14 DAY TRIAL // The development team working on the Xbox One at Microsoft believes that the cloud infrastructure that’s being developed for the device can power a variety of experiences as long as the company sees a clear business structure for them.
Albert Penello, a director leading planning for the launch of the next-gen console, tells Gamespot that, “When you say to the customer, we want the box to be connected, we want developers to know that the cloud is there. We’re really not trying to make up some phony thing. But there are so many things that the servers can do.”
Sony has purchased streaming service Gaikai and plans to use it in the coming years to deliver content to PlayStation 4, including potential backwards compatibility for PS3 and PS2 titles.
The Microsoft executive adds, “Using our Azure cloud servers, sometimes it’s things like voice processing. It could be more complicated things like rendering full games like a Gaikai and delivering it to the box. We just have to figure out how, over time, how much does that cost to deliver, how good is the experience.”
At the moment, the cloud infrastructure of the Xbox One will be used by games like Titanfall and Forza Motorsport 5 to power the Artificial Intelligence of computer-controlled opponents and give gamers a more challenging experience.
Penello also says that an online-based gaming future needs to take into account the issue of legacy and how gamers will be able to play the games once certain services are no longer supported.
Microsoft is currently saying that responsibility for game maintenance lies with the developer and not the platform holder.
The Xbox One is at the moment set for a November 22 launch in tier one countries, while other gamers will have to wait to get the console in 2014.