14 DAY TRIAL // Cliff Bleszinski, one of the creators of Gears of War and expert in Microsoft devices, says that the next generation of home consoles, including the PlayStation 4 from Sony and the Xbox 720 from Microsoft, are guaranteed to use always-on Internet connections.
Writing on his personal blog, the developer, who is currently not working on any official projects, states, “My gut is telling me that an always online future is probably coming. It’s coming fast, and possibly to the majority of the devices you enjoy.”
He also appeals to a historical precedent to explain exactly why Microsoft is interested in making the Xbox 720 an always-on device.
Cliff Bleszinski adds, “Remember when Microsoft made the decision to only allow broadband on Xbox Live? It was a bold move back then; broadband penetration wasn’t anywhere near what it is now. And yet the march of progress continued.”
The developer believes that either the United States or a big company will offer an affordable and fast connection system for the entire area of the country, which will benefit gaming and other entertainment services.
The Gears of War man also believes that a generational shift among gamers will make it easier for Sony and Microsoft to introduce hardware that’s always connected.
Bleszinski says that a number of his devices are already connected to the Internet constantly because they allow users to quickly scan information and react to it.
Recent rumors about the Xbox 720 suggest that the device needs to be always-on and that Microsoft wants to increase the level of security linked to it.
An official announcement is expected to take place late during May, with more information offered during E3 2013.
The already revealed PlayStation 4 will also heavily rely on its Internet connection for streaming and for extensive sharing options for screenshots and videos.