reach for the traditional remote instead. I’m not sure how different Microsoft can be on that front–I never use the voice commands on my Kinect–but perhaps this “Siri-like” experience will finally be what we wanted it to be in the beginning. In either case, the new Xbox is expected to make its debut at GDC or E3 with a launch in time for the 2013 holiday shopping season. Now we just have to see what Sony has up its home console sleeve.

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There was a time when a gaming system was for something called “gaming”. Yes, those we strange times indeed. Today’s systems might be gaming devices, but they are also becoming robust multimedia systems that go way beyond shooters, RPGs and action gaming.

In fact, the current generation of gaming has seen many buyers that pick up the consoles for nothing more than using them for non-gaming entertainment such as movie streaming. This is especially true with the PS3, thanks to its Blu-Ray capabilities.

What about the future of gaming? It is widely believed that the next Microsoft Xbox system, known by some as the Xbox 720, will see an even bigger push towards TV watching and other forms of non-gaming entertainment. Interestingly enough, a new rumor suggests that pushing processing speeds isn’t on the agenda.

The Xbox 720 is now said to run at just 1.6GHz, which is about half the speed of the current Xbox 360. Does that mean the Xbox 360 is more powerful than its successor? Of course not. There is a lot of unknowns here, and just looking at the clock speed tells us a limited story.

There a few distinct possibilities here. First, this could have tons of cores, cache and other factors that make up for a lower clock speed. Second, this might not be the “gaming focused” Xbox 720.
What is this then? The 1.6GHz processor could be intended for the ARM-based multimedia-focused Xbox system that is rumored to exist.

The rumor claims there will be two SKUs for the Xbox 720. One will be focused on hardcore gaming, the other will be more of a multimedia center with perhaps some Xbox Live gaming functionality baked in as well. If true, a 1.6GHz quad-core ARM processor could probably be more than enough for such a multimedia system with light gaming abilities.

What do you think of all of this, is the gaming-centric Xbox 720 going to come with a lower clock speed but more cores? Conversely, is this 1.6GHz speed meant for an Xbox set-top box? For that matter, this could all be nothing but a baseless rumor and should be taken with a grain of salt.

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The next generation Xbox (Xbox 720 maybe) codenamed Durango is expected to be an impressive gaming console. The latest rumors suggest that the machine is going to be a powerhouse, but will also be a big blow to the used games market.

According to VG247, Microsoft is planning to release the Xbox 360 successor during Christmas 2013, which is also rumored to be the launch timing for the PlayStation 4/Orbis, and the new console will feature either four or six core processors. It will also boast two GPUs that will be as fast as “two PCs taped together” and a built-in Kinect sensor.

The new rumor also suggests that the Durango will arrive with a Blu-ray drive. We are a bit doubtful about that info as we heard a lot of reports earlier that suggested the company was thinking about moving its content delivery to digital download only.

But what will be the most alarming info for many is that the Durango will require an internet connection at all times while it is being used. That move is most probably for combating used game sales. A mandatory internet connection could mean that there will be a requirement to authenticate discs and lock them to user accounts, and this would restrict the resale of games; if there are any discs that is.

But, of course, none of this should be taken without a pinch of salt. Do let us know whether you will be interested in the new Xbox if it comes with the above said features, and stay tuned for updates.

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