XBox One: 24 Hour Access to Console Before Internet Access Required

By Justin Sarachik, Christian Post Reporter Friday, June 07, 2013

Microsoft's Xbox One will have a time limitation to play the system offline and many feel this perceived "good idea" by the video game company can doom it before the system launch.

The XBox One will allow users to play the console offline for 24 hours after which the gamer forfeits access to the system, reports Time.com. If playing on someone else's system, the 24 hours drops to one hour.

The system will use a cloud based network allowing you to access your game library from anywhere, hence playing on someone else's system.

The cloud will keep track of games played, resold, traded-in, or even borrowed, while frequently updating and verifying the system.

Times.com reports that once the 24 or one hour limit is reached, the console has to be connected back to the Internet, however, television, DVD's and Blue-Ray's can be watched.

Microsoft's unusual approach to allow movie watching and not game play is a strange route to take considering the company is known for its gaming excellency. Another problem brought upon by the Internet issue is not being able to take the system with you on vacation. The XBox One will be non-playable if there is no WiFi.

The XBox One is being heralded as an all in one entertainment machine of the future, with the ability to virtually do anything. It's a wonder the XBox felt the need for change.

Another major problem for users, and even more so rental and used game businesses, is the end of pre-owned games, a $2 billion industry according to Forbes. The XBox One's used games capabilities will be left up to the publisher of the game. If not reusable in some instances a "reactivation fee" is believed to be an option.

"Microsoft Studios will enable you to give your games to friends or trade in your Xbox One games at participating retailers," the company posted online. "Third party publishers may opt in or out of supporting game resale and may set up business terms or transfer fees with retailers. Microsoft does not receive any compensation as part of this."

The solution of only being able to read new games will make more money for Microsoft and game publishers without having to worry about losing sales from businesses selling the used games without any profit going to the video game company.

With some of this negative press surrounding the release of the XBox One and the previews at the E3 conference in Los Angeles, one of the cooler features involves the amount of users able to access the cloud at once.

"Just like today, a family member can play your copy of 'Forza Motorsport' at a friend's house," Microsoft wrote saying up to 10 people can play at once reports HeroComplex. "Only now, they will see not just 'Forza,' but all of your shared games. You can always play your games, and any one of your family members can be playing from your shared library at a given time."

The next generation of systems started with the WiiU, and the XBox One and PS4 are due later this year.