The new Xbox - games won't be "always online" unless publishers say so - report

Polygon has fired off a salvo of new Xbox rumours, which point to a dramatic expansion of the hardware's social and connected features. According to the site's contacts, the next Xbox won't mandate an internet connection as has been rumoured, but publishers will be able to impose this requirement for individual titles.

Like the PS4, the new Xbox is said to allow players to capture live gameplay videos and share them through networks like Facebook, Youtube and Ustream. Turn the functionality on, and the console will apparently soak up footage constantly after the example of a DVR, allowing you to go back and select highlights. You can also schedule automatic recording for certain in-game events, such as headshots or achievements.

The paragraph relating to the always-on and always-online rumours is worth quoting in full. "Sources tell Polygon that the next Xbox will indeed have some form of an always-on requirement. That will be both to support the suite of non-gaming entertainment applications that will be launched alongside the console, like streaming video services, but also as a possible anti-piracy tool.

Source : oxm.co.uk